Completed Edition
1978 PGA Championship
John Mahaffey began the final round of the 1978 PGA Championship seven strokes behind Tom Watson. At Oakmont, his 66 brought him into a three-player tie. A birdie on the second playoff hole won the title.31
Seven Strokes Back
Watson had opened 67-69-67 for 203. Jerry Pate stood at 208 and Mahaffey at 210, having recovered from an opening 75 with rounds of 67 and 68. On Sunday Watson took 73, Pate 68 and Mahaffey 66. All three finished at 276.3
The first extra hole produced three pars. At the second, Mahaffey made a birdie putt of about twelve feet to beat Watson and Pate. The PGA records it as the first three-player playoff of its stroke-play era.14
Mahaffey had already lost one major in a playoff. At the 1975 U.S. Open, Lou Graham beat him over eighteen extra holes. Three years later, the playoff ended with Mahaffey holding the trophy.2
Sources for this story 4 references
Competition places
Venues
Recorded outcomes
Results
- Won by John Mahaffey276Decided by playoffPGA official Championship result
- Runner-up Jerry Pate276Decided by playoffPGA official Championship finalist record
- Runner-up Tom Watson276Decided by playoffPGA official Championship finalist record