On this date in 1940, the PGA Championship at Hershey Country Club had an epic battle between two golf legends when Byron Nelson won his first PGA by defeating Sam Snead, 1 up, in the 36-hole final.
On this date in 1893, the Open Championship concluded at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland with native Willie Auchterlonie winning by two shots over amateur Johnny Laidlay.
A pair of U.S. Amateur championships concluded on this date. In 1968, Bruce Fleisher had a score of 284 to edge Marvin (Vinny) Giles III by one shot at Scioto C.C., Columbus, Ohio, and in 1980, Hal Sutton defeated Bob Lewis, 9 and 8, at the Country Club of North Carolina, in Pinehurst. Fred Couples had been the match-play qualifying medalist with a score of 139.
A pair of U.S. Amateur results were made on this date. In 1969, Steve Melnyk shot 286 to win by five over Marvin (Vinny) Giles at Oakmont; in 1987, Billy Mayfair defeated Eric Rebmann, 4 and 3, at Jupiter Hills Club (Hills Course), in Florida.
On this date in 1908, Fred McLeod won an 18-hole playoff with Willie Smith, 77-83, to capture the U.S. Open Championship at the Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton, Massachusetts. The two had tied at the end of regulation with 72-hole scores of 322.
A pair of U.S. Amateur championships ended on this date. In 1988, Eric Meeks defeated Danny Yates, 7 and 6, on the Cascades Course at the Virginia Hot Springs G. & T.C., Hot Springs, Va. And in 1994, Tiger Woods won by knocking off Trip Kuehne, 2 up, at TPC at Sawgrass (Stadium Course), Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
On this date in 1995, Tiger Woods won his second of three straight U.S. Amateurs by defeating George (Buddy) Marucci Jr., 2 up, at Newport (R.I.) C.C.
On this date in 2012, New Zealander Lydia Ko, at age 15, became the youngest winner of an LPGA Tour event when she won the Canadian Women’s Open at Vancouver Golf Club, winning by three over Inbee Park. She was the first amateur to win on tour since 1969.
On this date in 1946, Ben Hogan won the PGA Championship at Portland (Ore.) Golf Club with a 6 and 4 victory over Ed (Porky) Oliver. It was his first of nine majors; he would win a second PGA in 1948.
Jack Nicklaus was the first winner of the Tournament Players Championship in 1974, but on this date in 1975, Al Geiberger came out on top at Colonial C.C. in Memphis. Geiberger led from start to finish to win by three strokes ahead of runner-up Dave Stockton.
On this date in 2009, the United States won a third straight Solheim Cup, at Rich Harvest Farms, taking the match with a final score of 16-12. The U.S. won 8 of 12 singles matches on the final day.
On this date in 2010, Fred Funk won The Tradition on the Champions Tour, taking the title by one shot over Michael Allen and Lu Chien-soon of Taiwan.
The PGA Championship ended on this date in 1920 with Scotsman Jock Hutchison defeating Douglas Edgar, 1 up, in a 36-hole battle at Flossmoor Country Club in Chicago.
On this date in 1944, the PGA Championship was won in an upset. Bob Hamilton won the 36-hole finale, 1 up, at Manito Golf & Country Club over the 1940 winner Byron Nelson. The match was tied after the first 18. Nelson would win the following year.
On this date in 1984, Lee Trevino won his second PGA Championship after shooting four rounds in the 60s and winning in sensational fashion by four shots at Shoal Creek over Gary Player and Lanny Wadkins.
On this date in 2002, Rich Beem bucked the odds and won the PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, winning his first major title by one shot over Tiger Woods with a 10-under 278.
A few PGA Championships ended on this date, including in 1969 when Raymond Floyd won at NCR Country Club’s South Course in Dayton, Ohio. Floyd shot eight-under 276 to win by one shot over Gary Player of South Africa, who infamously had to deal with apartheid protestors.
One of Arnold Palmer’s runner-up finishes in the PGA Championship ended on this date in 1970. Dave Stockton won with 279 at Southern Hills, with Palmer and Bob Murphy two strokes back. It was the first of two Stockton victories, the second coming in 1976.
A PGA Championship that was believed tailor made for Arnold Palmer to win instead went to Dave Marr on this date in 1965. Held at a course Palmer played out of his home in nearby Latrobe, the PGA at Laurel Valley was supposed to ensure an Arnie victory. But he was a nonfactor, tied for 33rd, and the affable Marr won by two over Bill Casper and Jack Nicklaus.
On this day in 1988, Jeff Sluman finished off a dream week at the PGA Championship at Oak Tree Golf Club in Oklahoma, shooting 12-under 272 to win by three over Paul Azinger.