1941 PGA Championship

1941 PGA Championship
Tournament information
Dates July 7–13, 1941
Location Englewood, Colorado, U.S.
Course(s) Cherry Hills Country Club
Organized by PGA of America
Tour(s) PGA Tour
Format Match play - 6 rounds
Statistics
Par 71
Length 6,888 yards (6,298 m)[1]
Field 97 players,[2]
64 to match play
Cut 154 (+12), playoff
Prize fund $10,600[3]
Winner's share $1,100
Champion
United States Vic Ghezzi
def. Byron Nelson, 38 holes
Cherry Hills Country Club
Location in the United States

The 1941 PGA Championship was the 24th PGA Championship, held July 7–13 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Englewood, Colorado (now Cherry Hills Village), just south of Denver. Then a match play championship, Vic Ghezzi won his only major title over defending champion Byron Nelson in 38 holes.[4][5] Nelson defeated Ralph Guldahl, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen on successive days to reach his third consecutive final.

Seven of the eight quarterfinalists in 1941 won major titles during their careers. Sam Snead was the medalist in the stroke play qualifier at 138 (–4);[6] he lost in the quarterfinals but won the first of his three titles the following year.

Due to World War II, this was the last "full field" at the PGA Championship until 1946. The match play bracket was scaled back from 64 competitors to 32 for 1942, when it and the Masters were the only majors held. The PGA Championship was the only major in 1944 and 1945; none were played in 1943 and the other three returned in 1946.

This was the last time the final match in the PGA Championship went to extra holes. The PGA Championship changed to stroke play in 1958 and its first two playoffs in 1961 and 1967 were 18 holes, before conversion to sudden-death, first used in 1977 and last in 1996. The present three-hole aggregate playoff made its debut in 2000.

This championship was the second major played at this course; the U.S. Open was held at Cherry Hills three years earlier in 1938, won by Guldahl. It later hosted the U.S. Open in 1960 and 1978, and the PGA Championship in 1985. The average elevation of the course exceeds 5,300 feet (1,620 m) above sea level.

Format

The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1941 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days:[3]

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

Past champions in the field

PlayerCountryYear(s) wonRecordAdvanced toFinish
Byron Nelson United States19405–1Finals2
Gene Sarazen United States1922, 1923, 19334–1SemifinalsT3
Denny Shute United States1936, 19373–1QuarterfinalsT5
Henry Picard United States19390–1First roundT33
Paul Runyan United States1934, 19380–1First roundT33

Failed to qualify

PlayerCountryYear wonR1R2TotalTo par
Johnny Revolta United States19357977156+14
Olin Dutra United States1932WD

Source:[1][3][6]

Final results

Sunday, July 13, 1941

PlacePlayerCountryMoney ($)
1Vic Ghezzi United States1,100
2Byron Nelson United States600
T3Lloyd Mangrum United States350
Gene Sarazen United States
T5Jimmy Hines United States250
Ben Hogan United States
Denny Shute United States
Sam Snead United States

Source:[7]

Final eight bracket

Quarter-finals
July 11 		Semi-finals
July 12 		Finals
July 13
         
Vic Ghezzi 8&7
Jimmy Hines
Vic Ghezzi 1 up
Lloyd Mangrum
Lloyd Mangrum 6&4
Sam Snead
Vic Ghezzi 38h
Byron Nelson
Byron Nelson 2&1
Ben Hogan
Byron Nelson 2up
Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen 7&6
Denny Shute

Final match scorecards

Morning

Hole 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 101112131415161718
Par444453434453443454
United States Ghezzi433453434363454445
United States Nelson344463433453453444
LeaderN1–G1G1G2G2G2G2G1G2G1G1G1G1–––N1

Afternoon

Hole 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 101112131415161718
Par444453434453443454
United States Ghezzi443453444443442465
United States Nelson433552434554353455
LeaderN1N2N2N1N1N2N2N3N3N2N1–N1–G1G1––

Extra holes

Hole 1  2 
Par44
United States Ghezzi44
United States Nelson45
Leader–G1

References

  1. 1 2 "Harrison, Bassler lead PGA qualifiers with sub-par 68's". St. Petersburg Times. Florida. United Press. July 8, 1941. p. 9.
  2. ↑ Kelly, Loudon (July 8, 1941). "Bassler and Harrison top P.G.A. qualifier with 68s". Youngstown Vindicator. Ohio. Associated Press. p. 13. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Tournament Info for: 1941 PGA Championship". PGA of America. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Bartlett, Charles (July 14, 1941). "Ghezzi beats Nelson on 38th hole for P.G.A. title". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 19.
  5. ↑ Kelly, Loudon (July 14, 1941). "Vic Ghezzi stages brilliant rally to trim Nelson on 38th hole in P.G.A. final". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). Associated Press. p. 9. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Sam Snead takes medal in PGA qualifying play". Palm Beach Post. Florida. Associated Press. July 9, 1941. p. 9.
  7. ↑ "Vic Ghezzi Wins PGA Title Dethroning Champion Byron Nelson In 38 Holes". Palm Beach Post. Florida. Associated Press. July 14, 1941. p. 6. Retrieved April 30, 2013.

Coordinates: 39°38′35″N 104°57′47″W / 39.643°N 104.963°W / 39.643; -104.963

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