PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is one of golf's four major championships, conducted by the Professional Golfers' Association of America. Established in 1916, it is the only major exclusively for professional players. Originally played as a match play event, it switched to stroke play in 1958. The tournament is known for its challenging course setups that test every aspect of a player's game, from driving accuracy to putting prowess. The winner receives the Wanamaker Trophy, one of golf's most prestigious prizes. The championship is typically held in May, as the second major of the golf season, having moved from its traditional August date in 2019.
Tournament Overview
Location
Rotating courses across the United States
Established
1916
Next Tournament
May 15-18, 2025
Prize Purse
$17,500,000 (2024)
Current Champion
Brooks Koepka (2023)
Quail Hollow Club (2025)
Par: 71
Length: 7,600 yards
Designer: George Cobb, Tom Fazio (redesign)
Opened: 1961
Quail Hollow Club, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is one of the premier championship venues in the United States. Originally designed by George Cobb in 1961, the course underwent a significant redesign by Tom Fazio in 2016-2017 to prepare for major championship play. The course features Bermuda grass fairways and greens, with strategically placed bunkers and water hazards that challenge even the world's best players. Quail Hollow is particularly known for its challenging finishing stretch of holes, nicknamed "The Green Mile," which consists of the par-4 16th, the par-3 17th, and the par-4 18th holes. These holes have produced dramatic finishes in tournaments hosted at the venue, including the Wells Fargo Championship (a regular PGA Tour event) and the 2017 PGA Championship. The course's combination of length, strategic design, and immaculate conditioning make it an ideal venue for testing the complete skill set of professional golfers.
PGA Championship Experience
Championship-level difficulty
Deep rough
Lightning-fast greens
Risk-reward holes
Tournament History
The PGA Championship was established in 1916 by the Professional Golfers' Association of America, making it the youngest of golf's four major championships. The inaugural event was held at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York, where Jim Barnes defeated Jock Hutchison in the final match. For its first 41 years, the championship was conducted as a match play event, providing a different challenge from the stroke play format of other major tournaments.
In 1958, the format was changed to stroke play to accommodate television coverage and to align with the other major championships. The change proved successful, as it allowed more players to compete over four full days, rather than having players eliminated in the match play format. This change helped to boost the championship's prestige and viewership.
The early years of the PGA Championship were dominated by American players, with Walter Hagen winning five times between 1921 and 1927, and Gene Sarazen claiming three victories in the 1920s. The tournament has continued to see American success, with Jack Nicklaus tying Hagen's record of five victories, and more recently, Tiger Woods winning four times between 1999 and 2007.
The championship has also embraced international talent, with South African Gary Player becoming the first international winner in 1962. Since then, players from Australia, Fiji, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and other countries have lifted the Wanamaker Trophy, reflecting golf's global growth. In recent years, the championship has been particularly kind to players known for their power, with long hitters like Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Thomas finding success.
In 2019, the PGA Championship moved from its traditional August date to May, becoming the second major championship of the golf season rather than the fourth. This calendar shift was part of a broader reorganization of the professional golf schedule, aimed at creating a more cohesive flow of major events throughout the season and concluding the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs before the start of the American football season.
The Wanamaker Trophy
Notable PGA Championship Venues
- Whistling Straits
- Valhalla Golf Club
- Oak Hill Country Club
- Baltusrol Golf Club
- Southern Hills Country Club
- Kiawah Island Ocean Course
- Medinah Country Club
A Trophy with History
The Wanamaker Trophy, awarded to the winner of the PGA Championship, is one of the most impressive trophies in all of sports. Standing 28 inches tall, weighing 27 pounds, and crafted from silver, it was named after Rodman Wanamaker, a department store magnate who was instrumental in the formation of the PGA of America and provided the trophy and prize money for the inaugural PGA Championship in 1916.
The trophy features a large cup with handles on each side, mounted on a large disc base. The names of all past champions are engraved on small plaques attached to the base. The size and weight of the Wanamaker Trophy make it particularly challenging for winners to lift during the presentation ceremony, often requiring a two-handed grip and considerable effort—a physical reminder of the magnitude of their achievement.
One of the most famous stories involving the trophy occurred after Walter Hagen won his fourth consecutive PGA Championship in 1927. Hagen, known for his flamboyant lifestyle, claimed to have lost the original trophy after a night of celebration. The truth, revealed years later, was that Hagen never actually took possession of the original trophy after his 1925 victory, leaving it with a photography company that went out of business. The original trophy was discovered in 1930 in an unmarked box in the basement of L.W. Norris Company, the firm that made the copy when the original was thought to be lost. The PGA of America had already created a replacement trophy by this time, which is the one presented to champions today.
Unlike some other major championship trophies, the winner of the PGA Championship does not get to keep the Wanamaker Trophy for the year of their reign. Instead, they receive a smaller replica trophy to keep permanently, while the original remains with the PGA of America. This replica, though smaller, is still an impressive piece, standing about 18 inches tall and featuring the same design elements as the original.
The presentation of the Wanamaker Trophy on the 18th green following the conclusion of the championship is a storied tradition in golf. The champion is typically presented with the trophy by the President of the PGA of America, marking the culmination of one of golf's most challenging tests and adding the player's name to the illustrious history of the PGA Championship.
Iconic PGA Championship Moments
Y.E. Yang Defeats Tiger Woods (2009)
The 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club witnessed one of the most stunning upsets in major championship history. Y.E. Yang of South Korea, ranked 110th in the world, overcame a two-shot deficit in the final round to defeat Tiger Woods, who had never previously lost a major championship when leading after 54 holes. Yang's iconic shot came on the 72nd hole, where he hit a hybrid over a tree to within 10 feet of the hole, setting up a clinching birdie. This victory was historic as it marked the first time an Asian-born player had won a men's major championship. It also revealed a rare vulnerability in Woods, who had been 14-0 when leading majors after three rounds. The image of Yang hoisting his golf bag over his head in celebration became an enduring symbol of his David-versus-Goliath triumph.
John Daly's Improbable Victory (1991)
The 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club produced one of golf's most unlikely champions. John Daly, the ninth alternate who only got into the field after Nick Price withdrew, shocked the golfing world with his powerful driving and fearless play. Driving to Indiana overnight upon learning he would play, and without a practice round on the challenging course, Daly overwhelmed Crooked Stick with his unprecedented length off the tee, earning the nickname "Long John." His grip-it-and-rip-it style captivated audiences, and his victory as a rookie and unknown qualifier made him an instant folk hero in the sport. Daly's win, with his caddie holding a yardage book he had never seen before the tournament began, remains one of the most remarkable Cinderella stories in golf history.
Rory McIlroy's Back-Nine Charge (2014)
The 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club featured an extraordinary final-day battle that ended in near darkness. Rory McIlroy entered the final round with a one-shot lead, but found himself three shots behind with nine holes to play after Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson, and Henrik Stenson all made charges. What followed was a spectacular back-nine performance by McIlroy, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 10th hole that reignited his round. As darkness fell due to an earlier weather delay, McIlroy played the final hole in near darkness, finishing with a one-stroke victory over Phil Mickelson. This win was McIlroy's fourth major championship and second consecutive major that summer, following his victory at The Open Championship. The image of McIlroy holding the Wanamaker Trophy aloft in the gloaming has become one of golf's iconic moments of the 2010s.
Tiger Woods' Duel with Bob May (2000)
The 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club featured one of the most thrilling duels in major championship history. Tiger Woods, already having won the U.S. Open and The Open Championship that year by record margins, faced an unexpected challenge from journeyman pro Bob May. The two players separated themselves from the field, with May matching Woods shot for shot throughout the final round. Both finished at 18-under-par, forcing a three-hole playoff—the first in PGA Championship history. The defining moment came on the first playoff hole, where Woods made a curling 6-foot birdie putt and famously pointed at the cup as his ball tracked toward the hole before it dropped. Woods went on to win the playoff by one stroke, completing the third leg of what would become the "Tiger Slam." Despite the loss, May's performance—shooting 66 in the final round and pushing the world's dominant player to his limit—remains one of the most valiant efforts in major championship golf.
Notable Records
| Record | Holder | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Most wins | Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen | 5 |
| Lowest score (72 holes) | Brooks Koepka | 264 (-16) in 2018 |
| Lowest round | Multiple players | 63 |
| Youngest winner | Gene Sarazen | 20 years, 5 months, 22 days (1922) |