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1968 PGA Championship

Coordinates: 29°22′37″N 98°25′52″W / 29.377°N 98.431°W / 29.377; -98.431
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1968 PGA Championship
Tournament information
DatesJuly 18–21, 1968
LocationSan Antonio, Texas
Course(s)Pecan Valley Golf Club
Organized byPGA of America
Tour(s)PGA Tour
Statistics
Par70
Length7,096 yards (6,489 m)
Field165 players, 75 after cut[1]
Cut149 (+9)
Prize fund$150,000[1]
Winner's share$25,000
Champion
United States Julius Boros
281 (+1)
← 1967
1969 →
San Antonio is located in the United States
San Antonio
San Antonio
San Antonio is located in Texas
San Antonio
San Antonio

The 1968 PGA Championship was the 50th PGA Championship played July 18–21 at Pecan Valley Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas. Julius Boros, age 48, won the third of his three major titles, one stroke ahead of runners-up Bob Charles and Arnold Palmer.[2] Through 2019, Boros remains the oldest winner of a major championship. The tournament was played in very hot conditions.[2] Palmer had an 8-foot (2.4 m) putt to tie on the 72nd green, but it missed on the high side of the hole.[3][4] It was the second of his three runner-up finishes at the only major he never won; he also tied for second in 1964 and 1970.

This was the final major before the formation of the Tournament Players Division, later renamed the PGA Tour. The tour pros broke away from the PGA of America in August and formed an independent tour, the American Professional Golfers, Inc. (APG).[5][6][7][8] A compromise was reached in December which brought the tournament players back to the PGA in a separate division with its own policy board and commissioner.[9][10][11]

In his seventh PGA Championship, Jack Nicklaus missed his first cut in the event by a stroke; five of his six previous finishes were in the top three, with a victory in 1963 in Dallas. He made the next nine cuts at the PGA Championship and won four more times (1971, 1973, 1975, 1980).

This PGA Championship was played immediately after the Open Championship in Scotland, the fifth time during the 1960s which the final two majors were played in consecutive weeks. This PGA Championship was also the last held in July (until 2016); it moved to August in 1969 (except 1971 when it was played in February in Florida).

Past champions in the field

Made the cut

Player Country Year(s) won R1 R2 R3 R4 Total To par Finish
Al Geiberger  United States 1966 70 73 71 71 285 +5 T8
Lionel Hebert  United States 1957 75 71 70 74 290 +10 T30
Sam Snead  United States 1942, 1949, 1951 75 71 72 73 291 +11 T34
Dow Finsterwald  United States 1958 71 75 75 74 295 +15 T48
Don January  United States 1967 78 71 75 72 296 +16 T51
Bobby Nichols  United States 1964 75 72 76 75 298 +18 T57

Missed the cut

Player Country Year(s) won R1 R2 Total To par
Jack Nicklaus  United States 1963 71 79 150 +10
Bob Rosburg  United States 1959 75 75 150 +10
Jerry Barber  United States 1961 77 74 151 +11
Walter Burkemo  United States 1953 74 78 152 +12
Dave Marr  United States 1965 77 76 153 +13
Paul Runyan  United States 1934, 1938 79 74 153 +13
Doug Ford  United States 1955 77 77 154 +14
Jay Hebert  United States 1960 74 80 154 +14
Jim Ferrier  Australia 1947 80 76 156 +16
Jim Turnesa  United States 1952 78 78 156 +16

Source:[1][12]

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, July 18, 1968

Place Player Country Score To par
1 Marty Fleckman  United States 66 −4
2 Frank Beard  United States 68 −2
T3 Don Bies  United States 69 −1
Mason Rudolph  United States
Lee Trevino  United States
T6 Miller Barber  United States 70 E
Frank Boynton  United States
Charles Coody  United States
Al Geiberger  United States
Laurie Hammer  United States
Johnny Pott  United States
Dan Sikes  United States

Source:[13]

Second round

Friday, July 19, 1968

Place Player Country Score To par
T1 Frank Beard  United States 68-70=138 −2
Marty Fleckman  United States 66-72=138
3 Doug Sanders  United States 72-67=139 −1
T4 George Archer  United States 71-69=140 E
Miller Barber  United States 70-70=140
Arnold Palmer  United States 71-69=140
Johnny Pott  United States 70-70=140
Lee Trevino  United States 69-71=140
T9 Don Bies  United States 69-73=142 +2
Julius Boros  United States 71-71=142
Bob Charles  New Zealand 72-70=142
Dan Sikes  United States 70-72=142

Source:[12]

Third round

Saturday, July 20, 1968

Place Player Country Score To par
T1 Frank Beard  United States 68-70-72=210 E
Marty Fleckman  United States 66-72-72=210
T3 Miller Barber  United States 70-70-72=212 +2
Julius Boros  United States 71-71-70=212
Bob Charles  New Zealand 72-70-70=212
Arnold Palmer  United States 71-69-72=212
Dick Rhyan  United States 72-72-68=212
Doug Sanders  United States 72-67-73=212
Lee Trevino  United States 69-71-72=212
10 Lou Graham  United States 73-70-70=213 +3

Source:[14]

Final round

Sunday, July 21, 1968

Place Player Country Score To par Money ($)
1 Julius Boros  United States 71-71-70-69=281 +1 25,000
T2 Bob Charles  New Zealand 72-70-70-70=282 +2 12,500
Arnold Palmer  United States 71-69-72-70=282
T4 George Archer  United States 71-69-74-69=283 +3 7,500
Marty Fleckman  United States 66-72-72-73=283
T6 Frank Beard  United States 68-70-72-74=284 +4 5,750
Billy Casper  United States 74-70-70-70=284
T8 Miller Barber  United States 70-70-72-73=285 +5 3,406
Frank Boynton  United States 70-73-72-70=285
Charles Coody  United States 70-77-70-68=285
Al Geiberger  United States 70-73-71-71=285
Bob Goalby  United States 73-72-70-70=285
Lou Graham  United States 73-70-70-72=285
Doug Sanders  United States 72-67-73-73=285
Dan Sikes  United States 70-72-73-70=285
Kermit Zarley  United States 72-75-68-70=285

Source:[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Tournament Info for: 1968 PGA Championship". PGA of America. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Jenkins, Dan (July 29, 1968). "The Junkman cools it". Sports Illustrated. p. 12.
  3. ^ "Boros wins PGA; Palmer ties for 2nd". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 22, 1968. p. 20.
  4. ^ "Boros oldest victor in PGA meet". Milwaukee Journal. July 22, 1968. p. 10.
  5. ^ "Touring pros studying break". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 23, 1968. p. 12. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  6. ^ "Rebel Golfers Number 205". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. August 20, 1968. p. 3B.
  7. ^ "Touring golf pros set up own shop". Milwaukee Journal. August 20, 1968. p. 11.
  8. ^ Mulvoy, Mark (September 2, 1968). "The revolt of the touring pros". Sports Illustrated: 20.
  9. ^ Awtrey, Stan (February 11, 2009). "Professionals' split was a good thing for the game". PGA Tour. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  10. ^ "Tour golfers, PGA settle fuss over tourney control". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. December 14, 1968. p. 15.
  11. ^ "Pro golf struggle is settled; PGA forms tourney group". Milwaukee Journal. December 14, 1968. p. 18.
  12. ^ a b "PGA scorecard". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 20, 1968. p. 8.
  13. ^ "Fleckman leads PGA on hot 66". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 19, 1968. p. 16.
  14. ^ "Beard, Fleckman tie for PGA lead". Toled Blade. Ohio. Associated Press. July 21, 1968. p. F-1.
  15. ^ "Bad news for young pros: vet PGA king to play on". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. July 22, 1968. p. 13.
Preceded by Major Championships Succeeded by

29°22′37″N 98°25′52″W / 29.377°N 98.431°W / 29.377; -98.431