The 1931 PGA Championship was the 14th PGA Championship, held September 14–19 at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, Rhode Island, northeast of Providence. Then a match play championship, Tom Creavy, age 20, defeated Gene Sarazen 5 and 3 in the semifinals and Denny Shute 2 and 1 in the finals.
This was the first year the defending champion was exempt from qualifying; Tommy Armour lost in the quarterfinals to Shute, 3 and 1. Sarazen was the medalist in the qualifying with 145 (+5).
Through 2016, Sarazen remains the youngest winner of a modern major title at age 20 (in 1922) and Creavy was just 2 months older. Finalist Shute won consecutive titles in 1936 and 1937.
Format The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1931 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in six days: Monday – 36-hole stroke play qualifier defending champion Tommy Armour and top 31 professionals advanced to match play Tuesday – first round – 36 holes Wednesday – second round – 36 holes Thursday – quarterfinals – 36 holes Friday – semifinals – 36 holes Saturday – final – 36 holes
Final results Saturday, September 19, 1931 PlacePlayerMoney ($)1 Tom Creavy 1,0002 Denny Shute 500T3 Billy Burke 250 Gene SarazenT5 Tommy Armour 200 Abe Espinosa Horton Smith Cyril Walker
Final eight bracket
Final match scorecards Morning Hole123456789101112131415161718Par453444434 443443454 Creavy442545444434443456 Shute443546435443345456 Leader ––C1C1C1C2C2C1C2C2C3C2C1C1C2C2C2C2
Afternoon Hole123456789101112131415161718Par453444434 443443454 Creavy45344443433355365 Shute44344533444445246 Leader C2C1C1C1C1C2C1C1C1C2C3C4C3C3C2C1C2 Source: {|class="wikitable" span = 50 style="font-size:85%; |- |style="background:Pink; width:10px;"| |Birdie |style="background:PaleGreen; width:10px;"| |Bogey |style="background:Green; width:10px;"| |Double bogey
References
External links PGA Media Guide 2012 PGA.com – 1931 PGA Championship