# 1954 PGA Championship

The 1954 PGA Championship was the 36th PGA Championship, held July 21–27 at Keller Golf Club in Maplewood, Minnesota, a suburb north of St. Paul. Chick Harbert won the match play championship, 4 and 3 over defending champion Walter Burkemo in the Tuesday final; the winner's share was $5,000 and the runner-up's was $3,000.
It marked the second time the PGA Championship returned to a venue; public Keller had also hosted in 1932; Oakmont near Pittsburgh hosted in 1922 and 1951. It was the third and last final for the two finalists, both from the Detroit area; each had one victory and two losses. Harbert lost in 1947 and 1952, while Burkemo lost in 1951 and won in 1953.
In the finals, Burkemo eagled the first hole and was three up after four holes, but soon cooled off; the match was even on the twelfth tee and Harbert led by one at the lunch break. The afternoon round was bogey-free for both, but Harbert had five birdies to Burkemo's two and the match ended on the 33rd green.
Ed "Porky" Oliver won $250 as the medalist in the stroke-play qualifying with a 136 (−6); he fell 3 and 1 in the third round to eventual champion Harbert.

## Format

The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1954 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days:
* Wednesday and Thursday – 36-hole stroke play qualifier, 18 holes per day;
** the defending champion Walter Burkemo and top 63 professionals advanced to match play
* Friday – first two rounds, 18 holes each
* Saturday – third round – 36 holes
* Sunday – quarterfinals – 36 holes
* Monday – semifinals – 36 holes
* Tuesday – final – 36 holes

## Final results

Tuesday, July 27, 1954
| Place | Player | Money ($) |
| 1 | Chick Harbert | 5,000 |
| 2 | Walter Burkemo | 3,000 |
| T3 | Tommy Bolt | 750 |
| T3 | Cary Middlecoff | 750 |
| T5 | Jerry Barber | 500 |
| T5 | Roberto De Vicenzo | 500 |
| T5 | Shelley Mayfield | 500 |
| T5 | Sam Snead | 500 |

## Results
### Top half

| Last 64 July 23 | Last 64 July 23 | Last 32 July 23 | Last 32 July 23 | Last 16 July 24 | Last 16 July 24 | Quarter-finals July 25 | Quarter-finals July 25 | Semi-finals July 26 | Semi-finals July 26 |
| Tommy Bolt | 2&1 | | | | | | |
| Mike Turnesa | | | | | | | |
| Mike Turnesa | | Tommy Bolt | 2&1 | | | | |
| | | Art Doering | | | | | |
| Bob Kay | | Art Doering | | | | | |
| Art Doering | 1up | | | | | | |
| Art Doering | 1up | | | Tommy Bolt | 2&1 | | |
| | | | | Jim Browning | | | |
| Pat Circelli | | | | Jim Browning | | | |
| Jim Browning | 2&1 | | | | | | |
| Jim Browning | 2&1 | Jim Browning | 1up | | | | |
| | | Ed Furgol | | | | | |
| Ed Furgol | 3&2 | Ed Furgol | | | | | |
| Johnny Weitzel | | | | | | | |
| Johnny Weitzel | | | | | | Tommy Bolt | 39h |
| | | | | | | Sam Snead | |
| Jim Milward | 2&1 | | | | | Sam Snead | |
| Mike Homa | | | | | | | |
| Mike Homa | | Jim Milward | | | | | |
| | | Sam Snead | 4&3 | | | | |
| Tony Holguin | | Sam Snead | 4&3 | | | | |
| Sam Snead | 1up | | | | | | |
| Sam Snead | 1up | | | Sam Snead | 7&6 | | |
| | | | | Dutch Harrison | | | |
| Johnny Palmer | 3&2 | | | Dutch Harrison | | | |
| Labron Harris | | | | | | | |
| Labron Harris | | Johnny Palmer | | | | | |
| | | Dutch Harrison | 4&3 | | | | |
| Jack Burke Jr. | | Dutch Harrison | 4&3 | | | | |
| Dutch Harrison | 1up | | | | | | | | |
| Dutch Harrison | 1up | | | | | | | Tommy Bolt | |
| | | | | | | | | Chick Harbert | 1up |
| Joe Greer | | | | | | | | Chick Harbert | 1up |
| Bill Trombley | 3&2 | | | | | | | | |
| Bill Trombley | 3&2 | Bill Trombley | | | | | | | |
| | | Charlie Bassler | 5&4 | | | | | | |
| Toney Penna | | Charlie Bassler | 5&4 | | | | | | |
| Charlie Bassler | 3&1 | | | | | | | | |
| Charlie Bassler | 3&1 | | | Charlie Bassler | | | | | |
| | | | | Jerry Barber | 38h | | | | |
| Jerry Barber | 2&1 | | | Jerry Barber | 38h | | | | |
| Bob Gajda | | | | | | | | | |
| Bob Gajda | | Jerry Barber | 19h | | | | | | |
| | | Fred Haas | | | | | | | |
| Fred Haas | 19h | Fred Haas | | | | | | | |
| Lou Barbaro | | | | | | | | | |
| Lou Barbaro | | | | | | Jerry Barber | | | |
| | | | | | | Chick Harbert | 1up |
| Chick Harbert | 5&3 | | | | | Chick Harbert | 1up |
| Mike Krak | | | | | | | |
| Mike Krak | | Chick Harbert | 3&1 | | | | |
| | | John O'Donnell | | | | | |
| Phil Friel | | John O'Donnell | | | | | |
| John O'Donnell | 3&2 | | | | | | |
| John O'Donnell | 3&2 | | | Chick Harbert | 3&1 | | |
| | | | | Ed Oliver | | | |
| Clarence Doser | | | | Ed Oliver | | | |
| Bill Nary | 3&1 | | | | | | |
| Bill Nary | 3&1 | Bill Nary | | | | | |
| | | Ed Oliver | 1up | | | | |
| Ed Oliver | 4&3 | Ed Oliver | 1up | | | | |
| Jackson Bradley | | | | | | | |

### Bottom half

| Last 64 July 23 | Last 64 July 23 | Last 32 July 23 | Last 32 July 23 | Last 16 July 24 | Last 16 July 24 | Quarter-finals July 25 | Quarter-finals July 25 | Semi-finals July 26 | Semi-finals July 26 |
| Walter Burkemo | 4&2 | | | | | | |
| Dave Douglas | | | | | | | |
| Dave Douglas | | Walter Burkemo | 2&1 | | | | |
| | | Claude Harmon | | | | | |
| Claude Harmon | 6&5 | Claude Harmon | | | | | |
| Eric Monti | | | | | | | |
| Eric Monti | | | | Walter Burkemo | 4&3 | | |
| | | | | Johnny Revolta | | | |
| Johnny Revolta | 3&2 | | | Johnny Revolta | | | |
| Ellsworth Vines | | | | | | | |
| Ellsworth Vines | | Johnny Revolta | 5&4 | | | | |
| | | Toby Lyons | | | | | |
| Jimmy Clark | | Toby Lyons | | | | | |
| Toby Lyons | 1up | | | | | | |
| Toby Lyons | 1up | | | | | Walter Burkemo | 5&4 |
| | | | | | | Roberto De Vicenzo | |
| Roberto De Vicenzo | 5&4 | | | | | Roberto De Vicenzo | |
| Gene Webb | | | | | | | |
| Gene Webb | | Roberto De Vicenzo | 4&3 | | | | |
| | | Henry Ransom | | | | | |
| Henry Ransom | 2&1 | Henry Ransom | | | | | |
| Herman Keiser | | | | | | | |
| Herman Keiser | | | | Roberto De Vicenzo | 8&6 | | |
| | | | | Elroy Marti | | | |
| Marty Furgol | | | | Elroy Marti | | | |
| Elroy Marti | 4&3 | | | | | | |
| Elroy Marti | 4&3 | Elroy Marti | 2up | | | | |
| | | Henry Williams Jr. | | | | | |
| Frank Commisso | | Henry Williams Jr. | | | | | |
| Henry Williams Jr. | 3&2 | | | | | | | | |
| Henry Williams Jr. | 3&2 | | | | | | | Walter Burkemo | 37h |
| | | | | | | | | Cary Middlecoff | |
| Cary Middlecoff | 1up | | | | | | | Cary Middlecoff | |
| Joe Brown | | | | | | | | | |
| Joe Brown | | Cary Middlecoff | 2&1 | | | | | | |
| | | Bob Toski | | | | | | | |
| Bob Toski | 5&4 | Bob Toski | | | | | | | |
| Jim Turnesa | | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Turnesa | | | | Cary Middlecoff | 5&4 | | | | |
| | | | | Ted Kroll | | | | | |
| Ted Kroll | 3&2 | | | Ted Kroll | | | | | |
| Leonard Wagner | | | | | | | | | |
| Leonard Wagner | | Ted Kroll | 24h | | | | | | |
| | | Max Evans | | | | | | | |
| Orville White | | Max Evans | | | | | | | |
| Max Evans | 2&1 | | | | | | | | |
| Max Evans | 2&1 | | | | | Cary Middlecoff | 3&1 | | |
| | | | | | | Shelley Mayfield | |
| Shelley Mayfield | 4&3 | | | | | Shelley Mayfield | |
| Jimmy Hines | | | | | | | |
| Jimmy Hines | | Shelley Mayfield | 5&4 | | | | |
| | | Wally Ulrich | | | | | |
| Wally Ulrich | 2&1 | Wally Ulrich | | | | | |
| Pat Abbott | | | | | | | |
| Pat Abbott | | | | Shelley Mayfield | 3&2 | | |
| | | | | Horton Smith | | | |
| Jimmy Scott | | | | Horton Smith | | | |
| Horton Smith | 5&4 | | | | | | |
| Horton Smith | 5&4 | Horton Smith | 3&2 | | | | |
| | | Jack Isaacs | | | | | |
| Milon Marusic | | Jack Isaacs | | | | | |
| Jack Isaacs | 3&2 | | | | | | |
Source:

### Final

July 27, Morning
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Harbert | ^ | 4 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Burkemo | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Leader | B1 | B1 | B2 | B3 | B3 | B3 | B3 | B3 | B2 | B1 | – | – | – | H1 | H1 | H1 | H1 | H1 |
^ = picked up ball (hole concession)
Afternoon
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Harbert | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Harbert wins 4 and 3 | Harbert wins 4 and 3 | Harbert wins 4 and 3 |
| Burkemo | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | Harbert wins 4 and 3 | Harbert wins 4 and 3 | Harbert wins 4 and 3 |
| Leader | H2 | H3 | H3 | H3 | H3 | H3 | H2 | H2 | H2 | H3 | H3 | H3 | H3 | H4 | H4 | Harbert wins 4 and 3 | Harbert wins 4 and 3 | Harbert wins 4 and 3 |
* Source: