1954 PGA Championship

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1954 PGA Championship
Tournament information
DatesJuly 21–27, 1954
LocationMaplewood, Minnesota, U.S.
Course(s)Keller Golf Club
Organized byPGA of America
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatMatch play - 6 rounds
Statistics
Par71
Length6,652 yards (6,083 m)[1]
Field135 players,[1]
64 to match play
Cut147 (+5), no playoff needed
Prize fund$20,700[2]
Winner's share$5,000
Champion
United States Chick Harbert
def. Walter Burkemo, 4 & 3
← 1953
1955 →
Maplewood  is located in the United States
Maplewood 
Maplewood 
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Location in the United States
Keller GC  is located in Minnesota
Keller GC 
Keller GC 
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Location in Minnesota

The 1954 PGA Championship was the 36th PGA Championship, held July 21–27 at Keller Golf Club in Maplewood, Minnesota, a suburb north of St. Paul. Chick Harbert won the match play championship, 4 & 3 over defending champion Walter Burkemo in the Tuesday final;[3] the winner's share was $5,000 and the runner-up's was $3,000.[4]

It marked the second time the PGA Championship returned to a venue; public Keller had also hosted in 1932; Oakmont near Pittsburgh hosted in 1922 and 1951. It was the third and last final for the two finalists, both from the Detroit area; each had one victory and two losses. Harbert lost in 1947 and 1952, while Burkemo lost in 1951 and won in 1953.

In the finals, Burkemo eagled the first hole and was three up after four holes, but soon cooled off; the match was even on the twelfth tee and Harbert led by one at the lunch break. The afternoon round was bogey-free for both, but Harbert had five birdies to Burkemo's two and the match ended on the 33rd green.[3]

Ed "Porky" Oliver won $250 as the medalist in the stroke-play qualifying with a 136 (−6);[5][6] he fell 3 & 1 in the third round to eventual champion Harbert.[7][8]

Format[]

The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1954 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days:[2]

  • Wednesday and Thursday – 36-hole stroke play qualifier, 18 holes per day;
    • the defending champion Walter Burkemo and top 63 professionals advanced to match play
  • Friday – first two rounds, 18 holes each
  • Saturday – third round – 36 holes
  • Sunday – quarterfinals – 36 holes
  • Monday – semifinals – 36 holes
  • Tuesday – final – 36 holes

Past champions in the field[]

Player Country Year(s) won Record Advanced to Finish
Walter Burkemo  United States 1953 5–1 Finals 2
Sam Snead  United States 1942, 1949, 1951 3–1 Quarterfinals T5
Johnny Revolta  United States 1935 2–1 Third round T9
Jim Turnesa  United States 1952 0–1 First round T33

Failed to qualify[]

Player Country Year won R1 R2 Total To par
Chandler Harper  United States 1950 72 76 148 +6
Vic Ghezzi  United States 1941 75 75 150 +8

Source:[2][6][9]

Final results[]

Tuesday, July 27, 1954

Place Player Country Money ($)
1 Chick Harbert  United States 5,000
2 Walter Burkemo  United States 3,000
T3 Tommy Bolt  United States 750
Cary Middlecoff  United States
T5 Jerry Barber  United States 500
Roberto De Vicenzo  Argentina
Shelley Mayfield  United States
Sam Snead  United States

Final eight bracket[]

Quarter-finals
July 25 		Semi-finals
July 26 		Finals
July 27
         
Chick Harbert 1up
Jerry Barber
Chick Harbert 1up
Tommy Bolt
Tommy Bolt 39h
Sam Snead
Chick Harbert 4&3
Walter Burkemo
Walter Burkemo 5&4
Roberto De Vicenzo
Walter Burkemo 37h
Cary Middlecoff
Cary Middlecoff 3&1
Shelley Mayfield

Final match scorecards[]

Morning

Hole  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Par 4 4 5 3 4 3 5 4 4 4 4 5 3 4 3 4 4 4
United States Harbert ^ 4 7 3 4 3 4 4 3 4 4 5 3 4 3 4 3 4
United States Burkemo 2 4 5 2 4 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 3 5 3 4 3 4
Leader B1 B1 B2 B3 B3 B3 B3 B3 B2 B1 – – – H1 H1 H1 H1 H1

^ = picked up ball (hole concession)

Afternoon

Hole  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Par 4 4 5 3 4 3 5 4 4 4 4 5 3 4 3 4 4 4
United States Harbert 3 3 5 3 4 3 5 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 Harbert
wins
4 & 3
United States Burkemo 4 4 5 3 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 3
Leader H2 H3 H3 H3 H3 H3 H2 H2 H2 H3 H3 H3 H3 H4 H4

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Oliver sets PGA pace with 5-under 66". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 22, 1954. p. 17.
  2. ^ a b c "Tournament Info for: 1954 PGA Championship". PGA.com. Retrieved April 17, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ a b c Bartlett, Charles (July 28, 1954). "Harbert, 39, wins pro golf title". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 3.
  4. ^ "Harbert is victor in PGA finals". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). United Press. July 28, 1954. p. 16.
  5. ^ Bartlett, Charles (July 23, 1954). "Oliver's 136 wins PGA trials medal". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 3.
  6. ^ a b "Porky Oliver's 136 wins national PGA medal". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 23, 1954. p. 19.
  7. ^ "Fancy field of 8 move into PGA quarterfinals". Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. July 25, 1954. p. 46.
  8. ^ Bartlett, Charles (July 25, 1954). "Snead and Burkemo gain P.G.A. quarter-final berths". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, part 2.
  9. ^ "First round PGA scores". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 22, 1954. p. 17.

External links[]

Coordinates: 45°00′22″N 93°03′22″W / 45.006°N 93.056°W / 45.006; -93.056

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