1968 PGA Championship

The 1968 PGA Championship was the 50th PGA Championship played July 18–21 at Pecan Valley Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas. Julius Boros, age 48, won the third of his three major titles, one stroke ahead of runners-up Bob Charles and Arnold Palmer.[2] Through 2019, Boros remains the oldest winner of a major championship. The tournament was played in very hot conditions.[2] Palmer had an 8-foot (2.4 m) putt to tie on the 72nd green, but it missed on the high side of the hole.[3][4] It was the second of his three runner-up finishes at the only major he never won; he also tied for second in 1964 and 1970.

1968 PGA Championship
Tournament information
DatesJuly 18–21, 1968
LocationSan Antonio, Texas
Course(s)Pecan Valley Golf Club
Organized byPGA of America
Tour(s)PGA Tour
Statistics
Par70
Length7,096 yards (6,489 m)
Field165 players, 75 after cut[1]
Cut149 (+9)
Prize fund$150,000[1]
Winner's share$25,000
Champion
Julius Boros
281 (+1)
San Antonio
Location in the United States
San Antonio
Location in Texas

This was the final major before the formation of the Tournament Players Division, later renamed the PGA Tour. The tour pros broke away from the PGA of America in August and formed an independent tour, the American Professional Golfers, Inc. (APG).[5][6][7][8] A compromise was reached in December which brought the tournament players back to the PGA in a separate division with its own policy board and commissioner.[9][10][11]

In his seventh PGA Championship, Jack Nicklaus missed his first cut in the event by a stroke; five of his six previous finishes were in the top three, with a victory in 1963 in Dallas. He made the next nine cuts at the PGA Championship and won four more times (1971, 1973, 1975, 1980).

This PGA Championship was played immediately after the Open Championship in Scotland, the fifth time during the 1960s which the final two majors were played in consecutive weeks. This PGA Championship was also the last held in July (until 2016); it moved to August in 1969 (except 1971 when it was played in February in Florida).

Past champions in the field

Made the cut

PlayerCountryYear(s) wonR1R2R3R4TotalTo parFinish
Al Geiberger United States196670737171285+5T8
Lionel Hebert United States195775717074290+10T30
Sam Snead United States1942, 1949, 195175717273291+11T34
Dow Finsterwald United States195871757574295+15T48
Don January United States196778717572296+16T51
Bobby Nichols United States196475727675298+18T57

Missed the cut

PlayerCountryYear(s) wonR1R2TotalTo par
Jack Nicklaus United States19637179150+10
Bob Rosburg United States19597575150+10
Jerry Barber United States19617774151+11
Walter Burkemo United States19537478152+12
Dave Marr United States19657776153+13
Paul Runyan United States1934, 19387974153+13
Doug Ford United States19557777154+14
Jay Hebert United States19607480154+14
Jim Ferrier Australia19478076156+16
Jim Turnesa United States19527878156+16

Source:[1][12]

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, July 18, 1968

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Marty Fleckman United States66−4
2Frank Beard United States68−2
T3Don Bies United States69−1
Mason Rudolph United States
Lee Trevino United States
T6Miller Barber United States70E
Frank Boynton United States
Charles Coody United States
Al Geiberger United States
Laurie Hammer United States
Johnny Pott United States
Dan Sikes United States

Source:[13]

Second round

Friday, July 19, 1968

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
T1Frank Beard United States68-70=138−2
Marty Fleckman United States66-72=138
3Doug Sanders United States72-67=139−1
T4George Archer United States71-69=140E
Miller Barber United States70-70=140
Arnold Palmer United States71-69=140
Johnny Pott United States70-70=140
Lee Trevino United States69-71=140
T9Don Bies United States69-73=142+2
Julius Boros United States71-71=142
Bob Charles New Zealand72-70=142
Dan Sikes United States70-72=142

Source:[12]

Third round

Saturday, July 20, 1968

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
T1Frank Beard United States68-70-72=210E
Marty Fleckman United States66-72-72=210
T3Miller Barber United States70-70-72=212+2
Julius Boros United States71-71-70=212
Bob Charles New Zealand72-70-70=212
Arnold Palmer United States71-69-72=212
Dick Rhyan United States72-72-68=212
Doug Sanders United States72-67-73=212
Lee Trevino United States69-71-72=212
10Lou Graham United States73-70-70=213+3

Source:[14]

Final round

Sunday, July 21, 1968

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo parMoney ($)
1Julius Boros United States71-71-70-69=281+125,000
T2Bob Charles New Zealand72-70-70-70=282+212,500
Arnold Palmer United States71-69-72-70=282
T4George Archer United States71-69-74-69=283+37,500
Marty Fleckman United States66-72-72-73=283
T6Frank Beard United States68-70-72-74=284+45,750
Billy Casper United States74-70-70-70=284
T8Miller Barber United States70-70-72-73=285+53,406
Frank Boynton United States70-73-72-70=285
Charles Coody United States70-77-70-68=285
Al Geiberger United States70-73-71-71=285
Bob Goalby United States73-72-70-70=285
Lou Graham United States73-70-70-72=285
Doug Sanders United States72-67-73-73=285
Dan Sikes United States70-72-73-70=285
Kermit Zarley United States72-75-68-70=285

Source:[15]

References

  1. "Tournament Info for: 1968 PGA Championship". PGA of America. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  2. Jenkins, Dan (July 29, 1968). "The Junkman cools it". Sports Illustrated. p. 12.
  3. "Boros wins PGA; Palmer ties for 2nd". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 22, 1968. p. 20.
  4. "Boros oldest victor in PGA meet". Milwaukee Journal. July 22, 1968. p. 10.
  5. "Touring pros studying break". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 23, 1968. p. 12. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  6. "Rebel Golfers Number 205". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. August 20, 1968. p. 3B.
  7. "Touring golf pros set up own shop". Milwaukee Journal. August 20, 1968. p. 11.
  8. Mulvoy, Mark (September 2, 1968). "The revolt of the touring pros". Sports Illustrated: 20.
  9. Awtrey, Stan (February 11, 2009). "Professionals' split was a good thing for the game". PGA Tour. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  10. "Tour golfers, PGA settle fuss over tourney control". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. December 14, 1968. p. 15.
  11. "Pro golf struggle is settled; PGA forms tourney group". Milwaukee Journal. December 14, 1968. p. 18.
  12. "PGA scorecard". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 20, 1968. p. 8.
  13. "Fleckman leads PGA on hot 66". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 19, 1968. p. 16.
  14. "Beard, Fleckman tie for PGA lead". Toled Blade. Ohio. Associated Press. July 21, 1968. p. F-1.
  15. "Bad news for young pros: vet PGA king to play on". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. July 22, 1968. p. 13.
Preceded by
1968 Open Championship
Major Championships Succeeded by
1969 Masters

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