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 and 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]

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 and 3
← 1953
1955 →
Maplewood  is located in the United States
Maplewood 
Maplewood 
Keller GC  is located in Minnesota
Keller GC 
Keller GC 

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 and 1 in the third round to eventual champion Harbert.[7][8]

Format

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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

Final results

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Tuesday, July 27, 1954

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

Results

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Top half

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Last 64
July 23
Last 32
July 23
Last 16
July 24
Quarter-finals
July 25
Semi-finals
July 26
                  
Tommy Bolt 2&1
Mike Turnesa
Tommy Bolt 2&1
Art Doering
Bob Kay
Art Doering 1up
Tommy Bolt 2&1
Jim Browning
Pat Circelli
Jim Browning 2&1
Jim Browning 1up
Ed Furgol
Ed Furgol 3&2
Johnny Weitzel
Tommy Bolt 39h
Sam Snead
Jim Milward 2&1
Mike Homa
Jim Milward
Sam Snead 4&3
Tony Holguin
Sam Snead 1up
Sam Snead 7&6
Dutch Harrison
Johnny Palmer 3&2
Labron Harris
Johnny Palmer
Dutch Harrison 4&3
Jack Burke Jr.
Dutch Harrison 1up
Tommy Bolt
Chick Harbert 1up
Joe Greer
Bill Trombley 3&2
Bill Trombley
Charlie Bassler 5&4
Toney Penna
Charlie Bassler 3&1
Charlie Bassler
Jerry Barber 38h
Jerry Barber 2&1
Bob Gajda
Jerry Barber 19h
Fred Haas
Fred Haas 19h
Lou Barbaro
Jerry Barber
Chick Harbert 1up
Chick Harbert 5&3
Mike Krak
Chick Harbert 3&1
John O'Donnell
Phil Friel
John O'Donnell 3&2
Chick Harbert 3&1
Ed Oliver
Clarence Doser
Bill Nary 3&1
Bill Nary
Ed Oliver 1up
Ed Oliver 4&3
Jackson Bradley

Bottom half

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Last 64
July 23
Last 32
July 23
Last 16
July 24
Quarter-finals
July 25
Semi-finals
July 26
                  
Walter Burkemo 4&2
Dave Douglas
Walter Burkemo 2&1
Claude Harmon
Claude Harmon 6&5
Eric Monti
Walter Burkemo 4&3
Johnny Revolta
Johnny Revolta 3&2
Ellsworth Vines
Johnny Revolta 5&4
Toby Lyons
Jimmy Clark
Toby Lyons 1up
Walter Burkemo 5&4
Roberto De Vicenzo
Roberto De Vicenzo 5&4
Gene Webb
Roberto De Vicenzo 4&3
Henry Ransom
Henry Ransom 2&1
Herman Keiser
Roberto De Vicenzo 8&6
Elroy Marti
Marty Furgol
Elroy Marti 4&3
Elroy Marti 2up
Henry Williams Jr.
Frank Commisso
Henry Williams Jr. 3&2
Walter Burkemo 37h
Cary Middlecoff
Cary Middlecoff 1up
Joe Brown
Cary Middlecoff 2&1
Bob Toski
Bob Toski 5&4
Jim Turnesa
Cary Middlecoff 5&4
Ted Kroll
Ted Kroll 3&2
Leonard Wagner
Ted Kroll 24h
Max Evans
Orville White
Max Evans 2&1
Cary Middlecoff 3&1
Shelley Mayfield
Shelley Mayfield 4&3
Jimmy Hines
Shelley Mayfield 5&4
Wally Ulrich
Wally Ulrich 2&1
Pat Abbott
Shelley Mayfield 3&2
Horton Smith
Jimmy Scott
Horton Smith 5&4
Horton Smith 3&2
Jack Isaacs
Milon Marusic
Jack Isaacs 3&2

Source:[9]

Final

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July 27, 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
  Harbert ^ 4 7 3 4 3 4 4 3 4 4 5 3 4 3 4 3 4
  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
  Harbert 3 3 5 3 4 3 5 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 Harbert
wins
4 and 3
  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

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  1. ^ a b "Oliver sets PGA pace with 5-under 66". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 22, 1954. p. 17.
  2. ^ a b "Tournament Info for: 1954 PGA Championship". PGA.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2006. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  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. ^ "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. ^ "2012 PGA Championship Media Guide" (PDF). PGA Media Guide. PGA of America. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 24, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
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45°00′22″N 93°03′22″W / 45.006°N 93.056°W / 45.006; -93.056