1944 PGA Championship
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 14–20, 1944 |
| Location | Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Course(s) | Manito Golf and Country Club |
| Organized by | PGA of America |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Format | Match play - 5 rounds |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 72 |
| Field | 78 players,[2] 32 to match play |
| Cut | 149 (+5), playoff |
| Prize fund | $14,500[1] |
| Winner's share | $3,500 |
| Champion | |
 Bob Hamilton | |
| def. Byron Nelson, 1 up | |
G & CC
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 $1,500.[5] Hamilton defeated Jug McSpaden 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals[6] and George Schneiter 1 up in the semifinals.[7]
It was Nelson's third runner-up finish (1939, 1941, 1944); he won the title in 1940 and 1945.[8] Nelson was the medalist in the stroke play qualifier with a 6-under 138.[9][10]
This was the first PGA Championship in two years, it was not contested in 1943. Sam Snead won in 1942, but did not defend his title; he was at the naval hospital in San Diego for treatment for his ailing back,[1] and received a medical discharge from the U.S. Navy a month later.[11]
The event was sponsored by the Athletic Round Table, Spokane's notable fun and benevolence organization headed by attorney Joe Albi.[5] Following this event, the ART sponsored the Esmeralda Open, a PGA Tour event in 1945 and 1947, and the first U.S. Women's Open in 1946, all held in Spokane.
The PGA Championship was the sole major played in 1944 (and 1945); the three others returned in 1946.
This was the first major championship played in the Pacific Northwest. The PGA Championship was played in Portland in 1946, and at Sahalee, east of Seattle, in 1998. The first U.S. Open in the region was played in 2015 at Chambers Bay, southwest of Tacoma.
Format[edit]
The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1944 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days:[1]
- Monday and Tuesday – 36-hole stroke play qualifier, 18 holes per day, field of 78 players;[2]
- the top 32 professionals advanced to match play, defending champion Sam Snead did not enter
- Wednesday – first round – 36 holes
- Thursday – second round – 36 holes
- Friday – quarterfinals – 36 holes
- Saturday – semifinals – 36 holes
- Sunday – final – 36 holes
Final results[edit]
Sunday, August 20, 1944
| Place | Player | Money ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bob Hamilton |
3,500 |
| 2 | Byron Nelson |
1,500 |
| T3 | Chuck Congdon |
750 |
| George Schneiter
| ||
| T5 | Art Bell |
500 |
| Ed Dudley
| ||
| Willie Goggin
| ||
| Jug McSpaden
|
Final eight bracket[edit]
| 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[edit]
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 |
| Hamilton |
4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 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 |
| Hamilton |
3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| 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 |
- Source:[3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Tournament Info for: 1944 PGA Championship". PGA.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2006. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ a b "Nelson, with 138, takes medal in pro tourney". Milwaukee Journal. United Press. August 16, 1944. p. 2-part 2.
- ^ a b "Hamilton beats Nelson for P.G.A. crown". Chicago Daily Tribune. Associated Press. August 21, 1944. p. 17.
- ^ "Hamilton surprises Nelson in PGA final". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. August 21, 1944. p. 6-part 2.
- ^ a b "Byron Nelson defeated by dark horse Hamilton". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. August 21, 1944. p. 6.
- ^ "Hamilton defeats McSpadden 2 and 1". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. August 19, 1944. p. 10.
- ^ "Hamilton faces Byron Nelson in PGA final". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. August 20, 1944. p. 17.
- ^ Stark, Charles R. Jr. (August 21, 1944). "Hamilton beats Nelson to win P.G.A." Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1.
- ^ "Nelson wins PGA medal with 138". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. August 16, 1944. p. 13.
- ^ Newland, Russ (August 16, 1944). "Nelson medalist in PGA with 138". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. p. 10.
- ^ "Sam Snead discharged from navy". St. Petersburg Times. (Florida). Associated Press. September 13, 1944. p. 6.
External links[edit]
- PGA Media Guide 2012
- PGA.com – 1944 PGA Championship