The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the Professional Golfers’ Association of America, which makes up one of the four men’s major golf championships.
Since its birth in 1916, the finest golfing talent the world has to offer has flocked to the United States to try and pick up the prestigious award of the Wanamaker Trophy.
Over the years, legendary golfers have managed to scoop up the coveted prize, with Walter Hagen, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods all previous winners.
It’s an absolute spectacle, and here at The Golfing Gazette, we have absolutely everything you need to know about it.
Where is the PGA Championship held?
The location of the PGA Championship is different every year. It takes place at several prominent golf courses around the country.
In the past, renowned locations have included Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, Bethpage Black in New York, and Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina.
The PGA Championship moves to a new course every year, providing the best players in the world with a fresh challenge.
A history of the PGA Championship
The birth of a Championship
One of golf’s most prominent events began when the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA of America) created the PGA Championship in 1916. The inaugural competition, which was played in a match-play format at the Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York, displayed the prowess of the best golfers of the time, which would carry on forevermore.
From Stroke Play to Match Play, The PGA Championship had multiple format modifications in its early years, including adjustments to the number of holes played and the qualification procedure. The 1958 change to a stroke-play format for the competition was a major turning point, that brought it into line with contemporary golf standards – and ultimately, increased its popularity.
Legends rise and historic venues are formed
Golfers such as Walter Hagen, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods became synonymous with success at the tournament, each adding its own chapter to its illustrious history. Jack Nicklaus stands atop the leaderboard with a record of five PGA Championship victories, which may never be beaten.
From Coast to Coast One of the hallmarks of the PGA Championship is its rotation of prestigious golf courses as host venues. From Oak Hill Country Club to Pebble Beach Golf Links, there have been some courses that can’t help but be gawped at. You can add Baltusrol Golf Club, Valhalla Golf Club, and Whistling Straits too. All stunning fairways, in their own right.
A Tournament with Worldwide Reach While rooted in the United States, the PGA Championship’s impact extends far beyond its borders. The tournament attracts a diverse field of competitors from around the globe, showcasing the global appeal of golf and fostering international camaraderie among players and fans. Victories by international stars like Rory McIlroy and Vijay Singh have further solidified the PGA Championship’s status as a truly global event. There will surely be many more to come, which leads us to the modern day and the future…
Into the modern day and future…
In recent years, the PGA Championship has embraced innovation while staying true to its rich traditions, adding various bits of technology to enhance the tournament we all know and love.
Despite these changes, the PGA Championship continues to uphold the values of sportsmanship, integrity, and excellence that have defined it since its inception. We hope for many more years of PGA Championship action.
Who are the winners of the PGA Championship golf tournament?
PGA Championship Winners List
| Year | Winner | Course | Score | Total |
| 2024 | Xander Schauffele | Valhalla Golf Club | 62-68-68-65-263 | 21 under |
| 2023 | Brooks Koepka | Oak Hill CC | 72-66-66-67-271 | 9 under |
| 2022 | Justin Thomas | Southern Hills CC | 67-67-74-67-275 | 5 under |
| 2021 | Phil Mickelson | The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island | 70-69-70-73-282 | 6 under |
| 2020 | Collin Morikawa | TPC Harding Park | 69-69-65-64-267 | 13 under |
| 2019 | Brooks Koepka | Bethpage Black | 63-65-70-74-272 | 8 under |
| 2018 | Brooks Koepka | Bellerive Country Club | 69-63-66-66-264 | 16 under |
| 2017 | Justin Thomas | Quail Hollow Club | 73-66-69-68-276 | 8 under |
| 2016 | Jimmy Walker | Baltusrol Golf Club | 65-66-68-67-266 | 14 under |
| 2015 | Jason Day | Whistling Straits | 68-67-66-67-268 | 20 under |
| 2014 | Rory McIlroy | Valhalla GC | 66-67-67-68-268 | 16 under |
| 2013 | Jason Dufner | Oak Hill CC | 68-63-71-68-270 | 10 under |
| 2012 | Rory McIlroy | The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island | 67-75-67-66-275 | 13 under |
| 2011 | Keegan Bradley | Atlanta Athletic Club | 71-64-69-68-272 | 8 under |
| 2010 | Martin Kaymer | Whistling Straits | 72-68-67-70-277 | 11 under |
| 2009 | Y.E. Yang | Hazeltine National GC | 73-70-67-70-280 | 8 under |
| 2008 | Padraig Harrington | Oakland Hills CC | 71-74-66-66-277 | 3 under |
| 2007 | Tiger Woods | Southern Hills CC | 71-63-69-69-272 | 8 under |
| 2006 | Tiger Woods | Medinah CC | 69-68-65-68-270 | 18 under |
| 2005 | Phil Mickelson | Baltusrol GC | 67-65-72-72-276 | 4 under |
| 2004 | Vijay Singh | Whistling Straits | 67-68-69-76-280 | 8 under |
| 2003 | Shaun Micheel | Oak Hill CC | 69-68-69-70-276 | 4 under |
| 2002 | Rich Beem | Hazeltine National GC | 72-66-72-68-278 | 10 under |
| 2001 | David Toms | Atlanta Athletic Club | 66-65-65-69-265 | 15 under |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods | Valhalla GC | 66-67-70-67-270 | 18 under |
| 1999 | Tiger Woods | Medinah CC | 70-67-68-72-277 | 11 under |
| 1998 | Vijay Singh | Sahalee GC | 70-66-67-68-271 | 9 under |
| 1997 | Davis Love III | Winged Foot | 66-71-66-66-269 | 11 under |
| 1996 | Mark Brooks | Valhalla GC | 68-70-69-70-277 | 11 under |
| 1995 | Steve Elkington | Riviera CC | 68-67-68-64-267 | 17 under |
| 1994 | Nick Price | Southern Hills CC | 67-65-70-67-269 | 11 under |
| 1993 | Paul Azinger | Inverness Club | 69-66-69-68-272 | 12 under |
| 1992 | Nick Price | Bellerive CC | 70-70-68-70-278 | 6 under |
| 1991 | John Daly | Crooked Stick GC | 69-67-69-71-276 | 12 under |
| 1990 | Wayne Grady | Shoal Creek CC | 72-67-72-71-282 | 6 under |
| 1989 | Payne Stewart | Kemper Lakes GC | 74-66-69-67-276 | 12 under |
| 1988 | Jeff Sluman | Oak Tree GC | 69-70-68-65-272 | 12 under |
| 1987 | Larry Nelson | PGA National | 70-72-73-72-287 | 1 under |
| 1986 | Bob Tway | Inverness Club | 72-70-64-70-276 | 8 under |
| 1985 | Hubert Green | Cherry Hills CC | 67-69-70-72-278 | 10 under |
| 1984 | Lee Trevino | Shoal Creek CC | 69-68-67-69-273 | 15 under |
| 1983 | Hal Sutton | Riviera CC | 65-66-72-71-274 | 10 under |
| 1982 | Raymond Floyd | Southern Hills CC | 63-69-68-72-272 | 8 under |
| 1981 | Larry Nelson | Atlanta Athletic Club | 70-66-66-71-273 | 7 under |
| 1980 | Jack Nicklaus | Oak Hill CC | 70-69-66-69-274 | 6 under |
| 1979 | David Graham | Oakland Hills GC | 69-68-70-65-272 | 8 under |
| 1978 | John Mahaffey | Oakmont CC | 75-67-68-66-276 | 8 under |
| 1977 | Lanny Wadkins | Pebble Beach Golf Links | 69-71-72-70-282 | 3 under |
| 1976 | Dave Stockton | Congressional CC | 70-72-69-70-281 | 1 over |
| 1975 | Jack Nicklaus | Firestone CC | 70-68-67-71-276 | 4 under |
| 1974 | Lee Trevino | Tanglewood GC | 73-66-68-69-276 | 4 under |
| 1973 | Jack Nicklaus | Canterbury GC | 72-68-68-69-277 | 7 under |
| 1972 | Gary Player | Oakland Hills CC | 71-71-67-72-281 | 1 over |
| 1971 | Jack Nicklaus | PGA National GC | 69-69-70-73-281 | 7 under |
| 1970 | Dave Stockton | Southern Hills CC | 70-70-66-73-279 | 1 under |
| 1969 | Raymond Floyd | NCR CC | 69-66-67-74-276 | 8 under |
| 1968 | Julius Boros | Pecan Valley CC | 71-71-70-69-281 | 1 over |
| 1967 | Don January | Columbine CC | 71-72-70-68-281 | 7 under |
| 1966 | Al Geiberger | Firestone CC | 68-72-68-72-280 | Even |
| 1965 | Dave Marr | Laurel Valley CC | 70-69-70-71-280 | 4 under |
| 1964 | Bobby Nichols | Columbus CC | 64-71-69-67-271 | 9 under |
| 1963 | Jack Nicklaus | Dallas Athletic Club | 69-73-69-68-279 | 5 under |
| 1962 | Gary Player | Aronimink GC | 72-67-69-70-278 | 2 under |
| 1961 | Jerry Barber | Olympia Fields CC | 69-67-71-70-277 | 3 under |
| 1960 | Jay Hebert | Firestone CC | 72-67-72-70-281 | 1 over |
| 1959 | Bob Rosburg | Minneapolis GC | 71-72-68-66-277 | 3 under |
| 1958 | Dow Finsterwald | Llanerch CC | 67-72-70-67-276 | 14 under |
| 1957 | Lionel Hebert | Miami Valley CC | d. Dow Finsterwald | 2 and 1 |
| 1956 | Jack Burke Jr. | Blue Hill CC | d. Ted Kroll | 3 and 2 |
| 1955 | Doug Ford | Meadowbrook CC | d. Cary Middlecoff | 4 and 3 |
| 1954 | Chick Harbert | Keller GC | d. Walter Burkemo | 4 and 3 |
| 1953 | Walter Burkemo | Birmingham CC | d. Felice Torza | 2 and 1 |
| 1952 | Jim Turnesa | Big Spring CC | d. Chick Harbert | 1 up |
| 1951 | Sam Snead | Oakmont CC | d. Walter Burkemo | 7 and 6 |
| 1950 | Chandler Harper | Scioto CC | d. Henry Williams Jr. | 4 and 3 |
| 1949 | Sam Snead | Hermitage CC | d. Johnny Palmer | 3 and 2 |
| 1948 | Ben Hogan | Norwood Hills CC | d. Mike Turnesa | 2 and 1 |
| 1947 | Jim Ferrier | Plum Hollow GC | d. Chick Harbert | 2 and 1 |
| 1946 | Ben Hogan | Portland GC | d. Ed Oliver | 6 and 4 |
| 1945 | Byron Nelson | Moraine CC | d. Sam Byrd | 4 and 3 |
| 1944 | Bob Hamilton | Manito G. & CC | d. Byron Nelson | 1 up |
| 1943 | No championship | Due to WWII | ||
| 1942 | Sam Snead | Seaview CC | Jim Turnesa | 2 and 1 |
| 1941 | Vic Ghezzi | Cherry Hills CC | d. Byron Nelson | 38 holes |
| 1940 | Byron Nelson | Hershey CC | d. Sam Snead | 1 up |
| 1939 | Henry Picard | Pomonok CC | d. Byron Nelson | 37 holes |
| 1938 | Paul Runyan | Shawnee CC | d. Sam Snead | 8 and 7 |
| 1937 | Denny Shute | Pittsburgh F.C. | d. Harold McSpaden | 37 holes |
| 1936 | Denny Shute | Pinehurst CC | d. Jimmy Thomson | 3 and 2 |
| 1935 | Johnny Revolta | Twin Hills CC | d. Tommy Armour | 5 and 4 |
| 1934 | Paul Runyan | Park CC | d. Craig Wood | 38 holes |
| 1933 | Gene Sarazen | Blue Mound CC | d. Willie Goggin | 5 and 4 |
| 1932 | Olin Dutra | Keller GC | d. Frank Walsh | 4 and 3 |
| 1931 | Tom Creavy | Wannamoisett CC | d. Denny Shute | 2 and 1 |
| 1930 | Tommy Armour | Fresh Meadows CC | d. Gene Sarazen | 1 up |
| 1929 | Leo Diegel | Hillcrest CC | d. Johnny Farrell | 6 and 4 |
| 1928 | Leo Diegel | Five Farms CC | d. Al Espinosa | 6 and 5 |
| 1927 | Walter Hagen | Cedar Crest CC | d. Joe Turnesa | 1 up |
| 1926 | Walter Hagen | Salisbury G. L. | d. Leo Diegel | 5 and 3 |
| 1925 | Walter Hagen | Olympia Fields CC | d. William Mehlhorn | 6 and 5 |
| 1924 | Walter Hagen | French Lick | d. James Barnes | 2 up |
| 1923 | Gene Sarazen | Pelham CC | d. Walter Hagen | 38 holes |
| 1922 | Gene Sarazen | Oakmont CC | d. Emmet French | 4 and 3 |
| 1921 | Walter Hagen | Inwood CC | d. James M. Barnes | 3 and 2 |
| 1920 | Jock Hutchison | Flossmoor CC | d. J. Douglas Edgar | 1 up |
| 1919 | James M. Barnes | Engineers CC | d. Fred McLeod | 6 and 5 |
| 1918 | No championship | Due to WWI | ||
| 1917 | No championship | Due to WWI | ||
| 1916 | James M. Barnes | Siwanoy CC | d. Jock Hutchison | 1 up |
Who has the most wins at the PGA Championship?
The golfer with the most wins at the PGA Championship is Jack Nicklaus. He has won the PGA Championship a total of 5 times during his illustrious career.
Nicklaus’ victories at the PGA Championship occurred in the years 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, and 1980. His record of five wins in the tournament is unmatched by any other golfer in history. One of the GOAT!
Who is the youngest person to ever win the PGA Championship?
The youngest person to ever win the PGA Championship is Gene Sarazen. He won the tournament in 1922 at the age of 20.
Who is the oldest person to ever win the PGA Championship?
The oldest person to win the PGA Championship is Phil Mickelson, at the age of 50 in 2021. He broke Julius Boros’ record obtained in 1968, with him being 47.
What is the prize money for the PGA Championship?
The purse at the PGA Championship continues to increase year on year. For example, in 2023 the purse rose to $17.5m from $15m in 2022 and that followed a whopping jump of $12m in 2021.