1937 PGA Championship
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | May 24–30, 1937 |
| Location | Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania |
| Course(s) | Pittsburgh Field Club |
| Organized by | PGA of America |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Format | Match play - 6 rounds |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,665 yards (6,094 m) |
| Field |
106 players, 64 to match play[1] |
| Cut | 157 (+13), playoff |
| Prize fund | $9,200[2] |
| Winner's share | $1,000 |
| Champion | |
 Denny Shute | |
| def. Harold "Jug" McSpaden, 37 holes | |
|
«1936 1938» | |
Field Club
The 1937 PGA Championship was the 20th PGA Championship, held May 24–30 at Pittsburgh Field Club in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania, a suburb northeast of Pittsburgh. Then a match play championship, Denny Shute won his second consecutive PGA Championship in less than seven months, defeating Harold "Jug" McSpaden in 37 holes.[3] The previous edition in 1936 was held in November at Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Shute was 3 holes up after the morning round of the finals, but McSpaden had the lead with nine holes remaining and was 2 up with three holes to go. Shute birdied the 34th hole and McSpaden bogeyed the 35th to square up the match as they went to the 36th tee. McSpaden missed a four-foot (1.3 m) birdie putt to win and they halved the hole and went to a 37th hole. McSpaden lipped out his par-saving putt from 8 feet (2.4 m) to end the match.[4]
Shute was the last to successfully defend his title at the PGA Championship until Tiger Woods won consecutive titles in 1999 and 2000. It was Shute's third and final major title; his first was at the British Open in 1933 at St. Andrews.
Usually played later in the schedule, this PGA Championship was in late May, the first of three times it was held before the U.S. Open and British Open. Prior to World War II, the PGA Championship was most often played in September, but ranged from late May (1937, 1942) to early December (1929). Since 1969, it has been held in early to mid-August, except for 1971.
Format
The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1937 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days:[2][5]
- Monday and Tuesday – 36-hole stroke play qualifier, 18 holes per day;
- defending champion 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
Past champions in the field
| Player | Country | Year(s) won | Record | Advanced to | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denny Shute | United States | 1936 | 6–0 | Champion | 1 |
| Paul Runyan | United States | 1934 | 2–1 | Third round | T9 |
| Olin Dutra | United States | 1932 | 1–1 | Second round | T17 |
| Johnny Revolta | United States | 1935 | 1–1 | Second round | T17 |
| Gene Sarazen | United States | 1922, 1923, 1933 | 1–1 | Second round | T17 |
| Leo Diegel | United States | 1928, 1929 | 0–1 | First round | T33 |
Failed to qualify
| Player | Country | Year won | R1 | R2 | Total | To par |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Creavy | United States | 1931 | 79 | WD |
Source:[2]
Final results
Sunday, May 30, 1937
| Place | Player | Country | Money ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denny Shute | United States | 1,000 |
| 2 | Harold "Jug" McSpaden | United States | 500 |
| T3 | Ky Laffoon | United States | 250 |
| Tony Manero | United States | ||
| T5 | Harry Cooper | United States | 200 |
| Jimmy Hines | United States | ||
| Byron Nelson | United States | ||
| Henry Picard | United States |
Source:[6]
Final eight bracket
| Quarter-finals May 28 | Semi-finals May 29 | Finals May 30 | ||||||||||||
| Denny Shute | 4&3 | |||||||||||||
| Jimmy Hines | ||||||||||||||
| Denny Shute | 3&2 | |||||||||||||
| Tony Manero | ||||||||||||||
| Tony Manero | 1up | |||||||||||||
| Harry Cooper | ||||||||||||||
| Denny Shute | 37h | |||||||||||||
| Harold "Jug" McSpaden | ||||||||||||||
| Harold "Jug" McSpaden | 39h | |||||||||||||
| Henry Picard | ||||||||||||||
| Harold "Jug" McSpaden | 2&1 | |||||||||||||
| Ky Laffoon | ||||||||||||||
| Ky Laffoon | 2&1 | |||||||||||||
| Byron Nelson | ||||||||||||||
References
- ↑ "Runyan Paces Field in PGA Golf Tourney; Hines is Second". Telegraph-Herald (Dubuque, Iowa). United Press. May 25, 1937. p. 11. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
- 1 2 3 "Tournament Info for: 1937 PGA Championship". PGA of America. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
- ↑ "Denny Shute wins title in pro golf". Montreal Gazette. Associated Press. May 31, 1937. p. 20. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
- ↑ Henry, Jack (May 31, 1937). "Denny Shute stages spectacular rally to retain national P.G.A. Championship". Youngstown Vindicator (Ohio). United Press. p. 10. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
- ↑ "Match-By-Match Chart Of The P.G.A. Championship At Field Club". Pittsburgh Press. May 29, 1937. p. 9. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
- ↑ "Money division in P.G.A. title meet". Youngstown Vindicator (Ohio). Associated Press. May 31, 1937. p. 10. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
External links
- PGA Media Guide 2012
- About.com – 1937 PGA Championship
- PGA.com – 1937 PGA Championship
Coordinates: 40°30′47″N 79°53′24″W / 40.513°N 79.89°W