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PGA Tour Verizon Heritage

By Brent Kelley, About.com Guide

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Davis Love - 2003 Heritage

Davis Love III reacts after chipping in during the final round of the MCI Heritage Classic in 2003. Love went on to win the tournament.

Craig Jones / Getty Images

About the PGA Tour Verizon Heritage:

This tournament began with a bang in 1969 (see notes below), and has turned out a pantheon of great champions ever since. The Verizon Heritage has gone through many different names over the years, but this tournament has remained at the same golf course throughout its history. Played along the South Carolina coast in Hilton Head, the Verizon Wireless is currently played in the spring following The Masters.

2010 Verizon Heritage
• When: April 15-18
• Where: Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, S.C.

2009 Tournament
Brian Gay set a couple tournament records in winning the 2009 Verizon Heritage, his second PGA Tour victory. Gay posted the lowest total (264) in tourney history, and the largest margin-of-victory (10 strokes). Briny Baird and Luke Donald were the distant runners-up.

Official Web site
PGA Tour tournament site

PGA Tour Verizon Heritage Records:

  • Overall: 264 - Brian Gay, 2009
  • 18 Holes: 61 - David Frost, 1994

PGA Tour Verizon Heritage Golf Courses:

The Verizon Heritage has had one home since its inception: Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, S.C., a course built in the coastal marshes and featuring the famous lighthouse backdrop on No. 18.

In one year of its history, the tournament has visited one other course, however: In 1972, the Ocean Course in Hilton Head was the site of the first two rounds.

PGA Tour Verizon Heritage Trivia and Notes:

  • The Verizon Heritage joined the PGA Tour in 1969 as the Heritage Classic. And the tournament started with a bang - the very first winner as the King, Arnold Palmer.

  • Hale Irwin in 1971, Nick Faldo in 1984 and Davis Love III in 1987 each earned their first PGA Tour victories in this tournament.

  • Irwin's last PGA Tour victory also happened here. That was 1994. So Irwin won in 1971, again in 1973, and then more than 20 years later in 1994.

  • Love is the king of Harbour Town, however, with five career wins here: 1987, 1991 and 1992, 1998, and 2003.
  • During the decade of the 1970s, the Verizon Heritage was won by a future Hall-of-Famer every year but one. Graham Marsh, in 1977, was the only winner that decade not in the Hall of Fame today. The other winners in the 1970s were Irwin (twice), Johnny Miller (twice), Jack Nicklaus, Hubert Green (twice) and Tom Watson.

  • This tournament has never been shortened to 54 holes due to rain. But in 2007, it was forced to a Monday finish when strong winds made the fourth round on Sunday unplayable in the eyes of officials. And suspensions of play due to high winds is a much rarer occurrence than rain delays.

    • PGA Tour Verizon Heritage Winners:

    (p-playoff)

    Verizon Heritage
    2009 - Brian Gay, 264
    2008 - Boo Weekley, 269
    2007 - Boo Weekley, 270
    2006 - Aaron Baddeley, 269

    MCI Heritage
    2005 - Peter Lonard, 277
    2004 - Stewart Cink-p, 274
    2003 - Davis Love III-p, 271

    Worldcom Classic - The Heritage of Golf
    2002 - Justin Leonard, 270
    2001 - Jose Coceres-p, 273

    MCI Classic
    2000 - Stewart Cink, 270
    1999 - Glen Day-p, 274
    1998 - Davis Love III, 266
    1997 - Nick Price, 269
    1996 - Loren Roberts, 265
    1995 - Bob Tway-p, 275

    MCI Heritage Classic
    1994 - Hale Irwin, 266
    1993 - David Edwards, 273
    1992 - Davis Love III, 269
    1991 - Davis Love III, 271
    1990 - Payne Stewart-p, 276
    1989 - Payne Stewart, 268
    1988 - Greg Norman, 271
    1987 - Davis Love III, 271

    Sea Pines Heritage Classic
    1986 - Fuzzy Zoeller, 276
    1985 - Bernhard Langer-p, 273
    1984 - Nick Faldo, 270
    1983 - Fuzzy Zoeller, 275
    1982 - Tom Watson-p, 280
    1981 - Bill Rogers, 278
    1980 - Doug Tewell-p, 280
    1979 - Tom Watson, 270
    1978 - Hubert Green, 277
    1977 - Graham Marsh, 273
    1976 - Hubert Green, 274
    1975 - Jack Nicklaus, 271
    1974 - Johnny Miller, 276
    1973 - Hale Irwin, 272
    1972 - Johnny Miller, 281
    1971 - Hale Irwin, 279

    Heritage Classic
    1970 - Bob Goalby, 280
    1969 - Arnold Palmer, 283

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