Doug Ford won the match play championship, 4 and 3 over Cary Middlecoff in the Tuesday final; the winner's share was $5,000 and the runner-up earned $3,000.

Ford was also the medalist in the stroke-play qualifying with a 135 (−7), worth $250 and the Alex Smith trophy.

Ford was the last medalist, as the format was changed in 1956 to seven rounds without a qualifier for two years, then to 72-hole stroke play in 1958.

Defending champion Chick Harbert, a local resident, was defeated in the second round by Johnny Palmer, 1 up.

The match play format at the PGA Championship in 1955 called for 12 rounds (216 holes) in seven days:[2] Tuesday, July 26, 1955 w/o = won by walkover Source:[9] July 26, Morning Afternoon Source:[5]