The PGA Championship is one of the four major championships in professional golf, along with the Masters Tournament, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. It is the oldest of the four majors, dating back to 1916. The tournament is played in June each year and is hosted by the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA of America)
Here are some interesting facts about the PGA Championship:
- The first PGA Championship was held in 1916 at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York. Jim Barnes won the inaugural tournament.
- The PGA Championship was first held in 1916 and has been played every year since then, except for 1917, 1918, and 1943 due to World War I and World War II.
- The PGA Championship was originally played in a match-play format, but it was changed to stroke play in 1958.
- The winner of the PGA Championship is awarded the Wanamaker Trophy, named after Rodman Wanamaker, a department store magnate who was instrumental in the founding of the PGA of America.
- Several golfers have won the PGA Championship multiple times, including Walter Hagen (5 wins), Jack Nicklaus (5 wins), Tiger Woods (4 wins), and Gene Sarazen (3 wins).
- Unlike the other three major championships, the PGA Championship does not have a fixed venue. It rotates among different courses across the United States. This allows for a variety of challenging and iconic courses to host the event.
- The oldest winner of the PGA Championship is Phil Mickelson, who won at the age of 50 in 2021.
- The youngest winner of the PGA Championship is Horton Smith, who won at the age of 23 in 1927.
These are just a few interesting things about the PGA Championship. The tournament continues to captivate golf fans worldwide with its storied history, talented competitors, and thrilling competition.