For an area that had been saddled with a mediocre golf tournament for so long, it’s also been home to some major moments. Literally. Not to mention some memorable ones from other tournaments. Will Tiger Woods’ tournament this week force us to change our list next time?
10. 1995 U.S. Senior Open
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Playing at Congressional, Tom Weiskopf won his first major on U.S. soil. Weiskopf played 22 holes on the final day and made just one bogey. Jack Nicklaus had a hole-in-one on Sunday – and nearly made a second.
9. 1995 Kemper Open
Probably one of the more compelling weekends in this tourney’s history in Washington, thanks to a deep field and a stirring finish. Lee Janzen defeated Corey Pavin with a birdie on 18 to win the event. Pavin won the U.S. Open a week later.
8. 2005 President’s Cup
The U.S. squad and the Internationals were tied at 11 apiece entering Sunday. But the United States won seven singles matches to win by three. Among the two who lost on Sunday for the U.S.: Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
7. Greg Norman wins two Kemper titles
The Shark was still a relative unknown when he won the Kemper at Congressional in 1983, but he was a growing name when he beat Larry Mize on the sixth playoff hole two years later. The Kemper moved to Avenel the following year.
6. 1983 Kemper Open
Fred Couples was a rising star when he won this event, defeating four others (T.C. Chen, Barry Jaeckel, Gil Morgan and Scott Simpson) in a playoff. Couples wife then created a memorable scene, running onto the green and jumping into his arms.
5. Tiger’s tourney, 2007
The most memorable part was Tiger Woods announcing the Washington area as the home for his new tournament, beginning in 2007 at Congressional Country Club. K.J. Choi won the first tourney, but Woods guarantees a buzz each summer in D.C.
4. 1994 President’s Cup
The inaugural event in this United States vs. International match at Robert Trent Jones in Gainesville, Va. The United States had an easy time, winning 20-12, behind the likes of Fred Couples, Davis Love III and a young Phil Mickelson.
3. 1976 PGA Championship
They did not set records for stellar golf during this major, but it did come down to the finish. Dave Stockton drained a 10-foot putt on the last hole to beat Don January and Raymond Floyd by a stroke. Stockton finished 1-over for the tournament.
2. 1997 U.S. Open
Ernie Els beat Colin Montgomerie by one shot when Monty, who struggled with any sort of noise around the course all week, missed a 25-foot putt on 18 that would have forced a playoff. Tom Lehman was in contention until stumbling late.
1. 1964 U.S. Open
Golfers played 36 holes in 100-degree heat and high humidity on the final day at Congressional Country Club. Ken Venturi nearly quit after the first 18 that day because of exhaustion and dehydration, but pushed forward and rallied from a two-stroke deficit to win by four.
