at the 18th hole moments later academic. It also rendered meaningless Beem’s cautious bogey at the final hole when he took three to get down from the front of the green. His closing 68 was enough to hold off Woods, and the former stereo and cell phone salesman was the 2002 PGA Champion. His fairytale week was complete.
Rosburg Rallies for 1959 Victory Bob Rosburg thought he was destined to finish second in his second major championship of 1959 at Minneapolis Golf Club in St. Louis Park. Rosburg, who had finished runner-up to Billy Casper in the 1959 U.S. Open a few weeks earlier, composed weekend rounds of 68 and 66, but Jerry Barber appeared to have the 1959 PGA Championship in his grasp with three holes to play. Rosburg, of Rancho Mirage, Calif., opened the final round six shots behind Barber but recorded five birdies on the front nine for a record-tying 30. Barber, playing three holes behind Rosburg, birdied the 15th hole to take a one-stroke lead and Rosburg thought he had missed his chance for his first major title. However, with Rosburg refusing to watch the finish on television in the clubhouse, Barber bogeyed the final two holes to give Rosburg the one-shot triumph. Rosburg’s first-place check was $8,250, a princely sum in 1959 (see page 82 for a tribute to Rosburg).
A PGA Championship runner-up in 1947 and ' 52, Chick Harbert defeated defending PGA Champion Walter Burkemo on the 37th hole in 1954.
Harbert Secures 1954 Title Chick Harbert of Northville, Mich., was another underdog at Keller Golf Club for the 1954 PGA Championship. A runner-up in 1947 and 1952, Harbert found himself in an elite match-play bracket that featured medalist Ed “Porky” Oliver, Jerry Barber, Sam Snead, Tommy Bolt and Walter Burkemo – all future or former major
1932
Dates: Aug. 31-Sept. 4
Champion: Olin Dutra
Score: 4 and 3
Runner-up: Frank Walsh
Site: Keller Golf Club, St. Paul
Field: 32
Purse: $7,200
Note: Dutra was 19-under-par for 196 holes
1954
Dates: July 21-27
Champion: Chick Harbert
Score: 4 and 3
Runner-up: Walter Burkemo
Site: Keller Golf Club, St. Paul
Field: 134
Purse: $20,700
Note: Harbert was runner-up in
1947 and ‘ 52
1959
Dates: July 30-Aug. 2 Champion: Bob Rosburg Score: 277
Runner-up: Jerry Barber, Doug Sanders
Site: Minneapolis Golf Club, St. Louis Park
Field: 174
Purse: $51, 175
Note: Nine players shared the lead after the first round
PGA Championships played in Minnesota
2002
Dates: Aug. 15-18
Champion: Rich Beem
Score: 278
Runner-up: Tiger Woods
Site: Hazeltine National Golf
Club, Chaska
Field: 156
Purse: $5,500,000
Note: Beem became the 12th
Champion of the last 15 PGA
Championships to claim his
first major title