The 1916 PGA Championship, the inaugural event of what would become a major golf championship, was defined by its match play format. This style of competition, where players compete directly against each other hole by hole rather than by total strokes, was a prevalent and exciting way to determine champions in the early days of professional golf. Held at Siwanoy Country Club in Eastchester, New York, the tournament showcased the strategic and head-to-head
nature of match play, setting it apart from the stroke play format that would later dominate many major championships.
Influences and Distinctions of the Format
The structure of the 1916 PGA Championship closely mirrored that of the News of the World Match Play tournament, an event organized by the British PGA since 1903. This British tournament, though not played since 1913 due to World War I, provided a clear blueprint for the American championship. Both events featured a single-elimination bracket, where golfers advanced by winning individual matches. However, a key distinction lay in the duration of the matches and the overall tournament length. The PGA Championship was played over five days, with all matches, including the early rounds, contested over 36 holes. In contrast, the News of the World Match Play typically featured 18-hole matches, with only the final extending to a longer format, and the entire event was completed in three days. The longer 36-hole matches in the PGA Championship demanded greater endurance and sustained performance from the competitors.
Another crucial aspect of the match play format was the provision for extra holes in the event of a tied match. This rule ensured that every match had a definitive winner, adding to the drama and excitement as players battled until one emerged victorious. This contrasts with stroke play, where ties might lead to playoffs or shared positions, but not a direct, sudden-death continuation of the match itself.
Qualification and Field Size
The field for the 1916 PGA Championship consisted of 32 players, all of whom were members of the PGA of America. Qualification was achieved through a series of 36-hole stroke-play competitions, with one event held for each of the seven PGA sections. The number of qualifiers from each section was proportional to its membership. For example, the Metropolitan section had 12 qualifiers, while the Middle West section had 7, and the Pacific section had 1. This system ensured that the field represented the best professional talent from across the country, as determined by their performance in these sectional qualifiers.
In instances where there was a tie for a qualifying spot, a playoff was arranged. One such playoff occurred on October 4 at Englewood Golf Club, involving Jack Dowling, Clarence Hackney, and Macdonald Smith, who had tied for 13th place in a qualifying event. Smith arrived too late to participate, and Dowling ultimately beat Hackney by a score of 147 to 165 over 36 holes, securing his place in the championship. This rigorous qualification process, combined with the demanding match play format, ensured that only the most skilled and resilient golfers competed for the inaugural PGA Championship title.
