1954 PGA Championship


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; the winner's share was $5,000 and the runner-up's was $3,000.
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.
Ed "Porky" Oliver won $250 as the medalist in the stroke-play qualifying with a 136 ; he fell 3 & 1 in the third round to eventual champion Harbert.

Format

The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1954 called for 12 rounds in seven days:

Failed to qualify

Source:

Final results

Tuesday, July 27, 1954
PlacePlayerCountryMoney
1Chick Harbert5,000
2Walter Burkemo3,000
T3Tommy Bolt750
T3Cary Middlecoff750
T5Jerry Barber500
T5Roberto De Vicenzo500
T5Shelley Mayfield500
T5Sam Snead500

Final eight bracket

Final match scorecards

Morning
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718
Par445343544445343444
Harbert^47343443445343434
Burkemo245243444555353434
LeaderB1B1B2B3B3B3B3B3B2B1–––H1H1H1H1H1

^ = picked up ball
Afternoon