National Airlines Open Invitational
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Hialeah, Florida, U.S. |
| Established | 1969, 59 years ago |
| Course(s) | Country Club of Miami, West Course |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,970 yards (6,373 m) |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | $200,000 |
| Month played | March |
| Final year | 1971 |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 274 Gary Player (1971) Lee Trevino (1970) Bob Menne (1970) |
| To par | −14 (same) |
| Final champion | |
 Gary Player | |
The National Airlines Open Invitational was a professional golf tournament in south Florida on the PGA Tour. It was held in late March in Hialeah at the West Course of the Country Club of Miami in 1969, 1970, and 1971.[1][2] At the time, it was among the richest events on tour, with a $200,000 purse and a $40,000 winner's share.[3]
Gary Player was the final champion in 1971, two strokes ahead of defending champion Lee Trevino,[4] who won the previous year in a playoff over Bob Menne.[5] Player's win was his 75th worldwide.
In 1972, it was replaced on the schedule by the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic in Lauderhill, initially a month earlier in late February. Miami-based National Airlines co-sponsored its second edition in 1973, also won by Trevino,[6] but not after. That tournament ended its affiliation with Gleason after 1980 and continues today as The Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens.
The other PGA Tour event in the Miami area was the Doral Open, which began in 1962 and was usually played in early March. It was sponsored by competing carrier Eastern Air Lines, also Miami-based, from 1970 through 1986.
Winners
| Year | Winner | Country | Score | Margin of victory |
Winner's share ($) |
Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Gary Player | South Africa |
274 (−14) | 2 strokes | 40,000 | [4] |
| 1970 | Lee Trevino |  United States |
274 (−14) | Playoff | 40,000 | [5] |
| 1969 | Bunky Henry | United States |
278 (−10) | 1 stroke | 40,000 | [3] |
References
- ^ "Player, Trevino in 6-man National Airlines traffic jam". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. (Florida). Associated Press. March 27, 1971. p. 2C.
- ^ "History of National Airlines Open". Retrieved 2007-11-18.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Henry gains Miami Victory". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. (Florida). Associated Press. March 31, 1969. p. 20.
- ^ a b "Player - 4 strokes isn't safe". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. (Florida). Associated Press. March 29, 1971. p. 1-C.
- ^ a b "No jokes in playoff; Trevino tips Menne". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 30, 1970. p. 11.
- ^ "Trevino benefits as foe hits snag". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. February 26, 1973. p. 14.