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- The SOCIETY Newsletter #17
The SOCIETY Newsletter #17
A Tribute to an Underrated Champion
A Tribute to an Underrated Champion
The winner of the inaugural PGA Championship of 1916 might be one of the most underrated golfers in the history of American golf. His name was Jim Barnes and his resume is staggering.
Barnes playing a tee shot at the 1921 US Open at Columbia CC
Jim Barnes was one of the greatest golfers that ever lived and yet most golfers today have never heard of him. Jim Barnes also known as “Long” Jim Barnes, because of his towering height (6’4”) and his length off the tee, won every tournament under the sun, including every major that existed during his playing years.
Barnes isn’t credited with winning a career Grand Slam, but he should be on that list. Barnes won every available major during his golfing career, which ended prior to the formation of the Masters in 1934.
Jim Barnes resume includes:
1916 PGA Championship
1919 PGA Championship
1921 US Open
1925 Open Championship
1925 Open Champion, Jim Barnes
On top of these four major championships victories, he also won what some golf historians consider the 4th Major prior to the formation of the Masters, the Western Open. I will be brief on this point because it will be the subject of a future TalkinGolf History Podcast, but the Western Open’s claim to Major Championship status has some legitimacy in the early decades of the tournament. For two decades the Western Golf Association was a non-USGA affiliated, rival ruling body of golf and the Western Open was in fact their National Championship. It was during these non-USGA affiliated years that Long Jim Barnes won the 1914, 1917 and 1919 Western Opens. So in the history books, Jim Barnes has 4 majors, but to some who understand the nature of the early history of championship golf in America, he laid claim to 7 (as many as Arnold Palmer).
Jim Barnes’ best year could arguably be one of the finest in golf history. In 1919, Barnes claimed the PGA Championship, the Western Open and the North & South Open (which in today’s terms would be similar in status to winning the Players Championship).
Additional notes:
In the 1921 US Open, Jim Barnes beat the field by 9 strokes. His record margin of victory in the U.S. Open lasted 79 years until Tiger Woods broke it in the 2000 US Open with a 12 stroke margin of victory.
Jim Barnes on the left & his friend and nemesis Walter Hagen on the right
Jim Barnes won 4 official major championships and finished runner-up three times. All three of those runner-ups were to the Great Walter Hagen - who was the Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus of his era. Walter won more majors than any professional in golf history until he was surpassed by a golfer by the name of Jack Nicklaus.
The Two Greatest PGA Champions
Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus both 5-time PGA Champions
The two greatest PGA Championship winners of all-time are Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus. Combined these two great champions have won 10% of all the PGA Championships that have ever been played!
Together Hagen and Nicklaus have won the PGA Championship an remarkable 10 times!
PGA Championship Venues That Might Surprise You
Who is game for a Major Championship in the state of Florida? Believe it or not it’s happened twice. They did it the right way the first time and the wrong way the second time.
PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, FL - 1971 & 1987.
In 1971 the PGA Championship got it right and held the championship in the month of February to accommodate a Florida based PGA Championship. The players and spectators played under ideal Florida conditions and the championship was deemed a success.
Scene from the 1987 PGA Championship
16 years later, the PGA Championship missed the mark by hosting their championship in the heart of the Florida summer between August 6-9, 1987. The 1987 PGA Championship went down as one of the most hot, humid and miserable majors in golf history. The tournament posted an average temperature or 97F with 80-90% humidity.
Hint to future majors: even Floridians dread playing golf in Florida in the month of August.
Pebble Beach - 1977
Lanny Wadkins celebrating a play-off victory (photo courtesy of Pebble Beach)
Like many venues on this list, Pebble Beach has a very distinct US Open vibe about it. Pebble Beach has hosted the U.S. Open 6 times and the host of 14 USGA Championships. However in 1977, Pebble Beach hosted its lone PGA Championship.
It doesn’t seem likely that the PGA Championship will ever return to Pebble Beach with the USGA scheduled to host 7 more of its championships between now and 2048.
Fun Facts about the 1977 PGA Championship at Pebble Beach:
It was the first ever major championship sudden death play-off
Tom Watson found out the USGA had ruled his clubs illegal just prior to play and had to borrow someone’s clubs to play in the PGA Championship.
Oakmont CC - 1922, 1951 and 1978
Oakmont CC has hosted the PGA Championship three times, which feels odd for the de facto home of the U.S. Open. Oakmont has hosted the U.S. Open a record 9 times and is on the U.S. Open docket four more times between now and 2049.
That being said the winner’s of Oakmont’s PGA Championships have been strong winners including Gene Sarazen & Sam Snead. In the 1978 championship, Tom Watson entered the final round with a 5 stroke lead but shot +2 in his final round. The 1978 PGA Champion was John McHaffey. Tom Watson had several close calls attempting to complete his career grand slam, but unfortunately that door never opened.
Winged Foot - 1997
The 1997 PGA Championship Program
Unlike other contenders on this list the 1997 PGA Championship feels fairly recent and this host seems really out of place. Why is that?
Wing Foot has hosted 9 USGA majors including 6 US Opens and then in 1997… the PGA Championship. While several courses feel like a strange fit, Winged Foot stands out to me due to its recency.
Fun Fact: Winged Foot’s design was so impressive that it hosted its first major in 1929 when it was only 6 years old. That US Open was won by the great Bobby Jones - a win that convinced Jones to try to win all of golf’s majors in 1930.
As always thank you for taking the time out of your day to read our free weekly golf history newsletter. If you enjoy it, please recommend it to others. Its very easy to forward this email to anyone who you think might enjoy it.
Yours in Golf History,
Connor T. Lewis