1954 PGA Championship Winner and Scores

The 1954 PGA Championship was the 36th time this major was played, and it was won by a Chick who had previously lost in two PGA finals.

Winner: Chick Harbert (def. Walter Burkemo in championship match)

Semifinalists: Harbert, Burkemo, Tommy Bolt, Cary Middlecoff

Where it was played: Keller Golf Club in Maplewood, Minnesota

Tournament dates: July 21-27, 1954

What Happened in 1954 PGA Championship

Chick Harbert made up for two previous missed opportunities, winning the 1954 PGA Championship after having lost in the finals in both 1947 and 1952. Harbert defeated Walter Burkemo in the championship match. Burkemo was the defending champion and was making his third trip to the finals in four years.

For Harbert, it was the last of his seven career PGA Tour victories, and his only win in one of the four major championships.

Harbert was 3-down to Burkemo after only four holes of the 36-hole championship match. But over the following 29 holes, Harbert lost only one more hole. By the time that stretch was over, Harbert had flipped the score and was 3-up. The match ended in a 4-and-3 victory after the 33rd hole.

To reach the finals, Harbert defeated Mike Krak, John O'Donnell, Ed "Porky" Oliver, Jerry Barber and Tommy Bolt; while Burkemo dispatched Dave Douglas, Claude Harmon, Johnny Revolta, Roberto De Vicenzo and Cary Middlecoff. In his semifinal against Bolt, Harbert sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win, 1-up.

Late-Round Matches in 1954 PGA Championship

Round of 16 (36 holes)
Tommy Bolt def. Jim Browning, 2 and 1
Sam Snead def. Dutch Harrison, 7 and 6
Jerry Barber def. Charles Bassler, 1-up (38 holes)
Chick Harbert def. Ed Oliver, 3 and 1
Walter Burkemo def. Johnny Revolta, 5 and 4
Roberto De Vicenzo def. Elroy Marti, 8 and 6
Cary Middlecoff def. Ted Kroll, 5 and 4
Shelley Mayfield def. Horton Smith, 3 and 2

Quarterfinals (36 holes)
Chick Harbert def. Jerry Barber, 1-up
Tommy Bolt def. Sam Snead, 1-up (39 holes)
Cary Middlecoff def. Shelley Mayfield, 3 and 1
Walter Burkemo def. Roberto De Vicenzo, 5 and 4

Semifinals (36 holes)
Chick Harbert def. Tommy Bolt, 1-up
Walter Burkemo def. Cary Middlecoff, 1-up (37 holes)

Championship Match (36 holes)
Chick Harbert def. Walter Burkemo, 4 and 3

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1953 PGA Championship - 1955 PGA Championship

Sources:
PGA of America. PGA Championship Media Guide 2012, PGA Championship History, 1954.
PGA of America. 2026 PGA Championship Media Guide, PGA Championship Recaps, 1954.