So, What Exactly Is the PGA Championship?
Okay, picture this: it’s mid-May, your favorite players are lining up on pristine greens, and something just feels different. That’s the PGA Championship. One of golf’s four major tournaments, it’s not just another trophy. It’s legacy. It’s where careers are made—or shattered under pressure.
But what makes the PGA Championship stand out?
It’s not wrapped in the strict traditions of Augusta’s Masters. It’s not as globally nomadic as The Open. And it doesn’t have the all-American, fan-filled chaos of the U.S. Open. The PGA Championship is its beast—professional, elite, and somehow, a bit rebellious. It’s where the world’s top-ranked golfers clash not for a green jacket or a claret jug, but for a heavy Wanamaker Trophy and a truckload of bragging rights.
A Quick Overview: The DNA of the PGA Championship
Organized by the Professional Golfers’ Association of America, the tournament usually takes place in May, a calendar switch made in 2019 that gave the event fresh energy. It features a 72-hole stroke play format, no amateurs (unlike The Masters or the U.S. Open), and a course setup that’s tough—but not punishingly sadistic.
This balance makes it, in many ways, the fairest of the majors. No wind-lashed links, no Augusta mystique. Just pure golf.
PGA vs. The Rest: What’s the Big Difference?
You might wonder—aren’t all majors kind of the same? Well, not really.
- The Masters: Always in Augusta. Green jackets, tight invites, heavy tradition.
- The U.S. Open: Brutally tough. Thick ruffs. Sky-high scores.
- The Open Championship: Oldest of them all. Winds, links, and UK weather tantrums.
The PGA Championship is more democratic. It gives a stage to club pros, invites international talents, and chooses courses across the U.S.—from ocean-side Kiawah Island to the monster hills of Oak Hill. It doesn’t lean too hard on tradition. Instead, it embraces evolution.
How It All Began: The 1916 Origins
Back in 1916, the world looked very different—no Twitter, no Tiger, and no TrackMan. Yet, the PGA of America launched what would become one of the cornerstones of professional golf. The very first championship took place at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York, and used a match play format (yeah, you read that right).
Jim Barnes won the inaugural title. No disrespect, but his swing wouldn’t survive the slow-motion replays of modern broadcasts.
For decades, the format remained match play, which led to wild duels and upsets—imagine a full tournament of 1v1 elimination matches.
The Golden Era (1960s–1980s): Nicklaus, Glory & Big Changes
Fast forward to the ’60s and ’70s, and things started heating up. Jack Nicklaus turned the PGA Championship into his playground, winning five titles between 1963 and 1980. The man was a machine, and honestly, watching old clips of him draining 25-footers with zero emotion? Chilling.
During this golden age, the format shifted from match play to stroke play in 1958—a move that made the tournament more viewer-friendly and aligned it with the other majors.
Names like Gary Player, Lee Trevino, and Raymond Floyd lit up leaderboards. Golf was becoming prime-time television, and the PGA Championship was no longer just a “major.” It was the major to watch.
Enter Tiger: 1990s–2010s, A Whole New Game
Then came Tiger Woods—and the entire vibe changed.
Let’s be real. Tiger didn’t just win—he dominated. With four PGA Championship victories (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007), including that legendary duel with Bob May in 2000, he made the Wanamaker Trophy feel like his weekend bag.
He wasn’t just playing against the field—he was reshaping the field. TV ratings soared. Merch sales went through the roof. Suddenly, kids from every corner of the world were picking up clubs and dreaming of that iconic Tiger fist pump.
The Tiger Era also widened the tournament’s global footprint. International stars like Vijay Singh, Martin Kaymer, and Jason Day found their moment at the PGA, proving this wasn’t just America’s game anymore.
From 2020 to 2025: Fresh Faces, Big Swings, and Oh-So-Memorable Moments
Let’s talk about recent history. The last five years have been a whirlwind—new stars, unbelievable finishes, and a course lineup that’s had fans glued to their screens.
Remember Collin Morikawa’s 2020 win at TPC Harding Park? That drive on 16? Straight-up surgical.
Then came Phil Mickelson in 2021, becoming the oldest major winner ever at 50. That wasn’t just history—it was poetry.
We’ve seen guys like Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, and Xander Schauffele make serious moves. And just as exciting? The rise of Gen-Z talents like Ludvig Åberg and Tom Kim brings a different kind of swagger to the field.
Top 10 PGA Championship Records That Still Stand
Records aren’t just numbers—they’re the stories we retell over beer and BBQ. Here are a few that still make jaws drop:
- Lowest 72-hole score: -20 (Jason Day, 2015)
- Youngest winner: Gene Sarazen, 1922 (just 20!)
- Oldest winner: Phil Mickelson, 2021 (age 50)
- Most wins: Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods (5 and 4, respectively)
- Most consecutive wins: Tiger Woods (1999–2000, 2006–2007)
- Longest drive recorded: 409 yards (Rory McIlroy, 2014)
- Most strokes under par in a single round: 63 (shared by multiple players)
- Largest margin of victory: 7 shots (Rory McIlroy, 2012)
- Most birdies in a tournament: 28 (Tiger Woods, 2000)
- Lowest round by a club pro: 68 (Omar Uresti, 2017)
Where Legends Walk: Iconic PGA Championship Courses
The courses? Oh, they’re characters of their own.
- Oak Hill: Upstate New York, thick, rough, tighter than your jeans after Thanksgiving.
- Valhalla: Kentucky’s pride—hosted epic finishes, including Tiger’s 2000 playoff win.
- Kiawah Island: Wind, gators, ocean views… and chaos.
Each course adds its flavor. The PGA rotates venues more freely than other majors, which keeps the challenge fresh and forces players to adapt. One year it’s wet and wild, the next it’s firm and fiery.
How the PGA Championship Shapes Golf Rankings
Let’s talk points—because the PGA Championship isn’t just about trophies and champagne.
Winning or even finishing strong can vault a player up the FedEx Cup and Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) charts. It’s a points jackpot—kind of like finding a cheat code in a game.
For emerging players, a solid PGA finish can mean major sponsorship deals, better pairing schedules, and, of course, an invite to Augusta. The ripple effect is real.
What’s Next? Future, Tech & Rising Stars
Here’s the exciting part—where do we go from here?
- Future venues like Congressional, Aronimink, and PGA Frisco (hello, Texas) are already lined up.
- Rising stars like Akshay Bhatia, Sahith Theegala, and Nick Dunlap are grabbing attention.
- And tech? It’s everywhere—from augmented reality stats to real-time ball tracking. Watching golf is becoming a full-blown experience.
Some even whisper about night golf. Imagine a PGA Championship round under stadium lights. Far-fetched? Maybe. But so was Tiger at 21.
Final Thoughts: More Than a Tournament
Honestly, the PGA Championship isn’t just a major—it’s a mirror.
It reflects where the game is, where it’s heading, and who’s ready to take the mantle. From old-school titans to social-media-savvy rookies, this event brings out the raw, unfiltered essence of competition.
So next time you watch a golfer lining up a 10-footer on Sunday, remember: this isn’t just about birdies. It’s about history, hunger, and that almost irrational love for the game.
You in?
