PGA Championship: A look back at 100 years of tournament history
By Bill Felber
1969: Ray Floyd
By the 1969 PGA Championship, held at the NCR Country Club in Dayton, the event’s format had been set at medal play for more than a decade.
The field included all of the game’s greats of that era. Jack Nicklaus was there, as were Gary Player and Arnold Palmer, the latter still seeking to complete the elusive career grand slam. Defending champion Julius Boros was in the field, although in his late 40s, Boros was not viewed as a front-line threat.
Through two rounds, the competition remained wide open. Nine players carded opening 69s to tie for the lead, with nine others – Nicklaus among them – one stroke back.
When Raymond Floyd produced a second round 66, he broke from the pack to take a one-stroke lead over Player, with Bunky Henry another stroke behind and Nicklaus in a three-way tie for fourth, three back.
The tournament’s character was set Saturday, both among the players and in the galleries. A small group of demonstrators, apparently intent on protesting apartheid policies of Player’s native South Africa, tried to disrupt his twosome with Nicklaus. Player posted a 71 to tie Henry and Bert Greene for second at 207.
But Floyd’s 67 created a five-stroke gap that proved to be just enough entering Sunday’s final round of play. On that Sunday, Floyd bogeyed the 13th and 15th holes, opening the door for Player to tie with a birdie putt at the 17th. But he missed and Floyd held on to claim his first of an eventual four major championships. Nicklaus tied for 11th, seven strokes back. Palmer shot an opening round 82 and withdrew.