Scottie Scheffler, currently the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer, played in the Boise tournament in 2019. Similar talent will be on display again this week at Hillcrest.

BOISE, Idaho — This story originally appeared in the Idaho Press. 

For 36 years, the Albertsons Boise Open has provided a training ground for future PGA Tour players.

During that time, a litany of competitors have taken the course in Boise only to wind up being household names on the PGA Tour. Players such as Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Bubba Watson, John Daly, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Bryson DeChambeau and Xander Schauffele have all competed in the Albertsons Boise Open.

In 2019, Scottie Scheffler, currently the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer, played in the local tournament.

Similar talent will be on display again this week, when play tees off at Hillcrest Country Club, Thursday through Sunday.

Jeff Sanders, who has been executive director of the Albertsons Boise Open for all 36 years, said that nine out of 10 golfers who compete this week will eventually go on to play in the PGA Tour at some point in their career.

The Albertsons Boise Open is part of the Korn Ferry Tour, which is the PGA Tour’s developmental circuit. Owned and operated by the PGA Tour, the Korn Ferry Tour “identifies and develops players ready to compete and win on golf’s biggest stage,” according to the tour’s website.

Top performers from the Korn Ferry Tour season earn PGA Tour membership for the following season. The Albertsons Boise Open is the last event before the Korn Ferry’s season-ending finals.


“This tour is the perfect place for world-class, amateur and college golfers to get to the PGA Tour,” Sanders said. “This is the path.”

Sanders pointed out that 350-400 golfers total play on the Korn Ferry and PGA tours combined, meaning both are highly competitive and coveted.

“The difference between players on the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour is honestly the depth of a dollar bill,” Sanders said.

According to a news release from the PGA Tour, 156 players will take the course at Hillcrest. Johnny Keefer, Neal Shipley and Austin Smotherman are all multi-time tournament winners this season, meaning if any take home first place this weekend, they’ll get an immediate promotion to the PGA Tour. Keefer and Smotherman are ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, in the Korn Ferry Tour Points List this year.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity to compete here in Boise,” Keefer said. “I’m really enjoying it here and would love to make this the spot where I win my third event for the Three-Victory Promotion. I know this will be a great place to have a great week.”

Sanders, who graduated from the University of Oregon in 1979 and played on the PGA Tour from 1980-85, had high praise for the Albertsons Boise Open as a whole.

A three-year contract extension was just signed between the PGA Tour, Hillcrest Country Club, Albertsons and Jeff Sanders Entertainment, which will keep the tournament in Boise through 2028. Sanders said he isn’t looking for it to slow down anytime soon.

“We hope to get to 40 years,” Sanders said. “That would be a great milestone.”

Albertsons has been a title sponsor throughout the tournament’s history, starting in its initial year of existence when it was the Ben Hogan Boise Open presented by Albertsons. According to Sanders, that is a Korn Ferry Tour record.

He also said that the event will deliver about $40 million to charity, with all ticket sales going the purchaser’s foundation of choice.

Couple that with three nights of concerts — Darius Rucker, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Brothers Osborne will take the stage Thursday, Friday and Saturday, respectively — and Sanders said the $35 ticket price is a tough deal to beat.

“The fans really love it, it entertains everyone during the summertime and it gives a lot of money to charity,” he said. “Those are the stars that sort of align for this tournament.”

For more stories from the Idaho Press, click here.