The 1944 PGA Championship was the 26th PGA Championship, held August 14–20 at Manito Golf and Country Club in Spokane, Washington. Then a match play championship, Bob Hamilton won his only major title, 1 up in the 36-hole final over heavily favored Byron Nelson; the winner's share was $3,500 and the runner-up's was $1,500. Hamilton defeated Jug McSpaden 2 & 1 in the quarterfinals and George Schneiter 1 up in the semifinals. It was Nelson's third runner-up finish (1939, 1941, 1944); he won the title in 1940 and 1945. Nelson was the medalist in the stroke play qualifier with a 6-under 138.