PGA Championship
The
PGA Championship (referred to as the US PGA Championship outside of N. America) is an annual golf tournament, conducted by the
Professional Golfers Association of America as part of the
PGA TOUR. The PGA Championship is one of the four
Major Championships in men's golf, and it is the golf season's final major, being played in August (customarily the 4th weekend after the
The Open Championship, but being advanced a week in 2007 and 2008 because of local scheduling conflicts). It is an official money event on both the
PGA TOUR and the
European Tour.
This Championship is often called "The Season's Final Major: Glory's Last Shot!"
In line with the other majors, winning the PGA gives a golfer several privileges which make his career much more secure, if he is not already one of the elite of the sport. PGA champions are automatically invited to play in the other three majors (
The Masters,
US Open and
The Open Championship) for the next five years, and are exempt from qualifying for the PGA Championship for life. They also receive membership on the PGA TOUR for the following five seasons and invitations to
THE PLAYERS Championship for five years.
The Championship has been held at a large number of venues, some of the early ones now quite obscure, but nowadays it is usually staged by one of a small group of celebrated courses, each of which has also hosted several other leading events.
The first PGA Championship was in 1916 at
Siwanoy Country Club in
Bronxville,
New York. The trophy was donated by
Rodman Wanamaker, and is known as the Wanamaker Trophy. It was initially a match play event, and it moved to a stroke play format in 1958. It is sometimes said that this was a result of pressure from television, which prefers to see as many famous players as possible in contention on the final day. The first winner,
Jim Barnes, received $500 (US) in 1916, while 2005 winner
Phil Mickelson received $1.17 million (US).
The PGA Championship was established for the purpose of providing a high profile tournament specifically for professional golfers at a time when they were generally not held in high esteem in a sport that was largely run by wealthy amateurs. This origin is still reflected in the entry system for the Championship. It is the only major which does not invite leading amateurs to compete, and the only one which reserves a large number of places, 20 out of 156, for club professionals. The PGA Tour is now independent of the
PGA of America, and it is an elite organisation of
tournament professionals, but the PGA Championship is still run by the PGA of America, which is mainly a body for club and teaching professionals. The PGA Championship is the only major that does not explicitly grant entry to the top 50 players in the
Official World Golf Rankings, although it invariably invites all top-50 players who are not already qualified.
List of qualification criteria:
*All former PGA Champions.
*Winners of the last five U.S. Opens.
*Winners of the last five Masters.
*Winners of the last five Open Championships.
*The last
Senior PGA Champion.
*The low 15 scorers and ties in the previous PGA Championship.
*The 20 low scorers in the last
PGA Professional National Championship.
*The 70 leaders in official money standings (starting one week prior to last year's PGA Championship and ending two weeks prior to this year's PGA Championship).
*Members of the last United States
Ryder Cup Team.
*Winners of tournaments co-sponsored or approved by the PGA Tour since the previous PGA Championship (does not include pro-am and team competitions).
*The PGA of America reserves the right to invite additional players not included in the categories listed above.
*The total field is a maximum of 156 players. Vacancies are filled by the first available player from the list of alternates (those below 70th place in official money standings).
Strokeplay era winners
| Country | Venue | Location of venue | Winner's Score | | 2006>Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3 | Medinah, Illinois |
| 2005 | Phil Mickelson| | Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course | Springfield, New Jersey | 67-65-72-72-276 (-4) |
| 2004 | Vijay Singh[Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard (both United States)]| | Whistling Straits, Straits Course | Sheboygan, Wisconsin | 67-68-69-76-280 (-8) |
| 2003 | Shaun Micheel| | Oak Hill Country Club, East Course | Rochester, New York | 69-68-69-70-276 (-4) |
| 2002 | Rich Beem| | Hazeltine National Golf Club | Chaska, Minnesota | 72-66-72-68-278 (-10) |
| 2001 | David Toms| | Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands Course | Duluth, Georgia | 66-65-65-69-265 (-15) |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods[Bob May (United States)]| | Valhalla Golf Club | Louisville, Kentucky | 66-67-70-67-270 (-18) |
| 1999 | Tiger Woods| | Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3 | Medinah, Illinois | 70-67-68-72-277 (-11) |
| 1998 | Vijay Singh| | Sahalee Country Club | Sammamish, Washington | 70-66-67-68-271 (-9) |
| 1997 | Davis Love III| | Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course | Mamaroneck, New York | 66-71-66-66-269 (-11) |
| 1996 | Mark Brooks[Kenny Perry (United States)]| | Valhalla Golf Club | Louisville, Kentucky | 68-70-69-70-277 (-11) |
| 1995 | Steve Elkington[Colin Montgomerie (Scotland)]| | The Riviera Country Club | Pacific Palisades, California | 68-67-68-64-267 (-17) |
| 1994 | Nick Price| | Southern Hills Country Club | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 67-65-70-67-269 (-11) |
| 1993 | Paul Azinger[Greg Norman (Australia)]| | Inverness Club | Toledo, Ohio | 69-66-69-68-272 (-12) |
| 1992 | Nick Price| | Bellerive Country Club | St. Louis, Missouri | 70-70-68-70-278 (-6) |
| 1991 | John Daly| | Crooked Stick Golf Club | Carmel, Indiana | 69-67-69-71-276 (-12) |
| 1990 | Wayne Grady| | Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club | Birmingham, Alabama | 72-67-72-71-282 (-6) |
| 1989 | Payne Stewart| | Kemper Lakes Golf Club | Long Grove, Illinois | 74-66-69-67-276 (-12) |
| 1988 | Jeff Sluman| | Oak Tree Golf Club | Edmond, Oklahoma | 69-70-68-65-272 (-12) |
| 1987 | Larry Nelson[Lanny Wadkins (United States)]| | PGA National Resort & Spa | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida | 70-72-73-72-287 (-1) |
| 1986 | Bob Tway| | Inverness Club | Toledo, Ohio | 72-70-64-70-276 (-8) |
| 1985 | Hubert Green| | Cherry Hills Country Club | Cherry Hills Village, Colorado | 67-69-70-72-278 (-10) |
| 1984 | Lee Trevino| | Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club | Birmingham, Alabama | 69-68-67-69-273 (-15) |
| 1983 | Hal Sutton| | The Riviera Country Club | Pacific Palisades, California | 65-66-72-71-274 (-10) |
| 1982 | Raymond Floyd| | Southern Hills Country Club | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 63-69-68-72-272 (-8) |
| 1981 | Larry Nelson| | Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands Course | Duluth, Georgia | 70-66-66-71-273 (-7) |
| 1980 | Jack Nicklaus| | Oak Hill Country Club, East Course | Rochester, New York | 70-69-66-69-274 (-6) |
| 1979 | David Graham[Ben Crenshaw (United States)]| | Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course | Bloomfield Township, Michigan | 69-68-70-65-272 (-8) |
| 1978 | John Mahaffey[Tom Watson and Jerry Pate (both United States)]| | Oakmont Country Club | Oakmont, Pennsylvania | 75-67-68-66-276 (-8) |
| 1977 | Lanny Wadkins[Gene Littler (United States)]| | Pebble Beach Golf Links | Pebble Beach, California | 69-71-72-70-282 (-3) |
| 1976 | Dave Stockton| | Congressional Country Club, Blue Course | Bethesda, Maryland | 70-72-69-70-281 (+1) |
| 1975 | Jack Nicklaus| | Firestone Country Club, South Course | Akron, Ohio | 70-68-67-71-276 (-4) |
| 1974 | Lee Trevino| | Tanglewood Park, Championship Course | Clemmons, North Carolina | 73-66-68-69-276 (-4) |
| 1973 | Jack Nicklaus| | Canterbury Golf Club | Beachwood, Ohio | 72-68-68-69-277 (-7) |
| 1972 | Gary Player| | Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course | Bloomfield Hills, Michigan | 71-71-67-72-281 (+1) |
| 1971 | Jack Nicklaus| | PGA National Golf Club (now BallenIsles Country Club) | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida | 69-69-70-73-281 (-7) |
| 1970 | Dave Stockton| | Southern Hills Country Club | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 70-70-66-73-279 (-1) |
| 1969 | Raymond Floyd| | NCR Country Club, South Course | Dayton, Ohio | 69-66-67-74-276 (-8) |
| 1968 | Julius Boros| | Pecan Valley Golf Club | San Antonio, Texas | 71-71-70-69-281 (+1) |
| 1967 | Don January[Don Massengale (United States)]| | Columbine Country Club | Columbine Valley, Colorado | 71-72-70-68-281 (-7) |
| 1966 | Al Geiberger| | Firestone Country Club, South Course | Akron, Ohio | 68-72-68-72-280 (E) |
| 1965 | Dave Marr| | Laurel Valley Golf Club | Ligonier, Pennsylvania | 70-69-70-71-280 (-4) |
| 1964 | Bobby Nichols| | Columbus Country Club | Columbus, Ohio | 64-71-69-67-271 (-9) |
| 1963 | Jack Nicklaus| | Dallas Athletic Club, Blue Course | Dallas, Texas | 69-73-69-68-279 (-5) |
| 1962 | Gary Player| | Aronimink Golf Club | Newtown Square, Pennsylvania | 72-67-69-70-278 (-2) |
| 1961 | Jerry Barber[Don January (United States)]| | Olympia Fields Country Club | Olympia Fields, Illinois | 69-67-71-70-277 (-3) |
| 1960 | Jay Hebert| | Firestone Country Club, South Course | Akron, Ohio | 72-67-72-70-281 (+1) |
| 1959 | Bob Rosburg| | Minneapolis Golf Club | Minneapolis, Minnesota | 71-72-68-66-277 (-3) |
| 1958 | Dow Finsterwald| | Llanerch Country Club | Havertown, Pennsylvania | 67-72-70-67-276 (-14) |
Playoff losers:
Matchplay era winners
| Country | Runner-up | Margin | Venue | Location of venue | | 1957 | Lionel Hebert| | Dow Finsterwald | 2 & 1 | Miami Valley Country Club | Dayton, Ohio |
| 1956 | Jack Burke, Jr| | Ted Kroll | 3 & 2 | Blue Hill Country Club | Boston |
| 1955 | Doug Ford| | Cary Middlecoff | 4 & 3 | Meadowbrook Country Club | Detroit |
| 1954 | Chick Harbert| | Walter Burkemo | 4 & 3 | Keller Golf Club | Saint Paul |
| 1953 | Walter Burkemo| | Felice Torza | 4 & 3 | Birmingham Country Club | Birmingham, Michigan |
| 1952 | Jim Turnesa| | Chick Harbert | 1 up | Big Spring Country Club | Louisville |
| 1951 | Sam Snead| | Walter Burkemo | 7 & 6 | Oakmont Country Club | Oakmont, Pennsylvania |
| 1950 | Chandler Harper| | Henry Williams, Jr. | 4 & 3 | Scioto Country Club | Columbus, Ohio |
| 1949 | Sam Snead| | Johnny Palmer | 3 & 2 | Hermitage Country Club | Richmond, Virginia |
| 1948 | Ben Hogan| | Mike Turnesa | 7 & 6 | Norwood Hills Country Club | St. Louis, Missouri |
| 1947 | Jim Ferrier| | Chick Harbert | 2 & 1 | Plum Hollow Country Club | Detroit, Michigan |
| 1946 | Ben Hogan| | Ed Oliver | 6 & 4 | Portland Golf Club | Portland, Oregon |
| 1945 | Byron Nelson| | Sam Byrd | 4 & 3 | Moraine Country Club | Dayton, Ohio |
| 1944 | Bob Hamilton| | Byron Nelson | 1 up | Manita Golf and Country Club | Spokane, Washington |
| 1943 | Not held due to World War II |
| 1942 | Sam Snead| | Jim Turnesa | 2 & 1 | Seaview Country Club | Atlantic City, New Jersey |
| 1941 | Vic Ghezzi| | Byron Nelson | 1 up | Cherry Hills Country Club | Cherry Hills Village, Colorado |
| 1940 | Byron Nelson| | Sam Snead | 1 up | Hershey Country Club, West Course | Hershey, Pennsylvania |
| 1939 | Henry Picard| | Byron Nelson | 1 up | Pomonok Country Club | Flushing, New York |
| 1938 | Paul Runyan| | Sam Snead | 8 & 7 | The Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort | Smithfield Township, Pennsylvania |
| 1937 | Denny Shute| | Harold McSpaden | 1 up | Pittsburgh Field Club | O'Hara Township, Pennsylvania |
| 1936 | Denny Shute| | Jimmy Thomson | 3 & 2 | Pinehurst Resort, No. 2 Course | Pinehurst, North Carolina |
| 1935 | Johnny Revolta| | Tommy Armour | 5 & 4 | Twin Hills Golf & Country Club | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| 1934 | Paul Runyan| | Craig Wood | 1 up | The Park Country Club | Williamsville, New York |
| 1933 | Gene Sarazen| | Willie Goggin | 5 & 4 | Blue Mound Golf & Country Club | Wauwatosa, Wisconsin |
| 1932 | Olin Dutra| | Frank Walsh | 4 & 3 | Keller Golf Club | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| 1931 | Tom Creavy| | Denny Shute | 2 & 1 | Wannamoisett Country Club | Rumford, Rhode Island |
| 1930 | Tommy Armour | ^ | Gene Sarazen | 1 up | Fresh Meadow Country Club | Great Neck, New York |
| 1929 | Leo Diegel| | Johnny Farrell | 6 & 4 | Hillcrest Country Club | Los Angeles, California |
| 1928 | Leo Diegel| | Al Espinosa | 6 & 5 | Baltimore Country Club, East Course | Timonium, Maryland |
| 1927 | Walter Hagen| | Joe Turnesa | 1 up | Cedar Crest Country Club (now Cedar Crest Park) | Dallas, Texas |
| 1926 | Walter Hagen| | Leo Diegel | 5 & 3 | Salisbury Golf Club (now Eisenhower Park, Red Course) | East Meadow, New York |
| 1925 | Walter Hagen| | Bill Mehlhorn | 6 & 5 | Olympia Fields Country Club | Olympia Fields, Illinois |
| 1924 | Walter Hagen| | Jim Barnes | 2 up | French Lick Springs Resort, Springs Country Club Course | French Lick, Indiana |
| 1923 | Gene Sarazen| | Walter Hagen | 1 up | Pelham Country Club | Pelham Manor, New York |
| 1922 | Gene Sarazen| | Emmet French | 4 & 3 | Oakmont Country Club | Oakmont, Pennsylvania |
| 1921 | Walter Hagen| | Jim Barnes | 3 & 2 | Inwood Country Club | Inwood, New York |
| 1920 | Jock Hutchison | ^ | J. Douglas Edgar | 1 up | Flossmoor Country Club | Flossmoor, Illinois |
| 1919 | Jim Barnes | ^ | Fred McLeod | 6 & 5 | Engineers Country Club | Roslyn Harbor, New York |
| 1918 | Not held due to World War I |
| 1917 | Not held due to World War I |
| 1916 | Jim Barnes | ^ | Jock Hutchison | 1 up | Siwanoy Country Club | Bronxville, New York |
^ These players were British born, but they were based in the United States when they won the PGA Championship, and they became U.S. citizens:
*Tommy Armour - Born in Scotland but moved to the U.S. in the early 1920s and became a U.S. citizen at that time.
*Jock Hutchison - Born in Scotland. He was a U.S. citizen at the time of his 1921 Open Championship win, so he was probably already a U.S. citizen in 1920, but this is unconfirmed.
*Jim Barnes - Born in England. Moved to the United States in 1906 and may have become a U.S. citizen as early as 1907, but this is unconfirmed.
Multiple winners
The following men have won the PGA Championship more than once through 2005.
5 wins:
*Walter Hagen: 1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927
*Jack Nicklaus: 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980
4 wins:
None.
3 wins:
*Gene Sarazen: 1922, 1923, 1933
*Sam Snead: 1942, 1949, 1951
2 wins:
*Jim Barnes: 1916, 1919
*Leo Diegel: 1928, 1929
*Raymond Floyd: 1969, 1982
*Ben Hogan: 1946, 1948
*Byron Nelson: 1940, 1945
*Larry Nelson: 1981, 1987
*Gary Player:1962, 1972
*Nick Price: 1992, 1994
*Paul Runyan: 1934, 1938
*Denny Shute: 1936, 1937
*Vijay Singh: 1998, 2004
*Dave Stockton: 1970, 1976
*Lee Trevino: 1974, 1984
*Tiger Woods: 1999, 2000
*Oldest Winner: Julius Boros in 1968 (48 years, 4 months, 18 days).
*Youngest Winner: Gene Sarazen in 1922 (20 years, 5 months, 22 days).
*Greatest winning margin in the matchplay era: Paul Runyan beat Sam Snead 8 & 7 in 1938.
*Lowest absolute 72-hole score: 265, David Toms (66-65-65-69), 2001.
**This is the lowest 72-hole score ever recorded in any major championship.
*Lowest 72-hole score in relation to par: -18, Tiger Woods (66-67-70-67, 270) and Bob May (72-66-66-66, 270), 2000.
**Toms' 2001 score was -15. The 2001 site, the Highlands Course at Atlanta Athletic Club, plays to par 70, while the 2000 site, Valhalla Golf Club, plays to par 72.
*2006 -
Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3 (
Medinah, Illinois)
*2007 -
Southern Hills Country Club (
Tulsa, Oklahoma)
*2008 -
Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course (
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan)
*2009 -
Hazeltine National Golf Club (
Chaska, Minnesota)
*2010 -
Whistling Straits, Straits Course (
Sheboygan, Wisconsin)
*2011 -
Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands Course (
Duluth, Georgia)
*2012 -
Kiawah Island Resort, Ocean Course (
Kiawah Island, South Carolina)
*2013 -
Oak Hill Country Club, East Course (
Pittsford, New York)
*2015 -
Whistling Straits, Straits Course (
Sheboygan, Wisconsin)
*
Official site-2005*
Official site-2006
