1945 PGA Championship: Byron Nelson wins at Moraine Country Club
Byron Nelson won the 1945 PGA Championship at Moraine Country Club in Kettering, Ohio, beating Sam Byrd 4 & 3 in the final.
Updated October 23, 2026
See 1945 in Wanamaker Avenue, the PGA Championship room, or every year on the PGA Championship winners list.
- Dates
- July 9, 1945 to July 15, 1945
- Course
- Moraine Country Club, Kettering, Ohio
- Edition
- 27th PGA Championship
- Format
- match play
- Field
- 32
- Match-play field
- 32 · 36 every round
- Stroke-play medalist
- Byron Nelson and Johnny Revolta (tie) (138)
- Purse
- $14,700 · winner's share $3,750
- Champion
- Byron Nelson · age 33 · United States · born Waxahachie, Texas
- Champion's title
- 2nd PGA Championship
- Final
- 4 & 3 (36-hole final)
- Runner-up
- Sam Byrd
The draw as recorded: Round of 32 to final (complete).
The final, 1945 PGA Championship
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Byron Nelson | def. | Sam Byrd | 4 & 3 |
Semifinals, 1945 PGA Championship
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Byron Nelson | def. | Claude Harmon | 5 & 4 |
| Sam Byrd | def. | Clarence Doser | 7 & 6 |
Quarterfinals, 1945 PGA Championship
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Byron Nelson | def. | Denny Shute | 3 & 2 |
| Claude Harmon | def. | Ralph Hutchison | 4 & 3 |
| Sam Byrd | def. | Vic Ghezzi | 7 & 6 |
| Clarence Doser | def. | Ky Laffoon | 2 & 1 |
Round of 16, 1945 PGA Championship
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ky Laffoon | def. | Jack Grout | won on 38th hole |
| Clarence Doser | def. | Toney Penna | won on 37th hole |
| Sam Byrd | def. | Johnny Revolta | 2 & 1 |
| Vic Ghezzi | def. | Herman Barron | 2 up |
| Byron Nelson | def. | Mike Turnesa | 1 up |
| Denny Shute | def. | Bob Kepler | 5 & 4 |
| Ralph Hutchison | def. | Ted Johnson | 6 & 5 |
| Claude Harmon | def. | Jim Turnesa | 8 & 7 |
Round of 32, 1945 PGA Championship
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Byron Nelson | def. | Gene Sarazen | 4 & 3 |
| Jack Grout | def. | Bob Hamilton | 5 & 4 |
| Ky Laffoon | def. | Felix Serafin | 4 & 3 |
| Clarence Doser | def. | Harold McSpaden | 5 & 4 |
| Toney Penna | def. | Wayne Timberman | 2 up |
| Johnny Revolta | def. | Frank Kringle | 10 & 9 |
| Sam Byrd | def. | Augie Nordone | 4 & 3 |
| Herman Barron | def. | Harry Nettlebladt | 5 & 3 |
| Vic Ghezzi | def. | Ed Dudley | 7 & 6 |
| Mike Turnesa | def. | John Gibson | 5 & 4 |
| Denny Shute | def. | Barney Clark | 4 & 3 |
| Bob Kepler | def. | George Schneiter | 2 & 1 |
| Terl Johnson | def. | Dutch Harrison | 1 up |
| Ralph Hutchison | def. | Ted Huge | 6 & 5 |
| Jim Turnesa | def. | Byron Harcke | 9 & 7 |
| Claude Harmon | def. | Verl Stinchcomb | 2 & 1 |
What happened at the 1945 PGA Championship
Two down to Mike Turnesa with four holes left in the second round, Nelson went birdie (15th), birdie from three feet (16th), then holed a 25-foot eagle putt on the par-5 17th to win 1 up.
In the final Byrd birdied the last four holes of the morning 18 and went 2 up on the 21st, then lost six of the next eight holes.
How this was built
Every value is shown as recorded in GNN's PGA Championship data. A value no source confirmed is left out; nothing is estimated. Where sources disagree, the organizer's own record is used.
Data: pga.json (the PGA Championship room's data: Tables 1A–1H and 2B, every recorded match).