Down through the years a handful of famous entertainers have had their names associated with PGA Tour tournaments by serving as "hosts" of those events. The Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, for example, is still played on the PGA Tour today. Here is a list of the celebrities who've had their names included in PGA Tour tournament titles.
My thanks to Laura Neal, Senior Director, Communications, for the PGA Tour, who did the research for this list.
Celebrities are listed in alphabetical order.
1. Glen Campbell
The pop and country music performer was one of the biggest stars in music in the 1960s and 1970s. He hosted the Glen Campbell Los Angeles Open from 1971 through 1983. The tournament is still played and will be called the Northern Trust Open in 2008, although it's better known as the Nissan Open.2. Bing Crosby
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Bing Crosby was definitely the best golfer of all the celebrities who've had their names attached to tournaments, and one of the best golfers, period, among all celebs of all-time. And his tournament - originally known as the Bing Crosby Professional-Amateur - is perhaps still the most famous of these events. Today we know it as the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. When Crosby started it in 1937, it was more just a fun get-together for golfers and celebs, who enjoyed mingling with one another. And for much of its history the tournament was nicknamed the "Crosby Clambake."
3. Sammy Davis Jr.
The Connecticut tournament called the Travelers Championship in 2007 and the Buick Championship the three prior years was once known as the Greater Hartford Open. And from 1973 through 1988 it was known first as the Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open, then as the Canon Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open.4. Joe Garagiola
The Chrysler Classic of Tucson ceased play following the 2006 tournament. But the Tucson Open had existed for many years, and for some of those years - 1977 through 1983, to be exact - it was called the Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open. Garagiola was a baseball player of modest (very modest) skills, who later became a broadcaster, game show host, and frequent talk-show guest.5. The Gatlin Brothers
The Gatlin Brothers were country music stars whose most famous member was Larry Gatlin. And they served as title hosts for one year (1988), the final year of the tournament's existence, of the Gatlin Brothers Southwest Golf Classic.6. Jackie Gleason
The original "great one," Jackie Gleason, served as host of what is now called the Honda Classic from 1972-80. Then it was known as the Jackie Gleason – Inverrary Classic.7. Bob Hope
You already knew Bob Hope was on this list because we mentioned him in the intro. He followed his good friend Bing Crosby onto the PGA Tour, hosting his own celebrity pro-am tournament. The tournament dates to 1960, when it was called the Palm Springs Golf Classic. In 1965, the tournament was renamed to Bob Hope Desert Classic, in 1994 the Bob Hope Classic, and in 1996 the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. The tournament undergoes another modification to its name in 2008, because ...8. George Lopez
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... comedian George Lopez gets his name added to the mix in 2008. Lopez was named host of the tournament in 2007, and beginning in 2008 the tournament will be called the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic hosted by George Lopez.
