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PGA Golf Championship

The PGA Championship 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. It is an official money event on both the PGA TOUR and the European Tour.

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 British Open) 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.

History

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).

Qualification

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, 25 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 British Opens.
  • The last Senior PGA Champion.
  • The low 15 scorers and ties in the previous PGA Championship.
  • The 25 low scorers in the last PGA Club Professional Championship.
  • The 70 leaders in official money standings.
  • 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).

PGA Championship winners

Strokeplay era winners

Year Champion Country Venue Location of venue
2005 Phil Mickelson  United States Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course Springfield, New Jersey
2004 Vijay Singh[1]  Fiji Whistling Straits, Straits Course Sheboygan, Wisconsin
2003 Shaun Micheel  United States Oak Hill Country Club, East Course Pittsford, New York
2002 Rich Beem  United States Hazeltine National Golf Club Chaska, Minnesota
2001 David Toms  United States Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands Course Duluth, Georgia
2000 Tiger Woods[2]  United States Valhalla Golf Club Louisville, Kentucky
1999 Tiger Woods  United States Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3 Medinah, Illinois
1998 Vijay Singh  Fiji Sahalee Country Club Sammamish, Washington
1997 Davis Love III  United States Winged Foot Golf Club Mamaroneck, New York
1996 Mark Brooks[3]  United States Valhalla Golf Club Louisville, Kentucky
1995 Steve Elkington[4]  Australia The Riviera Country Club Pacific Palisades, California
1994 Nick Price  Zimbabwe Southern Hills Country Club Tulsa, Oklahoma
1993 Paul Azinger[5]  United States Inverness Club Toledo, Ohio
1992 Nick Price  Zimbabwe Bellerive Country Club St. Louis, Missouri
1991 John Daly  United States Crooked Stick Golf Club Carmel, Indiana
1990 Wayne Grady  Australia Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club Birmingham, Alabama
1989 Payne Stewart  United States Kemper Lakes Golf Club Long Grove, Illinois
1988 Jeff Sluman  United States Oak Tree Golf Club Edmond, Oklahoma
1987 Larry Nelson[6]  United States PGA National Resort & Spa Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
1986 Bob Tway  United States Inverness Club Toledo, Ohio
1985 Hubert Green  United States Cherry Hills Country Club Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
1984 Lee Trevino  United States Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club Birmingham, Alabama
1983 Hal Sutton  United States The Riviera Country Club Pacific Palisades, California
1982 Raymond Floyd  United States Southern Hills Country Club Tulsa, Oklahoma
1981 Larry Nelson  United States Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands Course Duluth, Georgia
1980 Jack Nicklaus  United States Oak Hill Country Club, East Course Rochester, New York
1979 David Graham[7]  Australia Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course Bloomfield Township, Michigan
1978 John Mahaffey[8]  United States Oakmont Country Club Oakmont, Pennsylvania
1977 Lanny Wadkins[9]  United States Pebble Beach Golf Links Pebble Beach, California
1976 Dave Stockton  United States Congressional Country Club, Blue Course Bethesda, Maryland
1975 Jack Nicklaus  United States Firestone Country Club, South Course Akron, Ohio
1974 Lee Trevino  United States Tanglewood Park, Championship Course Clemmons, North Carolina
1973 Jack Nicklaus  United States Canterbury Golf Club Beachwood, Ohio
1972 Gary Player  South Africa Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
1971 Jack Nicklaus  United States PGA National Golf Club (now BallenIsles Country Club) Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
1970 Dave Stockton  United States Southern Hills Country Club Tulsa, Oklahoma
1969 Raymond Floyd  United States NCR Country Club, South Course Dayton, Ohio
1968 Julius Boros  United States Pecan Valley Golf Club San Antonio, Texas
1967 Don January[10]  United States Columbine Country Club Columbine Valley, Colorado
1966 Al Geiberger  United States Firestone Country Club, South Course Akron, Ohio
1965 Dave Marr  United States Laurel Valley Golf Club Ligonier, Pennsylvania
1964 Bobby Nichols  United States Columbus Country Club Columbus, Ohio
1963 Jack Nicklaus  United States Dallas Athletic Club, Blue Course Dallas, Texas
1962 Gary Player  South Africa Aronimink Golf Club Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
1961 Jerry Barber[11]  United States Olympia Fields Country Club Olympia Fields, Illinois
1960 Jay Hebert  United States Firestone Country Club, South Course Akron, Ohio
1959 Bob Rosburg  United States Minneapolis Golf Club Minneapolis, Minnesota
1958 Dow Finsterwald  United States Llanerch Country Club Havertown, Pennsylvania

Playoff losers:

  1. ^ Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard (both United States)
  2. ^ Bob May (United States)
  3. ^ Kenny Perry (United States)
  4. ^ Colin Montgomerie (Scotland)
  5. ^ Greg Norman (Australia)
  6. ^ Lanny Wadkins (United States)
  7. ^ Ben Crenshaw (United States)
  8. ^ Tom Watson and Jerry Pate (both United States)
  9. ^ Gene Littler (United States)
  10. ^ Don Massengale (United States)
  11. ^ Don January (United States)

Matchplay era winners

Year Champion Country Runner-up Venue Location of venue
1957 Lionel Hebert  United States Dow Finsterwald Miami Valley Country Club Dayton, Ohio
1956 Jack Burke  United States Ted Kroll Blue Hill Country Club Boston
1955 Doug Ford  United States Cary Middlecoff Meadowbrook Country Club Detroit
1954 Chick Harbert  United States Walter Burkemo Keller Golf Club Saint Paul
1953 Walter Burkemo  United States Felice Torza Birmingham Country Club Birmingham, Michigan
1952 Jim Turnesa  United States Chick Harbert Big Spring Country Club Louisville
1951 Sam Snead  United States Walter Burkemo Oakmont Country Club Oakmont, Pennsylvania
1950 Chandler Harper  United States Henry Williams, Jr. Scioto Country Club Columbus, Ohio
1949 Sam Snead  United States Johnny Palmer Hermitage Country Club Richmond, Virginia
1948 Ben Hogan  United States Mike Turnesa Norwood Hills Country Club St. Louis, Missouri
1947 Jim Ferrier  Australia Chick Harbert Plum Hollow Country Club Detroit, Michigan
1946 Ben Hogan  United States Ed Oliver Portland Golf Club Portland, Oregon
1945 Byron Nelson  United States Sam Byrd Moraine Country Club Dayton, Ohio
1944 Bob Hamilton  United States Byron Nelson Manita Golf and Country Club Spokane, Washington
1943 Not held due to World War II
1942 Sam Snead  United States Jim Turnesa Seaview Country Club Atlantic City, New Jersey
1941 Vic Ghezzi  United States Byron Nelson Cherry Hills Country Club Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
1940 Byron Nelson  United States Sam Snead Hershey Country Club, West Course Hershey, Pennsylvania
1939 Henry Picard  United States Byron Nelson Pomonok Country Club Flushing, New York
1938 Paul Runyan  United States Sam Snead The Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort Smithfield Township, Pennsylvania
1937 Denny Shute  United States Harold McSpaden Pittsburgh Field Club O'Hara Township, Pennsylvania
1936 Denny Shute  United States Jimmy Thomson Pinehurst Resort, No. 2 Course Pinehurst, North Carolina
1935 Johnny Revolta  United States Tommy Armour Twin Hills Golf & Country Club Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1934 Paul Runyan  United States Craig Wood The Park Country Club Williamsville, New York
1933 Gene Sarazen  United States Willie Goggin Blue Mound Golf & Country Club Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
1932 Olin Dutra  United States Frank Walsh Keller Golf Club Saint Paul, Minnesota
1931 Tom Creavy  United States Denny Shute Wannamoisett Country Club Rumford, Rhode Island
1930 Tommy Armour  United States^ Gene Sarazen Fresh Meadow Country Club Great Neck, New York
1929 Leo Diegel  United States Johnny Farrell Hillcrest Country Club Los Angeles, California
1928 Leo Diegel  United States Al Espinosa Baltimore Country Club, East Course Timonium, Maryland
1927 Walter Hagen  United States Joe Turnesa Cedar Crest Country Club (now Cedar Crest Park) Dallas, Texas
1926 Walter Hagen  United States Leo Diegel Salisbury Golf Club (now Eisenhower Park, Red Course) East Meadow, New York
1925 Walter Hagen  United States Bill Mehlhorn Olympia Fields Country Club Olympia Fields, Illinois
1924 Walter Hagen  United States Jim Barnes French Lick Springs Resort, Springs Country Club Course French Lick, Indiana
1923 Gene Sarazen  United States Walter Hagen Pelham Country Club Pelham Manor, New York
1922 Gene Sarazen  United States Emmet French Oakmont Country Club Oakmont, Pennsylvania
1921 Walter Hagen  United States Jim Barnes Inwood Country Club Inwood, New York
1920 Jock Hutchison  United States^ J. Douglas Edgar Flossmoor Country Club Flossmoor, Illinois
1919 Jim Barnes  United States^ Fred McLeod 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  United States^ Jock Hutchison 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

Records

  • Oldest Winner: Julius Boros in 1968 (48 years, 4 months, 18 days), 1968
  • 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.

Future tournament sites

  • 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)
  • 2015 - Whistling Straits, Straits Course (Sheboygan, Wisconsin)
 

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