The Michelob Championship at Kingsmill was a
golf tournament on the
PGA Tour from
1968 to
2002. It was played in
Virginia at the River Course of
Kingsmill Golf Club outside of
Williamsburg, from 1981 to 2002. From 1977 through 1995, it was known as the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic.
The event was founded in 1968 as the Kaiser International Open Invitational, which was played in
northernCalifornia at
Silverado Country Club in
Napa through
1980. In its second year, it was played twice. At the second edition in January
1969, three days of rain washed out the final two rounds of play and 36-hole leader
Miller Barber was declared the winner, but only half the prize money was distributed.[2][3] The tournament was rescheduled for late October/early November and
Jack Nicklaus was the winner in a four-man playoff, decided on the second extra hole on Monday.[4][5]
The purse of the inaugural event in 1968 was $125,000, and
Kermit Zarley took the winner's share of $25,000 in January for his first tour win.[6] The final event in 2002 had a purse of $3.7 million, with a winner's share of $666,000 to
Charles Howell III in early October.[1]
1968:
Kermit Zarley shot a final round 65 (–7) to win $25,000 at the inaugural event,[6] a stroke ahead of
Dave Marr.[7]
January 1969: For the first time ever, due to three days of steady rain a 72-hole PGA Tour tourney is called off after only 36 holes.
Miller Barber was the winner by one shot over
Bruce Devlin. The purse was also cut in half.[8]
November 1969: The Kaiser International is decided in a four-way playoff.
Jack Nicklaus sank a 12-foot (3.7 m) birdie putt on the second extra hole to defeat
George Archer and
Billy Casper.
Don January was eliminated on the first playoff hole, as the others made birdies. Darkness then caused play to be called until Monday morning, which had a fog delay.[9]
1970:
Ken Still makes a birdie on the first playoff hole to defeat
Lee Trevino and
Bert Yancey.
Dave Hill misses the playoff by one shot after making a triple bogey on the 11th hole during the final round of play. Just before his disastrous hole, Hill and his playing partner
Chi-Chi Rodríguez exchanged angry words which required an official to settle their clash.[10]
1974:
Johnny Miller collects his 8th triumph of the year and wins by eight shots over Casper and Trevino.[11][12]
1975: Miller successfully defends his Kaiser title and finishes three shots ahead of
Rod Curl.[13]
1977: Miller Barber wins in Napa again, with a final round 65 to rally from six shots back and defeat George Archer by two shots.[15]
1979:
John Fought birdies the 72nd hole to win by one shot over Alan Tapie,
Bobby Wadkins, and
Buddy Gardner. It was Fought's second straight win on the PGA Tour.[16]
1983:
Calvin Peete rallies from six shots back to successfully defend his Anheuser-Busch title, one shot in front of
Tim Norris.[18]Hal Sutton squandered the large lead, but wins the
PGA Championship two weeks later.
1984:
Ronnie Black, seven shots behind when final round play began, shoots a 63 to win by one shot over
Willie Wood.[19]