1952 PGA Championship

The 1952 PGA Championship was the 34th PGA Championship, held June 18–25 at Big Spring Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Jim Turnesa won the match play championship, 1 up over Chick Harbert in the Wednesday final;[4] the winner's share was $3,500 and the runner-up's was $1,500.[5]

1952 PGA Championship

Tournament information
Dates	June 18–25, 1952
Location	Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Course(s)	Big Spring Country Club
Organized by	PGA of America
Tour(s)	PGA Tour
Format	Match play – 6 rounds
Statistics
Par	72
Length	6,620 yards (6,053 m)[1][2]
Field	144 players,[2] 64 to match play
Cut	147 (+3), playoff
Prize fund	$17,700[3]
Winner's share	$3,500
Champion
Jim Turnesa
def. Chick Harbert, 1 up

Louisville

Location in the United States

Louisville

Location in Kentucky

It was Turnesa's only major title; he had lost the final in 1942 to Sam Snead. It was the second loss for Harbert in the final, he lost to Jim Ferrier in 1947, but won the title in his third finals appearance in 1954. Turnesa did not lead through the first 35 holes, but won on the final green when Harbert bogeyed. Turnesa displaced Snead as the oldest PGA champion to date, at 39 years and six months.[5] He was later passed by Jerry Barber at 45 in 1961 and Julius Boros in 1968 at age 48.

Battling an ailing back, defending champion Snead lost in the first round to Lew Worsham, who had defeated him in a playoff five years earlier at the 1947 U.S. Open.[6] Heavy rains washed out play on Saturday and the completion of the third round was delayed until Sunday,[7] and very hot temperatures endured through the final rounds.[5][8]

The U.S. Open was played the preceding week, in Dallas, Texas,[1] won by Boros. He was not technically eligible to play in the PGA Championship, because the rules at the time stated that eligibility was after five years of PGA membership and Boros only had three.[2] Following his win at the U.S. Open, Boros was invited to play by the PGA executive committee,[9] but sensing resentment and dissension among some of the other participants, he withdrew prior to his start time of the two-day qualifier on Wednesday.[10][11][12]

Dutch Harrison was the medalist in the stroke-play qualifying with a 136 (−8) to win $250,[13] but lost in the first round to Marty Furgol.[6]

Turnesa's older brother Joe (1901–1991) was the runner-up in this championship a quarter century earlier in 1927, when Walter Hagen won his fourth consecutive, 1 up, and fifth overall.

This was the first major championship played in Kentucky. The PGA Championship returned to the state 44 years later in 1996, at Valhalla Golf Club east of Louisville. Valhalla also hosted just four years later in 2000 and in 2014.

Format

The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1952 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days:[3]

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

Heavy rains on Saturday postponed the third round until Sunday;[7] the final was played on Wednesday, June 25.[5]

Past champions in the field

Player	Country	Year(s) won	Record	Advanced to	Finish
Bob Hamilton	United States	1944	4–1	Semifinals	T3
Vic Ghezzi	United States	1941	2–1	Third round	T9
Jim Ferrier	Australia	1947	1–1	Second round	T17
Chandler Harper	United States	1950	1–1	Second round	T17
Sam Snead	United States	1942, 1949, 1951	0–1	First round	T33
Denny Shute	United States	1936, 1937	0–1	First round	T33

Final results

Wednesday, June 25, 1952

Place	Player	Country	Money ($)
1	Jim Turnesa	United States	3,500
2	Chick Harbert	United States	1,500
T3	Bob Hamilton	United States	750
	Ted Kroll	United States
T5	Frank Champ	United States	500
	Clarence Doser	United States
	Fred Haas	United States
	Cary Middlecoff	United States

Final eight bracket

Quarter-finals June 23

Semi-finals June 24

Finals June 25

Jim Turnesa

2&1

Clarence Doser

Jim Turnesa

4&2

Ted Kroll

Ted Kroll

38h

Cary Middlecoff

Jim Turnesa

1up

Chick Harbert

Chick Harbert

2&1

Fred Haas

Chick Harbert

2&1

Bob Hamilton

Bob Hamilton

2&1

Frank Champ

Sources:[5][8][14]

Final match scorecards

Morning

Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
Par	5	3	4	4	4	3	4	5	4	4	3	5	4	4	4	3	5	4
Turnesa	5	4	4	4	4	3	4	5	4	4	3	4	4	3	4	3	6	5
Harbert	4	4	5	4	3	3	5	4	3	5	3	4	4	4	4	2	5	4
Leader	H1	H1	–	–	H1	H1	–	H1	H2	H1	H1	H1	H1	–	–	H1	H2	H3

Afternoon

Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
Par	5	3	4	4	4	3	4	5	4	4	3	5	4	4	4	3	5	4
Turnesa	4	3	4	4	4	2	4	4	4	4	3	5	4	3	3	4	5	4
Harbert	5	4	4	3	4	2	4	5	4	4	3	5	4	4	3	4	5	5
Leader	H2	H1	H1	H2	H2	H2	H2	H1	H1	H1	H1	H1	H1	–	–	–	–	T1

Source:[4]

References

1. "Golf spotlight moves next to PGA play in bluegrass". Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. June 15, 1952. p. 19.
2. "Sam Snead to pass up PGA qualifying play". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 18, 1952. p. 19.
3. "Tournament Info for: 1952 PGA Championship". PGA of America. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
4. Bartlett, Charles (June 26, 1952). "Turnesa rallies; wins P.G.A. title". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, sec. 6.
5. "Jim Turnesa wins PGA crown". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 26, 1952. p. 15.
6. "Worsham loses to Haas after beating Snead". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 21, 1952. p. 11.
7. "Pouring rains delay PGA tourney one day". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. June 21, 1952. p. 6.
8. "Turnesa, Harbert gain finals in '110' heat". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. June 25, 1952. p. 2–part 2.
9. Bartlett, Charles (June 18, 1952). "Open P.G.A. meet today; Boros guest". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, sec. 3.
10. Bartlett, Charles (June 19, 1952). "Boros leaves P.G.A. tourney". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1, sec. 4.
11. "Unknown leads qualifiers in PGA". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 19, 1952. p. 15.
12. "Boros out of PGA meet, Harmon fires sparking 68". Palm Beach Post. United Press. June 19, 1952. p. 14.
13. "Dutch Harrison's 136 captures PGA medal". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 20, 1952. p. 23.
14. "Middlecoff Upset By Kroll on 38th". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. June 24, 1952. p. 14. Retrieved August 9, 2013.

External links

• PGA Media Guide 2012
• About.com – 1952 PGA Championship
• PGA.com – 1952 PGA Championship