1939 PGA Championship


The 1939 PGA Championship was the 22nd PGA Championship, held July 9–15 at Pomonok Country Club in Queens, New York. Then a match play championship, Henry Picard won his only PGA Championship, defeating Byron Nelson with a birdie at the 37th hole. It was the second of his two major titles; he won the Masters in 1938. Nelson won the U.S. Open three months earlier and the next PGA Championship in 1940. Beginning in 1939, he made five finals in six PGA Championships, and won his second title in 1945.
Picard had not trailed and led by two as late as the 26th hole, but the match was squared on the 29th green and Nelson led by one after 32 holes. Both birdied the par-5 33rd and Picard sank a curling putt from over for par to halve the 34th hole and stay one back. They halved the par-3 35th at par and both had birdie putts on the 36th green. Nelson missed his from feet while Picard sank his from three to square up the match. On the extra hole, both again had birdie putts: Picard made his from ten feet while Nelson missed his from six.
Defending champion Paul Runyan lost in the quarterfinals to Dick Metz.
This PGA Championship was held during the 1939 New York World's Fair. The golf course no longer exists; Pomonok Country Club disbanded in 1949 and the property was developed for residences.

Format

The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1939 called for 12 rounds in seven days:

Failed to qualify

Source:

Final results

Saturday. July 15, 1939
PlacePlayerCountryMoney
1Henry Picard1,100
2Byron Nelson600
T3Dutch Harrison350
T3Dick Metz350
T5Emerick Kocsis250
T5Rod Munday250
T5Paul Runyan250
T5Horton Smith250

Source:

Final eight bracket

Final match scorecards

Morning
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718
Par443543444355445434
Picard453443444335435424
Nelson534544442344434433
LeaderP1–P1P2P2P3P3P3P2P2P3P2P2P2P1P1P2P1

Afternoon
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718
Par443543444355445434
Picard433433444355444433
Nelson353533443345434434
Leader–P1P1P2P2P2P2P2P1P1–––N1N1N1N1–

Extra hole
Hole 1
Par4
Picard3
Nelson4
LeaderP1