PGA National Golf Club at BallenIsles) hosted the PGA Championship in 1971, won by Nicklaus in late February. It also was the site of eight consecutive Senior PGA Championships (1966–1973), and the original qualifying school tournaments for the PGA Tour. An earlier PGA National Golf Club (1944–1962) was on the western side of the state at Dunedin, northwest of Tampa. Designed by noted architect Donald Ross it opened in 1927 as a municipal course. Acquired by the PGA of America in 1944, the course was renamed and hosted the for eighteen consecutive years (1945–1962). The PGA of America moved its national offices from Chicago
1928 PGA Championship semifinals. Diegel had lost to Hagen in the 1925 quarterfinals (40 holes) and the 1926 finals. Five-time champion Hagen had won 22 consecutive matches and four straight titles at the PGA Championship. Prior to his loss to Diegel in the quarterfinals, his match record in the 1920s was 32–1 (), falling only to Sarazen in 38 holes in the 1923 finals. The Five Farms Course, now the East Course, was designed by A. W. Tillinghast and opened two years earlier in September 1926. Diegel continued the tradition of repeat champions and successfully defended his title in 1929. The match play