Children's Miracle Network Classic

Infobox_Golf_Tournament
tournament_name = Children's Miracle Network Classic
nickname =


location = Lake Buena Vista, Florida
establishment = 1971
course = Magnolia Golf Club
Palm Golf Club
par = 72
yardage = 7,516
tour = PGA Tour
format = Stroke play
purse = $4,600,000
month_played = November
aggregate = 262 John Huston (1992)
262 Duffy Waldorf (2000)
to-par = -26 John Huston (1992)
-26 Duffy Waldorf (2000)These records only apply to when the tournament has been played as a regular event, not a team event.
Current Champion = Stephen Ames

The Children's Miracle Network Classic is an annual golf tournament on the PGA Tour. The tournament is played on the Palm and Magnolia courses at the Walt Disney World Resort. Starting in 2007, it was the final event in the PGA Tour Fall Series, and also the final official event of the PGA Tour season. The tournament is one of the players' favorites because of its location in Orlando, Florida; many players maintain homes in Florida, and whether or not they live in Florida, they can easily take their families to the parks while not playing.

The 2006 purse was $4,600,000, with $828,000 going to the winner. Currently, the same total purse and winner's prize will be offered in 2007. The tournament was founded in 1971 as the Walt Disney World Open Invitational. From 1974 to 1981, the tournament was played as a two-man team event with a better-ball format. After 36 years of having "Disney" in the tournament name, a new sponsor was announced in 2007, the Children's Miracle Network. [ [http://www.pgatour.com/2007/tournaments/r045/07/25/disney/index.html TOUR's final stop renamed Children's Miracle Network Classic] ]

2005 FUNAI Classic

The 2005 FUNAI Classic was won by tour rookie Lucas Glover after he "holed" out a shot from a green-side bunker on Sunday. Prior to the bunker shot, Glover made a 40 foot putt on the 17th green. Tom Pernice, Jr. would miss his birdie putt which could have forced a play-off with Glover giver Glover his first tour win in dramatic fashion. Glover's victory was the third first-time winner on the PGA Tour in four years at the Disney Classic. Other drama continued on Sunday at Disney World as 2006 U.S. Open winner Geoff Ogilvy fell apart on the back nine to lose his share of the lead as Glover holed his bunker shot getting an unlucky bounce off of a rock on the 18th green. Ogilvy told reporters after the round about seeing Glover's shot, "I knew I was tied when I made the putt," Ogilvy said. "And I knew I was one behind before I hit my next tee shot." [ [http://www.pgatour.com/story/8998456 2005 FUNAI Classic Review] ] The final rounds had been stripped of much potential press coverage due to the early departure of Tiger Woods, his second missed cut of the season, both coming within ten events.

2006 FUNAI Classic

The 2006 FUNAI Classic at WDW featured great media attention leading up to the event, as the decision of Tiger Woods to play or not play would determine whether or not he would be eligible for the Vardon Trophy. Woods needed a total of 60 official PGA Tour rounds to be eligible to win the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average, but chose not to play thus forfeiting his chance at winning the award. Despite no longer being eligible for the Vardon Trophy, Woods still won the Byron Nelson Award for lowest scoring average, which requires a total of 50 or more rounds. The 2006 event featured a purse of $4.6 million dollars with $828,000 going to the winner. [ [http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r045 PGA Tour 2006 FUNAI Classic Preview] ]

Courses

The Magnolia Course at Walt Disney World is known as more "tour"-style then its sister the Palm Course. The Palm course is undeniably the prettier of the two, however. In the 2006 telecast, one commentator is quoted as saying that the Palm course has the better greens of the two courses. The Magnolia has grown to 7,516 yards to battle the usual low scores during the tournament's history.

In some years during the mid-1990s, the nearby Lake Buena Vista golf course was also part of the tournament, along with the Palm and Magnolia.

Winners

Children's Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart
*2007 Stephen Ames - TTO / CAN

FUNAI Classic at the Walt Disney World Resort
*2006 Joe Durant - USA
*2005 Lucas Glover - USA
*2004 Ryan Palmer - USA
*2003 Vijay Singh - FJI

Disney Golf Classic
*2002 Bob Burns - USA

National Car Rental Golf Classic Disney
*2001 José Cóceres - ARG
*2000 Duffy Waldorf - USA
*1999 Tiger Woods - USA
*1998 John Huston - USA

Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic
*1997 David Duval - USA
*1996 Tiger Woods - USA
*1995 Brad Bryant - USA
*1994 Rick Fehr - USA
*1993 Jeff Maggert - USA
*1992 John Huston - USA
*1991 Mark O'Meara - USA
*1990 Tim Simpson - USA
*1989 Tim Simpson - USA
*1988 Bob Lohr - USA
*1987 Larry Nelson - USA
*1986 Raymond Floyd - USA
*1985 Lanny Wadkins - USA

Walt Disney World Golf Classic
*1984 Larry Nelson - USA
*1983 Payne Stewart - USA
*1982 Hal Sutton - USA

Walt Disney World National Team Championship
*1981 Vance Heafner and Mike Holland - both USA
*1980 Danny Edwards and David Edwards - both USA
*1979 George Burns and Ben Crenshaw - both USA
*1978 Wayne Levi and Bob Mann - both USA
*1977 Gibby Gilbert and Grier Jones - both USA
*1976 Woody Blackburn and Billy Kratzert - both USA
*1975 Jim Colbert and Dean Refram - both USA
*1974 Hubert Green and Mac McLendon - both USA

Walt Disney World Golf Classic
*1973 Jack Nicklaus - USA

Walt Disney World Open Invitational
*1972 Jack Nicklaus - USA
*1971 Jack Nicklaus - USA

References

External links

* [http://www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org Children's Miracle Network website]
* [http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r045 PGATOUR.com Tournament website]