1939 PGA Championship

The 1939 PGA Championship was the 22nd PGA Championship, held July 9–15 at Pomonok Country Club in Queens, New York. Then a match play championship, Henry Picard won his only PGA Championship, defeating Byron Nelson with a birdie at the 37th hole.[3][4][5][6] It was the second of his two major titles; he won the Masters in 1938. Nelson won the U.S. Open three months earlier and the next PGA Championship in 1940. Beginning in 1939, he made five finals in six PGA Championships, and won his second title in 1945.

1939 PGA Championship

Tournament information
Dates	July 9–15, 1939
Location	Queens, New York, U.S.
Course(s)	Pomonok Country Club
Organized by	PGA of America
Tour(s)	PGA Tour
Format	Match play - 6 rounds
Statistics
Par	72
Length	6,354 yards (5,810 m)[1]
Field	109 players,[1] 64 to match play
Cut	148 (+4), playoff
Prize fund	$10,600 [2]
Winner's share	$1,100
Champion
Henry Picard
def. Byron Nelson, 37 holes

New York City 

Location in the United States

Pomonok CC 

Location in New York

Pomonok CC 

Location in New York City

Picard had not trailed and led by two as late as the 26th hole, but the match was squared on the 29th green and Nelson led by one after 32 holes. Both birdied the par-5 33rd and Picard sank a curling putt from over twenty feet (6 m) for par to halve the 34th hole and stay one back.[3] They halved the par-3 35th at par and both had birdie putts on the 36th green. Nelson missed his from ten feet (3 m) feet while Picard sank his from three to square up the match. On the extra hole, both again had birdie putts: Picard made his from ten feet while Nelson missed his from six.[4]

Defending champion Paul Runyan lost in the quarterfinals to Dick Metz.

This PGA Championship was held during the 1939 New York World's Fair. The golf course no longer exists; Pomonok Country Club disbanded in 1949 and the property was developed for residences.

Format

The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1939 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days:[2]

• Sunday and Monday – 36-hole stroke play qualifier, 18 holes per day;
  • defending champion and top 63 professionals advanced to match play
• Tuesday – first two rounds, 18 holes each
• Wednesday – third round – 36 holes
• Thursday – quarterfinals – 36 holes
• Friday – semifinals – 36 holes
• Saturday – final – 36 holes

Past champions in the field

Player	Country	Year(s) won	Record	Advanced to	Finish
Paul Runyan	United States	1934, 1938	3–1	Quarterfinals	T5
Johnny Revolta	United States	1935	2–1	Third round	T9
Denny Shute	United States	1936, 1937	2–1	Third round	T9
Leo Diegel	United States	1928, 1929	1–1	Second round	T17
Walter Hagen	United States	1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927	0–1	First round	T33
Gene Sarazen	United States	1922, 1923, 1933	0–1	First round	T33

Failed to qualify

Player	Country	Year won	R1	R2	Total	To par
Tom Creavy	United States	1931			153	+9

Source:[2]

Final results

Saturday. July 15, 1939

Place	Player	Country	Money ($)
1	Henry Picard	United States	1,100
2	Byron Nelson	United States	600
T3	Dutch Harrison	United States	350
	Dick Metz	United States
T5	Emerick Kocsis	United States	250
	Rod Munday	United States
	Paul Runyan	United States
	Horton Smith	United States

Source:[6]

Final eight bracket

Quarter-finals July 13

Semi-finals July 14

Finals July 15

Henry Picard

2&1

Rod Munday

Henry Picard

1up

Dick Metz

Dick Metz

2&1

Paul Runyan

Henry Picard

37h

Byron Nelson

Byron Nelson

10&9

Emerick Kocsis

Byron Nelson

9&8

Dutch Harrison

Dutch Harrison

4&3

Horton Smith

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	5	4	3	4	4	4	3	5	5	4	4	5	4	3	4
Picard	4	5	3	4	4	3	4	4	4	3	3	5	4	3	5	4	2	4
Nelson	5	3	4	5	4	4	4	4	2	3	4	4	4	3	4	4	3	3
Leader	P1	–	P1	P2	P2	P3	P3	P3	P2	P2	P3	P2	P2	P2	P1	P1	P2	P1

Afternoon

Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
Par	4	4	3	5	4	3	4	4	4	3	5	5	4	4	5	4	3	4
Picard	4	3	3	4	3	3	4	4	4	3	5	5	4	4	4	4	3	3
Nelson	3	5	3	5	3	3	4	4	3	3	4	5	4	3	4	4	3	4
Leader	–	P1	P1	P2	P2	P2	P2	P2	P1	P1	–	–	–	N1	N1	N1	N1	–

Extra hole

Hole	1
Par	4
Picard	3
Nelson	4
Leader	P1

• Source:[4][5]

References

1. "Four aces smash par to lead meet as P.G.A. split widens to chasm". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. July 11, 1939. p. 13. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
2. "Tournament Info for: 1939 PGA Championship". PGA of America. Archived from the original on February 27, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
3. Boni, Bill (July 16, 1939). "Picard beats Nelson on 37th hole to take PGA title". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). Associated Press. p. D-1.
4. McLemore, Henry (July 16, 1939). "Picard P.G.A." Pittsburgh Press. United Press. p. 1, sports.
5. Bartlett, Charles (July 15, 1939). "Picard to meet Nelson today for P.G.A. title". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 11.
6. Boni, Bill (July 16, 1939). "Picard defeats Nelson on 37th for PGA title". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. p. 1-B.

External links

• PGA Media Guide 2012
• About.com – 1939 PGA Championship
• PGA.com – 1939 PGA Championship