1944 PGA Championship

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 & 1 in the quarterfinals[6] and George Schneiter 1 up in the semifinals.[7]

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,[1] 32 to match play
Cut	149 (+5), playoff
Prize fund	$14,500[2]
Winner's share	$3,500
Champion
Bob Hamilton
def. Byron Nelson, 1 up

Spokane

Location in the United States

Manito 
G & CC

Location in Washington

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,[2] 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:[2]

• Monday and Tuesday – 36-hole stroke play qualifier, 18 holes per day, field of 78 players;[1]
  • 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

Past champions in the field

Player	Country	Year won	Record	Advanced to	Finish
Byron Nelson	United States	1940	4–1	Finals	2

Failed to qualify

Player	Country	Year won	R1	R2	Total	To par
Olin Dutra	United States	1932	78	74	152	+8

Source:[2][9][10]

Final results

Sunday, August 20, 1944

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

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
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

1. "Nelson, with 138, takes medal in pro tourney". Milwaukee Journal. United Press. August 16, 1944. p. 2-part 2.
2. "Tournament Info for: 1944 PGA Championship". PGA.com. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
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. "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.

External links

• PGA Media Guide 2012
• About.com – 1944 PGA Championship
• PGA.com – 1944 PGA Championship