The History of the Wyndham Championship: From the Greater Greensboro Open to the FedExCup Finale
Every August, golf fans turn their attention to Greensboro, North Carolina, for one of the most important tournaments on the PGA Tour calendar.
Today, we know it as the Wyndham Championship, but the tournament's history stretches back nearly ninety years—and its story is much bigger than many golf fans realize.
What began as the Greater Greensboro Open in 1938 has evolved into the final stop before the FedExCup Playoffs, where careers, playoff spots, and millions of dollars can be decided in a single weekend.
Why Was the Wyndham Championship Created?
The tournament was founded in 1938 during a time when the United States was still recovering from the Great Depression.
Cities across the country were beginning to realize that professional sporting events could attract visitors, generate business, and bring national attention to their communities.
Greensboro wanted to be part of that movement.
Local leaders partnered with the PGA Tour to establish what was originally called the Greater Greensboro Open, creating North Carolina's first long-running professional golf tournament.
Nearly ninety years later, that same vision continues.
Every August, thousands of fans travel to Greensboro, filling hotels, restaurants, and businesses while watching the world's best golfers compete.
Five Names, One Tournament
One of the most interesting parts of the tournament's history is how its name evolved over the decades.
Although the event never disappeared, its title changed as sponsorships changed.
The tournament has been known as:
Greater Greensboro Open (1938)
Kmart Greater Greensboro Open
Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic
Chrysler Classic of Greensboro
Wyndham Championship (2007–Present)
These weren't simply marketing decisions.
As professional golf grew, tournaments increasingly relied on corporate sponsorship to survive and continue offering competitive purses.
When Chrysler ended its sponsorship after the 2006 tournament, Wyndham Worldwide stepped in.
At the time, Wyndham was headquartered in Greensboro and saw an opportunity to invest in one of North Carolina's largest annual sporting events while gaining national television exposure through the PGA Tour.
That partnership continues today.
One of the Oldest Events on the PGA Tour
The Wyndham Championship is more than just another PGA Tour stop.
It is:
North Carolina's oldest professional golf tournament
One of the oldest continuously contested events on the PGA Tour
The seventh-oldest PGA Tour event, excluding the four major championships
Considering how many tournaments have relocated, disappeared, or changed dramatically over the decades, that's an impressive accomplishment.
Why the Wyndham Championship Matters Today
The tournament's role changed dramatically in 2007 with the introduction of the FedExCup Playoffs.
Instead of every tournament standing completely on its own, players now earned FedExCup points throughout the season.
Because the Wyndham Championship already occupied the final week of the regular season, it suddenly became one of the most dramatic tournaments in golf.
Today, the tournament determines:
The final 70 players who qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs
Positioning for the PGA Tour postseason
Eligibility opportunities for future Signature Events
Valuable momentum heading into Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup selections
Every birdie can move a player into the playoffs.
Every bogey can end a season.
That pressure makes the Wyndham Championship one of the most compelling weeks on the PGA Tour schedule.
The Incredible Story of Sam Byrd
One of my favorite pieces of Wyndham Championship history happened in 1942.
It involves a man named Sam Byrd.
Before becoming a professional golfer, Byrd played Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees alongside legends like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
Known for his speed and athleticism, Byrd spent parts of six seasons in the majors before making one of the most unusual career changes in sports history.
He left baseball to pursue golf.
Most athletes dream of competing professionally in one sport.
Sam Byrd succeeded in two.
In 1942, he won the Greater Greensboro Open.
To this day, he remains the only former Major League Baseball player to win a PGA Tour event.
He also competed in the World Series and later played in The Masters Tournament—a combination of accomplishments that remains unmatched in professional sports.
It's one of those stories that almost sounds fictional.
🎧 Listen to the Full Episode
This article only scratches the surface of the Wyndham Championship's remarkable history.
In Episode 9 of Under Par Over Time, I dive deeper into:
the origins of the Greater Greensboro Open
how sponsorship changed professional golf
why the FedExCup made the Wyndham Championship one of the most important tournaments on the PGA Tour
and the unforgettable story of Sam Byrd.
If you enjoy golf history, PGA Tour traditions, and the stories behind the tournaments we watch every year, I think you'll enjoy this episode.
