The 1955 PGA Championship was the 37th PGA Championship, held July 20–26 in Michigan at Meadowbrook Country Club in Northville Township, northwest of nearby Detroit. Doug Ford won the match play championship, 4 and 3 over Cary Middlecoff in the Tuesday final; the winner's share was $5,000 and the runner-up earned $3,000. This was the first of two major titles for Ford, who won the Masters in 1957.
Ford was also the medalist in the stroke-play qualifying with a 135 (−7), worth $250 and the Alex Smith trophy. He was the fourth to win the final match after winning the qualifier, joining Walter Hagen (1926), Olin Dutra (1932), and Byron Nelson (1945). Ford was the last medalist, as the format was changed in 1956 to seven rounds without a qualifier for two years, then to 72-hole stroke play in 1958.
Defending champion Chick Harbert, a local resident, was defeated in the second round by Johnny Palmer, 1 up. No former champion advanced past the second round.
This was second time in three years the PGA Championship was played near Detroit; the 1953 event was played at Birmingham Country Club in Birmingham, about northeast. The 1947 edition, in which Harbert was runner-up, was also held in the Detroit area.
Format The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1955 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days: Wednesday and Thursday – 36-hole stroke play qualifier, 18 holes per day; defending champion Chick Harbert and the top 63 professionals advanced to match play Friday – first two rounds, 18 holes each Saturday – third round – 36 holes Sunday – quarterfinals – 36 holes Monday – semifinals – 36 holes Tuesday – final – 36 holes
Final results Tuesday, July 26, 1955 PlacePlayerMoney ($)1 Doug Ford 5,0002 Cary Middlecoff 3,000T3 Tommy Bolt 750 Shelley MayfieldT5 Jack Burke Jr. 500 Don Fairfield Fred Hawkins Lew Worsham
Results Top half
Bottom half
w/o = won by walkover
Source:
Final July 26, Morning Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718Par454443434 435344454 Ford 454442434434245444 Middlecoff 354443333435334454 Leader M1M1M1M1M1–M1M1M2M2M2M1–M1M2M2M1M1
Afternoon Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415161718Par454443434 435344454 Ford454443424424434 Ford wins4 and 3 Middlecoff544543444445345 Leader –M1M1––––F1F1F1F2F3F2F3F4 Source: {|class="wikitable" span = 50 style="font-size:85%; |- |style="background:Pink; width:10px;"| |Birdie |style="background:PaleGreen; width:10px;"| |Bogey
References
External links PGA Media Guide 2012 GolfCompendium.com – 1955 PGA Championship PGA.com – 1955 PGA Championship