1944 PGA Championship

1944 PGA Championship
Tournament information
DatesAugust 14–20, 1944
LocationSpokane, Washington, U.S.
Course(s)Manito Golf and
Country Club
Organized byPGA of America
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatMatch play - 5 rounds
Statistics
Par72
Field78 players,[2]
32 to match play
Cut149 (+5), playoff
Prize fund$14,500[1]
Winner's share$3,500
Champion
United States Bob Hamilton
def. Byron Nelson, 1 up
← 1942
1945 →
Spokane is located in the United States
Spokane
Spokane
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Location in the United States
Manito  G & CC is located in Washington (state)
Manito  G & CC
Manito 
G & CC
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Location in Washington

The 1944 PGA Championship was the 26th PGA Championship, held August 14–20 at Manito Golf and Country Club in Spokane, Washington. Then a match play championship, Bob Hamilton won his only major title, 1 up in the 36-hole final over heavily favored Byron Nelson;[3][4] the winner's share was $3,500 and the runner-up's was $1,500.[5] Hamilton defeated Jug McSpaden 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals[6] and George Schneiter 1 up in the semifinals.[7]

It was Nelson's third runner-up finish (1939, 1941, 1944); he won the title in 1940 and 1945.[8] Nelson was the medalist in the stroke play qualifier with a 6-under 138.[9][10]

This was the first PGA Championship in two years, it was not contested in 1943. Sam Snead won in 1942, but did not defend his title; he was at the naval hospital in San Diego for treatment for his ailing back,[1] and received a medical discharge from the U.S. Navy a month later.[11]

The event was sponsored by the Athletic Round Table, Spokane's notable fun and benevolence organization headed by attorney Joe Albi.[5] Following this event, the ART sponsored the Esmeralda Open, a PGA Tour event in 1945 and 1947, and the first U.S. Women's Open in 1946, all held in Spokane.

The PGA Championship was the sole major played in 1944 (and 1945); the three others returned in 1946.

This was the first major championship played in the Pacific Northwest. The PGA Championship was played in Portland in 1946, and at Sahalee, east of Seattle, in 1998. The first U.S. Open in the region was played in 2015 at Chambers Bay, southwest of Tacoma.

Format

The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1944 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days:[1]

  • Monday and Tuesday – 36-hole stroke play qualifier, 18 holes per day, field of 78 players;[2]
    • the top 32 professionals advanced to match play, defending champion Sam Snead did not enter
  • Wednesday – first round – 36 holes
  • Thursday – second round – 36 holes
  • Friday – quarterfinals – 36 holes
  • Saturday – semifinals – 36 holes
  • Sunday – final – 36 holes

Final results

Sunday, August 20, 1944

Place Player Money ($)
1 United States Bob Hamilton 3,500
2 United States Byron Nelson 1,500
T3 United States Chuck Congdon 750
United States George Schneiter
T5 United States Art Bell 500
United States Ed Dudley
United States Willie Goggin
United States Jug McSpaden

Final eight bracket

Quarter-finals
August 18 		Semi-finals
August 19 		Finals
August 20
         
Bob Hamilton 2&1
Jug McSpaden
Bob Hamilton 1up
George Schneiter
George Schneiter 2&1
Art Bell
Bob Hamilton 1up
Byron Nelson
Byron Nelson 4&3
Willie Goggin
Byron Nelson 8&7
Chuck Congdon
Chuck Congdon 6&5
Ed Dudley

Final match scorecards

Morning

Hole  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Par 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 5 4 5 3 4 4 4 5 3 4 4
United States Hamilton 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 3
United States Nelson 4 4 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 4 3 4 4 3 4 4 4 4
Leader – – – N1 N1 N1 N1 N1 – – – – – N1 N1 N1 N1 –

Afternoon

Hole  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Par 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 5 4 5 3 4 4 4 5 3 4 4
United States Hamilton 3 4 3 4 4 4 4 5 4 5 3 4 4 4 5 2 4 3
United States Nelson 4 4 3 4 5 4 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 4 4 3 4 3
Leader H1 H1 H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 H1 H1 H1 H2 H1 H1 H1 – H1 H1 H1

References

  1. ^ a b c "Tournament Info for: 1944 PGA Championship". PGA.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2006. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Nelson, with 138, takes medal in pro tourney". Milwaukee Journal. United Press. August 16, 1944. p. 2-part 2.
  3. ^ a b "Hamilton beats Nelson for P.G.A. crown". Chicago Daily Tribune. Associated Press. August 21, 1944. p. 17.
  4. ^ "Hamilton surprises Nelson in PGA final". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. August 21, 1944. p. 6-part 2.
  5. ^ a b "Byron Nelson defeated by dark horse Hamilton". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. August 21, 1944. p. 6.
  6. ^ "Hamilton defeats McSpadden 2 and 1". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. August 19, 1944. p. 10.
  7. ^ "Hamilton faces Byron Nelson in PGA final". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. August 20, 1944. p. 17.
  8. ^ Stark, Charles R. Jr. (August 21, 1944). "Hamilton beats Nelson to win P.G.A." Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1.
  9. ^ "Nelson wins PGA medal with 138". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. August 16, 1944. p. 13.
  10. ^ Newland, Russ (August 16, 1944). "Nelson medalist in PGA with 138". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. p. 10.
  11. ^ "Sam Snead discharged from navy". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. September 13, 1944. p. 6.

47°36′32″N 117°23′42″W / 47.609°N 117.395°W / 47.609; -117.395