The 1946 PGA Championship, held at the Portland Golf Club in Oregon, was not just a test of skill but also a formidable challenge of endurance, thanks to its demanding match play format. Spanning seven days from August 19 to 25, the tournament required players to navigate multiple rounds, often playing 36 holes in a single day, under the summer sun. This rigorous structure was a hallmark of the PGA Championship during this era, pushing even the most
seasoned professionals to their physical and mental limits.
The Initial Gauntlet: Stroke Play Qualifier
The championship commenced with a 36-hole stroke play qualifier, spread across Monday and Tuesday, with 18 holes played each day. This initial phase served to narrow down the field, with the defending champion, Byron Nelson, and the top 63 professionals earning their spots in the subsequent match play bracket. This qualifier was crucial, as a strong performance here was necessary just to gain entry into the main competitive rounds. Jim Ferrier notably excelled in this stage, achieving a record for a PGA event with a 29 on the front nine of the second round, highlighting the high level of play even in the qualifying rounds.
The Marathon of Match Play
Once the field was set, the tournament transitioned into its intense match play phase. Wednesday saw the first two rounds, each consisting of 18 holes. This meant that players who advanced had to complete 36 holes of competitive golf in a single day. The challenge escalated further on Thursday with the third round, which was a full 36-hole match. This pattern of 36-hole matches continued through the quarterfinals on Friday, the semifinals on Saturday, and culminated in the 36-hole final on Sunday.
This format placed immense physical strain on the golfers. Playing 36 holes, often walking the entire course, for multiple consecutive days, particularly in August, required exceptional stamina. Ben Hogan, the eventual champion, experienced this firsthand in the final, where he was three holes down after the morning's 18 holes against Ed Oliver, only to rebound in the afternoon. This comeback underscored the mental toughness required to maintain focus and performance over such an extended period. The grueling nature of this schedule was a factor that later influenced Hogan's participation in the PGA Championship; after a severe auto accident in 1949, his debilitated condition made the five-day, 36-holes-per-day schedule in summer heat particularly difficult, leading him to skip the event until it changed to a 72-hole stroke play format in 1960.
