The 1937 PGA Championship was the 20th PGA Championship, held May 24–30 at Pittsburgh Field Club in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania, a suburb northeast of Pittsburgh. Then a match play championship, Denny Shute won his second consecutive PGA Championship in less than seven months, defeating Jug McSpaden in 37 holes. The previous edition in 1936 was held in November at Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Shute was 3 holes up after the morning round of the finals, but McSpaden had the lead with nine holes remaining and was 2 up with three holes to go. McSpaden bogeyed the 34th and double-bogeyed the 35th to square up the match as they went to the 36th tee. McSpaden missed a birdie putt to win and they halved the hole and went to an extra hole. McSpaden lipped out his par-saving putt from to end the match.
Shute was the last to successfully defend his title at the PGA Championship until Tiger Woods won consecutive titles in 1999 and 2000. It was Shute's third and final major title; his first was at the British Open in 1933 at St. Andrews.
Usually played later in the schedule, this PGA Championship was in late May, the first of three times it was held before the U.S. Open and British Open. Prior to World War II, the PGA Championship was most often played in September, but ranged from late May (1937, 1942) to early December (1929). Since 1969, it has been held in early to mid-August, except for 1971 (February) and 2016 (July).
Format The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1937 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days: Monday and Tuesday – 36-hole stroke play qualifier, 18 holes per day; defending champion 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
Final results Sunday, May 30, 1937 PlacePlayerMoney ($)1 Denny Shute 1,0002 Jug McSpaden 500T3 Ky Laffoon 250 Tony ManeroT5 Harry Cooper 200 Jimmy Hines Byron Nelson Henry Picard Source:
Final eight bracket
Final match scorecards Morning Hole123456789101112131415161718Par445353444 445435344 Shute 545352353554336333 McSpaden 344343^545454453^4 Leader M1M1M2M2M3M2M1M1––M1–S1S2S1S1S2S3
Afternoon Hole123456789101112131415161718Par445353444 445435344 Shute 645253455454545354 McSpaden 4353434445544354^4 Leader S2S1S1S2S1S1S1–M1–––M1M2M2M1–– ^ = picked up ball (hole concession)
Extra hole Hole1Par4 Shute4 McSpaden5 Leader S1 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 – 1937 PGA Championship