1944 PGA Championship

The 1944 PGA Championship was the 26th PGA Championship, held August 14–20 at Manito Golf and Country Club in Spokane, Washington. Then a match play championship, Bob Hamilton won his only major title, 1 up in the 36-hole final over heavily favored Byron Nelson;[3][4] the winner's share was $3,500 and the runner-up's was $1,500.[5] Hamilton defeated Jug McSpaden 2 & 1 in the quarterfinals[6] and George Schneiter 1 up in the semifinals.[7]

1944 PGA Championship

Tournament information
Dates	August 14–20, 1944
Location	Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Course(s)	Manito Golf and Country Club
Organized by	PGA of America
Tour(s)	PGA Tour
Format	Match play - 5 rounds
Statistics
Par	72
Field	78 players,[1] 32 to match play
Cut	149 (+5), playoff
Prize fund	$14,500[2]
Winner's share	$3,500
Champion
Bob Hamilton
def. Byron Nelson, 1 up

Spokane

Location in the United States

Manito 
G & CC

Location in Washington

It was Nelson's third runner-up finish (1939, 1941, 1944); he won the title in 1940 and 1945.[8] Nelson was the medalist in the stroke play qualifier with a 6-under 138.[9][10]

This was the first PGA Championship in two years, it was not contested in 1943. Sam Snead won in 1942, but did not defend his title; he was at the naval hospital in San Diego for treatment for his ailing back,[2] and received a medical discharge from the U.S. Navy a month later.[11]

The event was sponsored by the Athletic Round Table, Spokane's notable fun and benevolence organization headed by attorney Joe Albi.[5] Following this event, the ART sponsored the Esmeralda Open, a PGA Tour event in 1945 and 1947, and the first U.S. Women's Open in 1946, all held in Spokane.

The PGA Championship was the sole major played in 1944 (and 1945); the three others returned in 1946.

This was the first major championship played in the Pacific Northwest. The PGA Championship was played in Portland in 1946, and at Sahalee, east of Seattle, in 1998. The first U.S. Open in the region was played in 2015 at Chambers Bay, southwest of Tacoma.