The 1945 PGA Championship was the 27th PGA Championship, held July 9–15 at Moraine Country Club in Kettering, Ohio, a suburb south of Dayton. Then a match play championship, Byron Nelson won 4 and 3 in the final over Sam Byrd, a former major league baseball player.
It was Nelson's fifth and final major title and his second win at the PGA Championship; he also won in 1940 and was a runner-up three times (1939, 1941, 1944). The winner's share of the purse was $5,000 in war bonds. The victory was the ninth of Nelson's record eleven consecutive wins in 1945.
Defending champion Bob Hamilton was defeated in the first round by Jack Grout, 4 and 3.
Due to World War II, the PGA Championship was the sole major played in 1945 (and 1944). The three others returned in 1946.
Format The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1945 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; defending champion Bob Hamilton and top 31 professionals advanced to match play 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, July 15, 1945 PlacePlayerCountry1 Byron Nelson 2 Sam Byrd T3 Clarence Doser Claude HarmonT5 Vic Ghezzi Ralph Hutchison Ky Laffoon Denny Shute
Final eight bracket
Final match scorecards Morning Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718Par434534454 443543454 Nelson 343534364433543354 Byrd 434534363443542343 Leader N1–N1N1N1N1N1N1––N1N1N1N1––B1B2
Afternoon Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718Par434534454 443543454 Nelson 434434454433443Nelson wins4 and 3 Byrd 433534564444553 Leader B2B2B3B2B2B2B1–––N1N2N3N4N4 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 – 1945 PGA Championship