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PGA Tour Children's Miracle Network Classic

By Brent Kelley, About.com

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Payne Stewart - Walt Disney Classic

Payne Stewart won the Disney tournament in 1983, and finished second by a stroke to Tiger Woods in 1996.

David Cannon / Getty Images

About the Children's Miracle Network Classic:

The PGA Tour Children's Miracle Network Classic has been played since 1971 under several different names, some of them including the Disney brand. Because Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., has always been the host location for this tournament, which is played over the resort's two golf courses. For a short period of time early in its history, this tournament was a 2-man team event. In recent years, the Disney tournament has usually served as the season-ending event on the PGA Tour schedule.

2009 Tournament
• When: Nov. 12-15
• Where: Disney Resort (Magnolia and Palm courses), Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
• TV: Golf Channel

2008 Recap
Davis Love III won at Disney for the first time, and on the PGA Tour for the 20th time. Love closed with a 64, following up rounds of 66, 69 and another 64 in the third round, to finish at 263. Tommy Gainey, who also shot 64 in the final round, was one stroke behind in second place.

Official Web site
PGATour.com tournament site

Children's Miracle Network Classic Records:

  • 72 holes: 262, John Huston, 1992
  • 18 holes: Palm Course - 60, Justin Rose, 2006; Magnolia Course - 61, Payne Stewart, 1990

Children's Miracle Network Classic Golf Courses:

When this tournament debuted in 1971, it was played over two courses at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., the Palm course and the Magnolia course. And those two courses have always been the site of the tournament, and continue today as the host courses.

In some years, however, two other tracks also hosted rounds during tournament play - the Lake Buena Vista course and the Eagle Pines course, both also part of the Disney resort.

Children's Miracle Network Classic Trivia and Notes:

  • When this tournament debuted in 1971, it was known as the Walt Disney World Open Invitational. Other tourney names that included Disney were the Walt Disney World National Team Championship, the Walt Disney World Golf Classic, the Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic, the National Car Rental Golf Classic at Walt Disney World Resort, the Disney Golf Classic, and the Funai Golf Classic at Walt Disney World Resort. While Disney continues to be the location of the tournament, since 2007 the Disney name has been absent from the tournament title.

  • Jack Nicklaus won the first tournament in 1971. And the second. And then the third. Nicklaus remains the only 3-time winner here.

  • The second PGA Tour victory of Tiger Woods' career happened at the 1996 Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic. Woods pipped Payne Stewart by one stroke.

  • Following Nicklaus' three straight wins from 1971-73, the tournament switched to a 2-man team format in 1974. That format continued through the 1981 tournament.

  • A couple of family pairings came close to winning during the team years. Sam Snead and nephew J.C. Snead finished second in 1974 (Ed Sneed - different spelling and no relation - was part of the other team that tied for second that year); in 1978, brothers Lanny Wadkins and Bobby Wadkins finished second.

  • And in 1980, brothers Danny Edwards and David Edwards won the tournament.

  • In addition to Nicklaus, one other golfer has won this event in back-to-back years: Tim Simpson in 1989-90.

    • Children's Miracle Network Classic - Past Champions:

    (p-playoff; w-weather shortened)

    Children's Miracle Network Classic Presented by Wal-Mart
    2008 - Davis Love III, 263
    2007 - Stephen Ames, 271

    Funai Golf Classic at Walt Disney World Resort
    2006 - Joe Durant, 263
    2005 - Lucas Glover, 265
    2004 - Ryan Palmer, 266
    2003 - Vijay Singh, 265

    Disney Golf Classic
    2002 - Bob Burns, 263

    National Car Rental Golf Classic at Walt Disney World Resort
    2001 - Jose Coceres, 265
    2000 - Duffy Waldorf, 262
    1999 - Tiger Woods, 271
    1998 - John Huston, 272

    Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic
    1997 - David Duval-p, 270
    1996 - Tiger Woods, 267
    1995 - Brad Bryant-w, 198
    1994 - Rick Fehr, 265
    1993 - Jeff Maggert, 265
    1992 - John Huston, 262
    1991 - Mark O'Meara, 267
    1990 - Tim Simpson, 264
    1989 - Tim Simpson, 272
    1988 - Bob Lohr-p, 263
    1987 - Larry Nelson, 268
    1986 - Raymond Floyd-p, 275
    1985 - Lanny Wadkins, 267

    Walt Disney World Golf Classic
    1984 - Larry Nelson, 266
    1983 - Payne Stewart, 269
    1982 - Hal Sutton-p, 269

    Walt Disney World National Team Championship
    1981 - Vance Heafner/Mike Holland, 264
    1980 - Danny Edwards/David Edwards, 253
    1979 - George Burns/Ben Crenshaw, 255
    1978 - Wayne Levi/Bob Mann, 254
    1977 - Gibby Gilbert/Grier Jones, 253
    1976 - Woody Blackburn/Bill Kratzert-p, 260
    1975 - Jim Colbert/Dean Refram, 252
    1974 - Hubert Green/Mac McLendon, 255

    Walt Disney World Open Invitational
    1973 - Jack Nicklaus, 275
    1972 - Jack Nicklaus, 267
    1971 - Jack Nicklaus, 273

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