The Atlanta Classic was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour, a regular stop in suburban Atlanta for over four decades. It was founded in 1967, although previous events dating to 1934 are included in the PGA Tour's past winners list. AT&T was the last title sponsor of the tournament.
From 1967 to 1996, it was played at the Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, northwest of Atlanta. From 1997 to 2008, it was played over the Stables and Meadows nines at TPC at Sugarloaf in Duluth, northeast of Atlanta.
For most of its years, the Atlanta tournament was usually held in May. From 1999 to 2006, it was moved to early April, the week before the Masters. Its final two editions were in mid-May, a week after the Players Championship (which was moved from late March). The tournament was cancelled after the 2008 season.Golf: Valero Texas Open may move to spring
This event is not to be confused with the AT&T Champions Classic played in Valencia, California, a Champions Tour (now PGA Tour Champions) tournament which bore the "AT&T Classic" name in 2006, prior to AT&T's acquisition of BellSouth. It was cancelled after the 2009 season.
TPC Sugarloaf currently hosts an annual PGA Tour Champions event, the Mitsubishi Electric Classic, which debuted in 2013.
Tournament highlights 1967: Bob Charles wins the first modern era PGA Tour event played in Atlanta. He finishes two shots ahead of Gardner Dickinson, Tommy Bolt, and Richard Crawford.Bob Charles wins Atlanta Classic 1968; Bob Lunn is victorious for the second straight week on the PGA Tour. He wins by three shots over Lee Trevino.Lunn Atlanta victor for second straight 1970: Georgia native Tommy Aaron wins by one shot over Dan Sikes.Aaron conquers Atlanta Tom Weiskopf came to the 72nd hole tied with Aaron but closed with a double bogey. 1972: Bob Lunn becomes the tournament's first repeat winner. He beats Gary Player by two shots.Bob Lunn triumphs in Atlanta Classic 1977: Hale Irwin becomes the first Atlanta champion to successfully defend his title. He beats Steve Veriato by two shots.Irwin edges crowd favorite Veritato in Atlanta Classic 1979: Andy Bean shoots a third round 61 on his way to an 8-stroke victory over Joe Inman.Andy Bean romps to easy Atlanta Classic victory 1980: Georgian Larry Nelson wins by seven shots over Don Pooley and defending champion Andy Bean.Nelson sails to Atlanta golf title 1983: Calvin Peete shoots a final round 63, including a hole out for birdie from a bunker on the 71st hole. He wins by two shots over Chip Beck, Jim Colbert, and Don Pooley.Peete fires a 63 to win at Atlanta 1986: Bob Tway shoots a final round 64 to win by two shots over Hal Sutton.Tway wins by 2 strokes in Atlanta 1988: Larry Nelson birdies the 72nd hole to become a two-time winner of the tournament. He edges Chip Beck by one shot. 1990: Wayne Levi birdies the 72nd hole in near darkness to earn his first PGA Tour win in five years. He finishes one shot ahead of Nick Price, Keith Clearwater, and Larry Mize.Wayne Levi takes Atlanta Classic 1992: Tom Kite begins the final round bogey-bogey before making six consecutive birdies on his way to a three shot victory over Jay Don Blake.Battling Kite wins Atlanta Classic Amateur David Duval, a junior at Georgia Tech held the 54 hole leadAmateur Duval takes two-shot lead at Atlanta by two strokes before shooting a final round 79 to finish T13.Kite wins Masters pass with Atlanta Classic win 1994: John Daly wins by one shot over Brian Henninger and defending champion Nolan Henke. Afterwards Daly says "This is the first tournament I've won on the PGA Tour in a sober fashion."Clean sober Daly wins at BellSouth 1996: Sixth alternate Paul Stankowski birdies the first sudden death playoff hole to defeat Brandel Chamblee.Wow! Cool! Stankowski wins BellSouth, gets spot in Masters 1998: Tiger Woods notches his only victory of the year in Atlanta. He finishes one shot ahead of Jay Don Blake.Woods upbeat after taking BellSouth 2000: Phil Mickelson wins for the first time in Atlanta. He birdies the first hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Gary Nicklaus.Mickelson beats Nicklaus 2003: Ben Crane shoots a final round 63 to win by four shots over Bob Tway.Crane claims Classic title 2006: Mickelson dominates the field, using two drivers in preparation for the Masters the following week. He concluded with an eagle on the 72nd hole to post a score of 28-under-par, a career best. Mickelson won by 13 strokes over José María Olazábal and Zach Johnson, and would go on to win the Masters the next week. 2007: Zach Johnson seems to like playing golf in Georgia. His third career PGA Tour victory like his first two, the 2004 BellSouth Classic and the 2007 Masters Tournament take place in the state. He defeats Ryuji Imada on the first hole of a sudden death playoff.Johnson captures Atlanta Classic 2008: The last version of the tournament sees Ryuji Imada win in a sudden death playoff over Kenny Perry.Japan's Imada wins Atlanta Classic play-off
Winners YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-upWinner'sshare ($)AT&T Classic 2008 Ryuji Imada 273 −15 Playoff Kenny Perry 990,000 2007 Zach Johnson (2) 273 −15 Playoff Ryuji Imada 972,000BellSouth Classic 2006 Phil Mickelson (3) 260 −28 13 strokes Zach Johnson José María Olazábal 954,000 2005 Phil Mickelson (2) 208 −8 Playoff Arjun Atwal Rich Beem Brandt Jobe José María Olazábal 900,000 2004 Zach Johnson 275 −13 1 stroke Mark Hensby 810,000 2003 Ben Crane 272 −16 4 strokes Bob Tway 720,000 2002 Retief Goosen 272 −16 4 strokes Jesper Parnevik 684,000 2001 Scott McCarron (2) 280 −8 3 strokes Mike Weir 594,000 2000 Phil Mickelson 205 −11 Playoff Gary Nicklaus 504,000 1999 David Duval 270 −18 2 strokes Stewart Cink 450,000 1998 Tiger Woods 271 −17 1 stroke Jay Don Blake 324,000 1997 Scott McCarron 274 −14 3 strokes David Duval Brian Henninger Lee Janzen 270,000 1996 Paul Stankowski 280 −8 Playoff Brandel Chamblee 234,000 1995 Mark Calcavecchia 271 −17 2 strokes Jim Gallagher Jr. 234,000 1994 John Daly 274 −14 1 stroke Nolan Henke Brian Henninger 216,000 1993 Nolan Henke 271 −17 2 strokes Mark Calcavecchia Nick Price Tom Sieckmann 216,000 1992 Tom Kite (2) 272 −16 3 strokes Jay Don Blake 180,000BellSouth Atlanta Golf Classic 1991 Corey Pavin 272 −16 Playoff Steve Pate 180,000 1990 Wayne Levi (2) 275 −13 1 stroke Keith Clearwater Larry Mize Nick Price 180,000 1989 Scott Simpson 278 −10 Playoff Bob Tway 162,000Georgia-Pacific Atlanta Golf Classic 1988 Larry Nelson (2) 268 −20 1 stroke Chip Beck 126,000 1987 Dave Barr 265 −23 4 strokes Larry Mize 108,000 1986 Bob Tway 269 −19 2 strokes Hal Sutton 90,000 1985 Wayne Levi 273 −15 Playoff Steve Pate 90,000 1984 Tom Kite 269 −19 5 strokes Don Pooley 72,000 1983 Calvin Peete 206 −10 2 strokes Chip Beck Jim Colbert Don Pooley 72,000 1982 Keith Fergus 273 −15 Playoff Raymond Floyd 54,000Atlanta Classic 1981 Tom Watson 277 −11 Playoff Tommy Valentine 54,000 1980 Larry Nelson 270 −18 7 strokes Andy Bean Don Pooley 54,000 1979 Andy Bean 265 −23 8 strokes Joe Inman 54,000 1978 Jerry Heard 269 −19 2 strokes Lou Graham Bob Murphy Tom Watson 40,000 1977 Hale Irwin (2) 273 −15 1 stroke Steve Veriato 40,0001976: No tournament 1975 Hale Irwin 271 −17 4 strokes Tom Watson 45,0001974: Atlanta Country Club hosted the Tournament Players Championship 1973 Jack Nicklaus 272 −16 2 strokes Tom Weiskopf 30,000 1972 Bob Lunn (2) 275 −13 2 strokes Gary Player 26,000 1971 Gardner Dickinson 275 −13 Playoff Jack Nicklaus 25,000 1970 Tommy Aaron 275 −13 1 stroke Dan Sikes 25,000 1969 Bert Yancey 277 −11 Playoff Bruce Devlin 23,000 1968 Bob Lunn 280 −8 3 strokes Lee Trevino 23,000 1967 Bob Charles 282 −6 2 strokes Tommy Bolt Richard Crawford Gardner Dickinson 22,0001948–1966: No tournamentAtlanta Open 1947 Toney Penna 281 −3 1 stroke Jimmy Demaret 2,000Atlanta Invitational 1946 Lew Worsham 279 −9 1 stroke Jimmy Demaret 2,200Atlanta Open 1945 Byron Nelson 263 −13 9 strokes Sammy Byrd 2,0001935–1944: No tournament 1934 Ky Laffoon 286 +6 6 strokes Johnny Golden 500
References
External links Official website PGATOUR.com Tournament website