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
1945 PGA Championship consecutive wins in 1945. Defending champion Bob Hamilton was defeated in the first round by Jack Grout, 4 & 3. Due to World War II, the PGA Championship was the sole major played in 1945 (and 1944). The three others returned in 1946. The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1945 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days: "Sunday, July 15, 1945" "Morning" "Afternoon" 1945 PGA Championship The 1945 PGA Championship was the 27th PGA Championship, held July 9–15 at Moraine Country Club in Kettering, Ohio, a suburb south of Dayton. Then a match play championship,