[2][4] Grady became the third Australian-born player to win the PGA Championship, preceded by Jim Ferrier in 1947 and David Graham in 1979.

[4] Concerns about racial discrimination in the club's membership caused many sponsors to pull their network television advertising, including IBM.

[5] Leading up to the tournament, Shoal Creek founder Hall Thompson doubled down on the club's policy of excluding African-Americans from membership.

Various groups threatened to protest the event and sponsors pulled out, and the PGA considered moving the tournament away from Shoal Creek.

In the end, a local African-American executive accepted an invitation to become an honorary member and the tournament was held as planned.