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20-660: The WGC Invitational was a professional golf tournament that was held in the United States. Established in 1999 as a successor to the World Series of Golf , it was one of three or four annual World Golf Championships (WGC) until 2021, when the number of WGC events was reduced to two. Under sponsorship agreements, the WGC Invitational was titled as the WGC-NEC Invitational (1999–2005) and

40-529: A 72-hole, $ 300,000 PGA Tour event and its field was initially expanded to twenty; the victory and $ 100,000 winner's share went to Nicklaus. The largest first prize at a major in 1976 was $ 45,000 at the PGA Championship . The World Series of Golf quickly became a leading event on the tour. For many years a victory in it gave a 10-year exemption on the PGA Tour, the same as was granted for a victory in

60-512: A 74 on Sunday. Nicklaus won with 135, four strokes ahead of Palmer and Player. Nicklaus, age 22, won a then-staggering $ 50,000, with $ 15,000 for second and $ 5,000 each for third and fourth, split between the other two for $ 12,500 each. Opposite this competition was the regular tour event in Denver , which had a winner's share of $ 4,300. The highest paying major at the time was the Masters with

80-703: A fourth player was added to the World Series via an 18-hole playoff between the three men who had lost playoffs in that year's majors; Palmer and Jacky Cupit in the U.S. Open and Phil Rodgers in the Open Championship . Palmer prevailed by five strokes in the August playoff. Nicklaus repeated as the World Series winner in September, one stroke ahead of Julius Boros , with Palmer in third and Bob Charles in fourth. The opposite tour event in 1963

100-482: A leading event on the tour. For many years a victory in it gave a 10-year exemption on the PGA Tour, the same as was granted for a victory in a major championship at that time, and twice as long as is given even for winning a major now. The field consisted of the winners of all the high status men's professional golf tournaments around the world in the previous twelve months. The field was expanded in 1984 to include some international players, all tour event winners, and

120-419: A major championship at that time, and twice as long as is given even for winning a major now. The field consisted of the winners of all the high status men's professional golf tournaments around the world in the previous twelve months. This was quite different from the criteria for the WGC Invitational listed above, but produced much the same sort of global field. NEC World Series of Golf The tournament

140-698: A part of the sponsorship agreement, the event continued to be held at the South Course of Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio . In August 2013, the Bridgestone sponsorship was extended through 2018. The 2018 event was the last held in Akron. In 2019, FedEx became the title sponsor and relocated the tournament to Memphis, Tennessee . Prior to 2019 the event was hosted at the South Course of Firestone Country Club in Akron , Ohio , with one exception –

160-420: A two-stroke advantage over runner-up Nicklaus. The money was the same as in 1962, except that third place received $ 7,500, claimed by Tom Weiskopf . Nicklaus had won his second major of the year, the PGA Championship , at the same course a month earlier. In the fourteen editions of the event, Nicklaus played in ten, won four, and finished as runner-up in six. In subsequent years, if one had won multiple majors,

180-444: A winner's share of $ 20,000; Nicklaus had won $ 17,500 at the U.S. Open at Oakmont , which included a sizable $ 2,500 playoff bonus from the extra day's gate receipts, well-attended due to the presence of favorite son Palmer. At the time of his big Akron payday, the U.S. Open was Nicklaus' only tour victory as a rookie, but he won the next two events at Seattle ($ 4,300) and Portland ($ 3,500). In 1963 , Nicklaus won two majors, so

200-581: The 2002 event, which was played at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington . Between 2019 and 2021, the tournament was held at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee . The event had a field of about 75 players, roughly half the number for a standard professional golf event. Invitations were issued to the following: From 1999 to 2001, only the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams were eligible and

220-683: The International Federation of PGA Tours and the prize money was official money on both the PGA Tour and the European Tour . Tiger Woods had the record number of wins with eight. The winner received a Wedgwood trophy called The Gary Player Cup. From 1999 through 2005, the WGC Invitational was sponsored by NEC . NEC had also sponsored the World Series of Golf from 1984 to 1998. The tournament changed sponsorship in 2006, with Bridgestone taking over as title sponsor. As

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240-671: The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational (2006–2018). During this time, it was hosted at Firestone Country Club in Ohio , except for 2002 when it was hosted at Sahalee Country Club in Washington . With a change of sponsor in 2019, the tournament became titled as the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational and was relocated to at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee . The WGC Invitational was sanctioned and organized by

260-725: The alternate was the winner of the Western Open or Canadian Open . The format of the four major winners in a 36-hole competition was later adopted by the PGA of America in 1979 for its PGA Grand Slam of Golf , last held in 2014. From 1961 through 1976, Firestone also hosted the American Golf Classic on the South course. It was not played in the years of the PGA Championship ( 1960 , 1966 , 1975 ), and

280-510: The field was about 40 players. Prior to 2011, both Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams were eligible. From 1976 through 1998 , the PGA Tour event at Firestone Country Club was the "World Series of Golf," and was sponsored by NEC beginning in 1984 . It was founded as a four-man invitational event in 1962 , comprising the winners of the four major championships in a 36-hole event. the competitors played in one group for $ 75,000 in unofficial prize money, televised by NBC . In 1976 , it became

300-421: The final edition in 1976 was played on the par-72 North course, with the World Series on the South course the following week. In 1976 , it became a 72-hole, $ 300,000 PGA Tour event and its field was initially expanded to twenty; the victory and $ 100,000 winner's share went to Nicklaus. The largest first prize at a major that year was $ 45,000 at the PGA Championship . The World Series of Golf quickly became

320-415: The made-for-television tournament, the competitors played in one group for $ 75,000 in unofficial prize money, televised by NBC . The inaugural edition in September 1962 included only the "Big Three" of Arnold Palmer , Jack Nicklaus , and Gary Player . Palmer had won two majors that year and a fourth competitor was not added. Palmer shot a course record 65 in the first round on Saturday, but fell back with

340-412: The top fifteen on the current money list, with 47 players eligible. The expansion wasn't well-received by all players, and a notable absence was Seve Ballesteros of Spain , who opted out. ^ Third place was $ 5,000 in the first three editions (1962–64) 41°00′29″N 81°30′29″W  /  41.008°N 81.508°W  / 41.008; -81.508 1998 PGA Tour The 1998 PGA Tour

360-489: Was last played in 1998 , but was replaced by the newly created WGC-NEC Invitational in 1999 . Firestone Country Club had hosted that tournament (now known as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) every year until 2019 , except for 2002 . The World Series of Golf was founded as a four-man invitational event in 1962 , comprising the winners of the four major championships in a 36-hole event. In

380-527: Was the Utah Open in Salt Lake City , with a winner's share of $ 6,400. The first year with four players as reigning major champions was 1964 , the first without Nicklaus. Tony Lema took the top spot, followed by Ken Venturi , Bobby Nichols , and Palmer. This was also the first year without a concurrent PGA Tour event. In the final year of the four-man format in 1975, Tom Watson won with

400-405: Was the 83rd season of the PGA Tour , the main professional golf tour in the United States. It was also the 30th season since separating from the PGA of America . The following table lists official events during the 1998 season. The following events were sanctioned by the PGA Tour, but did not carry official money, nor were wins official. The money list was based on prize money won during

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