Looking Back: Coral Gables Open on PGA Tour

The Coral Gables Open golf tournament had two distinct phases in its PGA Tour history: a period in the 1930s, and another, shorter era in the 1960s. In two different years it was played twice. In one year it was played with 6-inch wide cups.

First played: 1931

Last played: 1962

Also known as: The tournament was played its first two years as the "Coral Gables Open," then, from 1932-37, as the "Miami Biltmore Open" (although it appears the names were sometimes used interchangeably). When the tournament briefly returned from 1959-62, it used the name "Coral Gables Open Invitational."

Winners of the Coral Gables Open/Miami Biltmore Open

1931 — (tie) Walter Hagen, Henry Ciuci, 143 (36 holes)
1932 (March) — Gene Sarazen, 287
1932 (November) — Denny Shute, 291
1933 (March) — Paul Runyan, 266
1933 (December) — Willie Macfarlane, 288
1934 — Olin Dutra, 292
1935 — Horton Smith, 281
1936 — Ralph Guldahl, 281
1937 — Johnny Revolta, 282
(The tournament ended after 1937 but was brought back in 1959.)
1959 — Doug Sanders, 273
1960 — Bob Goalby, 272
1961 — George Knudson, 273
1962 — Gardner Dickinson, 274

During the tournament's later period, Bob Goalby's 272 was the lowest winning score. During its earlier period in the 1930s, Paul Runyan's 266 was by far the lowest — and he won by 10 strokes that year, also the tournament's margin-of-victory record. (The largest winning margin in the later period was just three, by Doug Sanders over Dow Finsterwald in 1959. Finsterwald was also the runner-up to Goalby one year later.)

Runyan's scores in 1933 — 69-64-65-68 — and his 266 total were very low for the era. One reason may be that this golfer famous for his short game was aiming at holes on the green that were cut 6-inches in diameter, rather thant he standard (and by the rules) 4.25-inches of regulation cups. It was an experiment with larger cups advocated by Gene Sarazen (who thought recreational golfers would enjoy the game more by making more putts), and this is the tournament where the idea was tested. Runyan clearly loved it, but the fact that his nearest competitor finished 10 strokes behind shows that most of the pros posted scores that were not obviously better (although surely scores would have been higher that year with standard cups).

For Runyan, the victory here was one of nine on tour for him that year. At the time, that was the most wins ever in one season on the PGA Tour.

Golf course: The tournament was played at The Miami Biltmore Resort in Coral Gables, Florida, which today is known simply as The Biltmore. The layout today is referred as The Biltmore Golf Course.