1954 PGA Championship

The 1954 PGA Championship was the 36th PGA Championship, held July 21–27 at Keller Golf Club in Maplewood, Minnesota, a suburb north of St. Paul. Chick Harbert won the match play championship, 4 & 3 over defending champion Walter Burkemo in the Tuesday final;[3] the winner's share was $5,000 and the runner-up's was $3,000.[4]

1954 PGA Championship
Tournament information
DatesJuly 21–27, 1954
LocationMaplewood, Minnesota, U.S.
Course(s)Keller Golf Club
Organized byPGA of America
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatMatch play - 6 rounds
Statistics
Par71
Length6,652 yards (6,083 m)[1]
Field135 players,[1]
64 to match play
Cut147 (+5), no playoff needed
Prize fund$20,700[2]
Winner's share$5,000
Champion
Chick Harbert
def. Walter Burkemo, 4 & 3
Maplewood 
Location in the United States
Keller GC 
Location in Minnesota

It marked the second time the PGA Championship returned to a venue; public Keller had also hosted in 1932; Oakmont near Pittsburgh hosted in 1922 and 1951. It was the third and last final for the two finalists, both from the Detroit area; each had one victory and two losses. Harbert lost in 1947 and 1952, while Burkemo lost in 1951 and won in 1953.

In the finals, Burkemo eagled the first hole and was three up after four holes, but soon cooled off; the match was even on the twelfth tee and Harbert led by one at the lunch break. The afternoon round was bogey-free for both, but Harbert had five birdies to Burkemo's two and the match ended on the 33rd green.[3]

Ed "Porky" Oliver won $250 as the medalist in the stroke-play qualifying with a 136 (−6);[5][6] he fell 3 & 1 in the third round to eventual champion Harbert.[7][8]

Format

The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1954 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days:[2]

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

Past champions in the field

PlayerCountryYear(s) wonRecordAdvanced toFinish
Walter Burkemo United States19535–1Finals2
Sam Snead United States1942, 1949, 19513–1QuarterfinalsT5
Johnny Revolta United States19352–1Third roundT9
Jim Turnesa United States19520–1First roundT33

Failed to qualify

PlayerCountryYear wonR1R2TotalTo par
Chandler Harper United States19507276148+6
Vic Ghezzi United States19417575150+8

Source:[2][6][9]

Final results

Tuesday, July 27, 1954

PlacePlayerCountryMoney ($)
1Chick Harbert United States5,000
2Walter Burkemo United States3,000
T3Tommy Bolt United States750
Cary Middlecoff United States
T5Jerry Barber United States500
Roberto De Vicenzo Argentina
Shelley Mayfield United States
Sam Snead United States

Final eight bracket

Quarter-finals
July 25
Semi-finals
July 26
Finals
July 27
         
Chick Harbert 1up
Jerry Barber
Chick Harbert 1up
Tommy Bolt
Tommy Bolt 39h
Sam Snead
Chick Harbert 4&3
Walter Burkemo
Walter Burkemo 5&4
Roberto De Vicenzo
Walter Burkemo 37h
Cary Middlecoff
Cary Middlecoff 3&1
Shelley Mayfield

Final match scorecards

Morning

Hole 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 101112131415161718
Par445343544445343444
Harbert^47343443445343434
Burkemo245243444555353434
LeaderB1B1B2B3B3B3B3B3B2B1H1H1H1H1H1

^ = picked up ball (hole concession)

Afternoon

Hole 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 101112131415161718
Par445343544445343444
Harbert335343544344333Harbert
wins
4 & 3
Burkemo445343444444343
LeaderH2H3H3H3H3H3H2H2H2H3H3H3H3H4H4

References

  1. "Oliver sets PGA pace with 5-under 66". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 22, 1954. p. 17.
  2. "Tournament Info for: 1954 PGA Championship". PGA.com. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  3. Bartlett, Charles (July 28, 1954). "Harbert, 39, wins pro golf title". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 3.
  4. "Harbert is victor in PGA finals". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). United Press. July 28, 1954. p. 16.
  5. Bartlett, Charles (July 23, 1954). "Oliver's 136 wins PGA trials medal". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 3.
  6. "Porky Oliver's 136 wins national PGA medal". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 23, 1954. p. 19.
  7. "Fancy field of 8 move into PGA quarterfinals". Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. July 25, 1954. p. 46.
  8. Bartlett, Charles (July 25, 1954). "Snead and Burkemo gain P.G.A. quarter-final berths". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 2.
  9. "First round PGA scores". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 22, 1954. p. 17.

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