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; the winner's share was $3,500 and the runner-up's was $1,500. Hamilton defeated Jug McSpaden 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals and George Schneiter 1 up in the semifinals.
It was Nelson's third runner-up finish (1939, 1941, 1944); he won the title in 1940 and 1945. Nelson was the medalist in the stroke play qualifier with a 6-under 138.
This was the first PGA Championship in two years, it was not contested in 1943. Sam Snead won in 1942, but did not defend his title; he was at the naval hospital in San Diego for treatment for his ailing back, and received a medical discharge from the U.S. Navy a month later.
The event was sponsored by the Athletic Round Table, Spokane's notable fun and benevolence organization headed by attorney Joe Albi. Following this event, the ART sponsored the Esmeralda Open, a PGA Tour event in 1945 and 1947, and the first U.S. Women's Open in 1946, all held in Spokane.
The PGA Championship was the sole major played in 1944 (and 1945); the three others returned in 1946.
This was the first major championship played in the Pacific Northwest. The PGA Championship was played in Portland in 1946, and at Sahalee, east of Seattle, in 1998. The first U.S. Open in the region was played in 2015 at Chambers Bay, southwest of Tacoma.
Format The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1944 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days: Monday and Tuesday – 36-hole stroke play qualifier, 18 holes per day, field of 78 players; the top 32 professionals advanced to match play, defending champion Sam Snead did not enter Wednesday – first round – 36 holes Thursday – second round – 36 holes Friday – quarterfinals – 36 holes Saturday – semifinals – 36 holes Sunday – final – 36 holes
Final results Sunday, August 20, 1944 PlacePlayerMoney ($)1 Bob Hamilton 3,5002 Byron Nelson 1,500T3 Chuck Congdon 750 George SchneiterT5 Art Bell 500 Ed Dudley Willie Goggin Jug McSpaden
Final eight bracket
Final match scorecards Morning Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718Par443444454 534445344 Hamilton 443444454434444443 Nelson 443344455434434444 Leader –––N1N1N1N1N1–––––N1N1N1N1–
Afternoon Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718Par443444454 534445344 Hamilton 343444454534445243 Nelson 443454444543444343 Leader H1H1H1H1H2H2H2H1H1H1H2H1H1H1–H1H1H1 Source: {|class="wikitable" span = 50 style="font-size:85%; |- |style="background:Pink; width:10px;"| |Birdie |style="background:PaleGreen; width:10px;"| |Bogey
References
External links PGA Media Guide 2012 PGA.com – 1944 PGA Championship