The 1946 PGA Championship was the 28th PGA Championship, held August 19–25 at Portland Golf Club outside Portland, Oregon. Ben Hogan won the match play championship, 6 and 4 over Ed Oliver in the final; the winner's share was $3,500 and the runner-up's was $1,500.
Hogan was three down after the first 18 holes in the morning, then rebounded in the afternoon. In the semifinals, Hogan defeated Jimmy Demaret 10 and 9 and Oliver beat Jug McSpaden 6 and 5. Oliver defeated defending champion Byron Nelson 1 up in the quarterfinals.
For Hogan, age 34, it was the first of his nine major titles. He won again in 1948, but following his near-fatal auto accident in early 1949, his debilitated condition did not agree with the grueling five-day schedule of 36 holes per day in summer heat. Hogan did not enter the PGA Championship again until 1960, its third year as a 72-hole stroke play event, at 18 holes per day.
In the quarterfinals, defending champion Byron Nelson bogeyed the final hole and lost 1 down to Oliver; it was Nelson's final appearance at the PGA Championship. The medalist for the stroke-play qualifying portion was Jim Ferrier, which included a 29 on the front nine of the second round, a record for a PGA event. He won the PGA Championship title the following year in 1947.
The Portland Golf Club hosted the Portland Open on the PGA Tour the previous two years; Sam Snead won in 1944 and Hogan in 1945. It also hosted the Ryder Cup in 1947, won by the U.S. team captained by Hogan.
This was the first "full field" at the PGA Championship since 1941, with a match play bracket of 64 competitors. Due to World War II, it had been reduced to 32 for 1942, 1944, and 1945, and not played in 1943.
Hogan's win marked the first time that all four major championships were won by Americans in a calendar year.
Format The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1946 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days: Monday and Tuesday – 36-hole stroke play qualifier, 18 holes per day; defending champion Byron Nelson 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, August 25, 1946 PlacePlayerMoney ($)1 Ben Hogan 3,5002 Ed Oliver 1,500T3 Jimmy Demaret 750 Jug McSpadenT5 Chuck Congdon 500 Frank Moore Byron Nelson Jim Turnesa
Final eight bracket
Final match scorecards Morning Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718Par444354434 543445435 Hogan454345434553444435 Oliver544344434544453325 Leader H1––––O1O1O1O1O1O2O1O1–O1O2O3O3
Afternoon Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718Par444354434 543445435 Hogan44324343343343Hogan wins6 and 4 Oliver45435343554444 Leader O3O2O1–H1H1H1H1H2H3H4H5H5H6 Source: {|class="wikitable" span = 50 style="font-size:85%; |- |style="background:Red; width:10px;"| |Eagle |style="background:Pink; width:10px;"| |Birdie |style="background:PaleGreen; width:10px;"| |Bogey
References
External links PGA Media Guide 2012