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Milwaukee loses PGA tour
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The Greater Milwaukee Open (renamed the U.S. Bank Championship in 2004), which began in 1968, is gone. Poor attendance and a lack of corporate sponsorship forced Milwaukee Golf Charities to dissolve its organization and the tournament.
Another factor in the GMO's death was the PGA's scheduling of the GMO on the same date as the British Open, which limited the number of top ranked PGA players that attended.
The GMO had started at the North Shore Country Club in Mequon in 1968 and throughout its run has also been hosted at the Tripoli Country Club in Milwaukee, Tuckaway Country Club in Franklin, and since 1994, Brown Deer Park, one of Milwaukee's premiere county parks.
Players who have won the GMO have been Greg Norman, Corey Pavin, Jeff Sluman, and Mark O'Meara. The legendary Jack Nicklaus finished second here in 1985. Tiger Woods made his professional debut at the tournament in 1996, but failed to honor his pledge to return.
Milwaukee has held several PGA tournaments prior to the debut of the GMO in 1968, starting with a Milwaukee Open in 1940, which was won by Ralph Guldahl. The tournament wasn't held again until 1951. The tournament then stayed for several years from 1955-1961.
The irony in U.S. Bank ending it sponsorship is that in 2004 when it became the sponsor, Jerry Grundhofer, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of U.S. Bancorp, parent company of U.S. Bank said in a news release, "This sponsorship gives us the opportunity to showcase U.S. Bank locally and on a national stage and demonstrates our continued commitment to the greater Milwaukee area, where U.S. Bank has a long history of service to the community.” A continued commitment, with regard to the tournament, that only lasted five years.
A press release from the PGA tour stated:
"The PGA Tour is most appreciative of the support the tournament has received since its inception in 1968 from the city of Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin and, of course, the thousands of volunteers. Our thanks to tournament director Dan Croak and his staff for their hard work and dedication as well as their commitment to the Tour's charitable mission."
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