| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 1–7, 1953 |
| Location | Birmingham, Michigan, U.S. |
| Course(s) | Birmingham Country Club |
| Organized by | PGA of America |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Format | Match play - 6 rounds |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 6,465 yards (5,912 m)[1] |
| Field | 123 players, 64 to match play |
| Cut | 148 (+6), playoff[3] |
| Prize fund | $20,700[2] |
| Winner's share | $5,000 |
| Champion | |
 Walter Burkemo | |
| def. Felice Torza, 2 and 1 | |
Country Club
Country Club
The 1953 PGA Championship was the 35th PGA Championship, held July 1–7 at Birmingham Country Club in Birmingham, Michigan, a suburb northwest of Detroit. Local resident Walter Burkemo won the match play championship, 2 and 1 over Felice Torza in the Tuesday final.[4] The winner's share was $5,000 and the runner-up's was $3,000.[1] Burkemo won his only major title in the second of his three finals; he lost to Sam Snead in 1951 and Chick Harbert in 1954.
Johnny Palmer was the medalist of the stroke play qualifier, awarded $250 for his 134 (−8), with a second round at 66.[5][6] He lost in the first round to Jack Grout; also defeated on "Black Friday" were pre-tournament favorites Cary Middlecoff, three-time champion Sam Snead, and defending champion Jim Turnesa.[7] No former past champion advanced past the second round.
Burkemo's win marked the second time that all four major championships were won by Americans in a calendar year.
- ^ a b "Burkemo wins PGA title, 2–1". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. July 8, 1953. p. 3-part 2.
- ^ "Tournament Info for: 1953 PGA Championship". PGA.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2006. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
- ^ "PGA qualifying scores". Youngstown Vindicator. Associated Press. July 3, 1953. p. 9.
- ^ Cromie, Robert (July 8, 1953). "Burkemo captures P.G.A title". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, sec. 4.
- ^ "Palmer ties PGA mark". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. July 3, 1953. p. 10.
- ^ ""Tornado" Palmer grags PGA medal". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. July 3, 1953. p. 10.
- ^ Grimsley, Will (July 4, 1953). "Snead, Middlecoff, defending champion Turnesa beaten in PGA Tourney". Youngstown Vindicator. Associated Press. p. 7.