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.

  1. ^ a b "Tournament Info for: 1944 PGA Championship". PGA.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2006. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  2. ^ "Nelson, with 138, takes medal in pro tourney". Milwaukee Journal. United Press. August 16, 1944. p. 2-part 2.
  3. ^ "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.