The 1939 PGA Championship was the 22nd PGA Championship, held July 9–15 at Pomonok Country Club in Queens, New York. Then a match play championship, Henry Picard won his only PGA Championship, defeating Byron Nelson with a birdie at the 37th hole.[3][4][5][6] It was the second of his two major titles; he won the Masters in 1938. Nelson won the U.S. Open three months earlier and the next PGA Championship in 1940. Beginning in 1939, he made five finals in six PGA Championships, and won his second title in 1945.

1939 PGA Championship
Tournament information
DatesJuly 9–15, 1939
LocationQueens, New York, U.S.
Course(s)Pomonok Country Club
Organized byPGA of America
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatMatch play - 6 rounds
Statistics
Par72
Length6,354 yards (5,810 m)[1]
Field109 players,[1]
64 to match play
Cut148 (+4), playoff
Prize fund$10,600 [2]
Winner's share$1,100
Champion
United States Henry Picard
def. Byron Nelson, 37 holes
← 1938
1940 →
New York City  is located in the United States
New York City 
New York City 
Pomonok CC  is located in New York
Pomonok CC 
Pomonok CC 
Pomonok CC  is located in New York City
Pomonok CC 
Pomonok CC 

Picard had not trailed and led by two as late as the 26th hole, but the match was squared on the 29th green and Nelson led by one after 32 holes. Both birdied the par-5 33rd and Picard sank a curling putt from over twenty feet (6 m) for par to halve the 34th hole and stay one back.[3] They halved the par-3 35th at par and both had birdie putts on the 36th green. Nelson missed his from ten feet (3 m) feet while Picard sank his from three to square up the match. On the extra hole, both again had birdie putts: Picard made his from ten feet while Nelson missed his from six.[4]

Defending champion Paul Runyan lost in the quarterfinals to Dick Metz.

This PGA Championship was held during the 1939 New York World's Fair. The golf course no longer exists; Pomonok Country Club disbanded in 1949 and the property was developed for residences.

Format

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The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1939 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days:[2]

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

Final results

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Saturday. July 15, 1939

Place Player Money ($)
1   Henry Picard 1,100
2   Byron Nelson 600
T3   Dutch Harrison 350
  Dick Metz
T5   Emerick Kocsis 250
  Rod Munday
  Paul Runyan
  Horton Smith

Source:[6]

Final eight bracket

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Quarter-finals
July 13
Semi-finals
July 14
Finals
July 15
         
Henry Picard 2&1
Rod Munday
Henry Picard 1up
Dick Metz
Dick Metz 2&1
Paul Runyan
Henry Picard 37h
Byron Nelson
Byron Nelson 10&9
Emerick Kocsis
Byron Nelson 9&8
Dutch Harrison
Dutch Harrison 4&3
Horton Smith

Final match scorecards

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Morning

Hole  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Par 4 4 3 5 4 3 4 4 4 3 5 5 4 4 5 4 3 4
  Picard 4 5 3 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 3 5 4 3 5 4 2 4
  Nelson 5 3 4 5 4 4 4 4 2 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 3
Leader P1 P1 P2 P2 P3 P3 P3 P2 P2 P3 P2 P2 P2 P1 P1 P2 P1

Afternoon

Hole  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Par 4 4 3 5 4 3 4 4 4 3 5 5 4 4 5 4 3 4
  Picard 4 3 3 4 3 3 4 4 4 3 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 3
  Nelson 3 5 3 5 3 3 4 4 3 3 4 5 4 3 4 4 3 4
Leader P1 P1 P2 P2 P2 P2 P2 P1 P1 N1 N1 N1 N1

Extra hole

Hole  1 
Par 4
  Picard 3
  Nelson 4
Leader P1

References

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  1. ^ a b "Four aces smash par to lead meet as P.G.A. split widens to chasm". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. July 11, 1939. p. 13. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Tournament Info for: 1939 PGA Championship". PGA of America. Archived from the original on February 27, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Boni, Bill (July 16, 1939). "Picard beats Nelson on 37th hole to take PGA title". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). Associated Press. p. D-1.
  4. ^ a b c McLemore, Henry (July 16, 1939). "Picard P.G.A." Pittsburgh Press. United Press. p. 1, sports.
  5. ^ a b Bartlett, Charles (July 15, 1939). "Picard to meet Nelson today for P.G.A. title". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 11.
  6. ^ a b Boni, Bill (July 16, 1939). "Picard defeats Nelson on 37th for PGA title". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. p. 1-B.
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40°44′02″N 73°48′36″W / 40.734°N 73.810°W / 40.734; -73.810