Island Packet Verizon Heritage 2008 Coverage | Harbour Town, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island, SC

1895: Horace Rawlins wins the first U.S. Open, played at Newport Golf Club in Rhode Island.

1899: The inaugural Western Open is won by Willie Smith.

1900: Harry Vardon’s tour of the U.S. generates much interest in the game.

1913: Francis Ouimet captures the U.S. Open at Midlothian Country Club in a three-man playoff that includes Vardon.

1916: PGA of America formed.

1926: Los Angeles Open offers $10,000 purse.

1927: First Ryder Cup matches held. U.S. wins.

1930: Bob Harlow named manager of PGA Tournament Bureau and broaches idea of year-round tournament circuit. Annual purse rises from $77,000 to $130,000 in his first year on job.

1931: Golf Ball and Golf Club Manufacturers Association puts up $5,000 to support sponsors during 1931-32 winter campaign.

1932: “Playing Pros” organization formed, pre-dating by 36 years the current PGA Tour organization.

1933: Hershey Chocolate Company becomes first corporate sponsor, with Hershey Open.

1934: Group of players meet to discuss possibility of year-round tournament circuit.

1954: USGA televises U.S. Open for national audience.

1961: “Caucasians Only” clause stricken from PGA of America constitution.

1968: Association of Professional Golfers, an autonomous playing pros organization, forms in a breakaway from PGA. In a compromise, Tournament Players Division of PGA formed under aegis of 10-man policy board.

1969: Joe Dey becomes first commissioner of the Tournament Players Division.

1974: Deane Beman succeeds Dey as commissioner.

1978: First Legends of Golf Tournament played at Onion Creek CC in Austin, Texas.

1979: PGA Tour headquarters moves from Washington, D.C., to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

1980: Senior PGA Tour, now Champions Tour, organized.

1983: All-exempt tour put in place, all but eliminating Monday qualifying.

1990: Ben Hogan Tour, now the Nationwide Tour, is started.

1994: Tim Finchem succeeds Beman as commissioner; U.S. wins first Presidents Cup competition.

1996: Golf’s five world governing bodies join to create International Federation of PGA Tours.

1999: World Golf Championship events begin.

2005: The PGA Tour’s all-time charity contributions surpass $1 billion.

2007: Tiger Woods wins the first FedEx Cup.

Source: PGA Tour media guide