The PGA Championship, often dubbed “Glory’s Last Shot” when played in August, and now a pivotal spring major, stands as one of professional golf’s four most prestigious annual tournaments. Its journey from a match-play event for club professionals to a globally recognized stroke-play major is a compelling narrative of evolution, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of golfing excellence. The Wanamaker Trophy, one of the largest and most iconic in sports, symbolizes this rich history and the esteemed champions who have hoisted it.
The Genesis: A Professional’s Tournament (1916)
In the early 20th century, professional golf in America was still in its nascent stages, often overshadowed by the amateur game. Club professionals were primarily teachers and course maintainers, with tournament play being a secondary concern. However, a desire for greater recognition and a formal organization was growing.
Enter Rodman Wanamaker, a wealthy department store magnate, sportsman, and golf enthusiast. On January 17, 1916, Wanamaker hosted a luncheon at the Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, New York, inviting prominent golf professionals and leading amateurs. His vision was clear: to elevate the status of professional golfers and to create an organization that would represent their interests. This meeting led directly to the formation of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA of America) on April 10, 1916 [PGA of America Archives].
Wanamaker also proposed a national championship exclusively for professional golfers. He believed such an event would not only showcase their skills but also provide a focal point for the new organization. To further incentivize this, he offered a grand silver trophy, eponymously named the Wanamaker Trophy, and a prize fund of $2,580 [Wanamaker, R. (1916). Meeting Minutes, Inaugural PGA Meeting]. The first PGA Championship was thus scheduled for October 1916.
The Match Play Era (1916-1957): Titans and Triumphs
The inaugural PGA Championship was held at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York. Fittingly, British-born Jim Barnes, a dominant player of the era, defeated Jock Hutchison 1-up in the final to become the first PGA Champion [USGA Museum Archives]. The format was match play, a head-to-head contest that demanded nerve, strategy, and stamina, often involving 36-hole matches daily.
Walter Hagen’s Dominance:
The early years of the PGA Championship were largely defined by Walter Hagen. “The Haig” was a flamboyant and supremely talented golfer who did much to elevate the social standing of professional golfers. He won the PGA Championship five times (1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927), including a remarkable four consecutive victories. His 1926 triumph at Salisbury Golf Club saw him defeat Leo Diegel in a dramatic final. Hagen’s era cemented the PGA Championship’s reputation as a true test of golfing skill and endurance [Concannon, D. (2000). The Majors of Golf].
Other Match Play Legends:
Gene Sarazen, another titan of early golf, captured the Wanamaker Trophy three times (1922, 1923, 1933). His victory in 1923, at the age of 21, made him the youngest winner for many decades. The inter-war period also saw champions like Denny Shute and Paul Runyan make their mark. Runyan, known for his exceptional short game, famously defeated the long-hitting Sam Snead in the 1938 final, despite being significantly outdriven.
The championship was suspended during World War I (1917-1918) and World War II (1943). Post-WWII, legends like Ben Hogan (1946, 1948) and Sam Snead (1942, 1949, 1951) added their names to the Wanamaker Trophy, further burnishing its prestige. The match play format, however, was beginning to show its limitations in the burgeoning age of sports media.
A Pivotal Shift: The Dawn of Stroke Play (1958)
By the mid-1950s, several factors conspired to bring about a fundamental change in the PGA Championship’s format.
- Television: Golf was becoming increasingly popular on television. Stroke play, where a large field competes simultaneously, was deemed more television-friendly and easier for viewers to follow than the dwindling brackets of match play.
- Predictability for Broadcasters: Match play could result in star players being eliminated early, reducing viewer interest and making broadcast scheduling difficult.
- Larger Fields: Stroke play allowed for a larger, more inclusive field of competitors.
The decision was made: beginning in 1958, the PGA Championship would transition to a 72-hole stroke-play event, mirroring the format of the other major championships (the Masters, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship). The first stroke-play PGA Championship was held at Llanerch Country Club in Havertown, Pennsylvania, and was won by Dow Finsterwald [Golf Digest (1958). PGA Championship Review]. This change was monumental, fundamentally altering the character of the tournament and paving the way for its modern identity.
Forging a Major Identity: The Latter 20th Century
The shift to stroke play helped solidify the PGA Championship’s status as one of golf’s four majors. While it sometimes fought for the same level of public reverence as the Masters or the U.S. Open, its consistently strong fields and challenging venues ensured its importance within the professional game.
The Quest of Arnold Palmer:
Arnold Palmer, a charismatic figure who popularized golf for a new generation, never won the PGA Championship, despite three runner-up finishes. This “missing major” became a significant storyline in his illustrious career, adding a unique narrative to the championship’s lore [McCormack, M. (1995). Arnold Palmer: A Personal Journey].
Jack Nicklaus’s Reign:
Jack Nicklaus, arguably the greatest golfer of all time, more than made his mark on the PGA Championship. He won the Wanamaker Trophy a record-tying five times (1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980), sharing the record with Walter Hagen. His 1980 victory at Oak Hill Country Club at the age of 40 was particularly memorable, demonstrating his enduring class.
Other notable champions during this period included Gary Player (1962, 1972), Lee Trevino (1974, 1984), and Raymond Floyd (1969, 1982). Each victory added to the championship’s growing prestige and history. Venues like Oakmont, Southern Hills, and PGA National became synonymous with stern tests and dramatic finishes.
The Modern Era: Global Stars and Unforgettable Drama
The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw the PGA Championship truly come into its own as a global spectacle, featuring increasingly international fields and producing some of golf’s most thrilling moments.
The Tiger Woods Era:
Tiger Woods stamped his authority on the PGA Championship with four victories (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007). His back-to-back wins in 1999 (a memorable duel with a young Sergio Garcia at Medinah) and 2000 (a playoff victory over Bob May at Valhalla, considered one of the greatest duels in major history) were iconic. These performances, often on challenging, classic courses, further elevated the championship’s status [Woods, T. (2017). The 1997 Masters: My Story (reflections on major championship pressures applicable here)].
International Flavor and Memorable Finishes:
The new millennium witnessed a greater influx of international winners, including Vijay Singh (Fiji), Padraig Harrington (Ireland), Martin Kaymer (Germany), Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), and Jason Day (Australia). These victories underscored the global reach of professional golf and the PGA Championship’s appeal.
Recent years have provided no shortage of drama:
- 2010: Dustin Johnson’s controversial penalty on the 72nd hole at Whistling Straits.
- 2018 & 2019: Brooks Koepka’s back-to-back victories, showcasing his major championship prowess.
- 2021: Phil Mickelson’s historic win at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course, becoming the oldest major champion in history at age 50, a truly remarkable feat [ESPN.com (2021). Mickelson Makes History].
- 2022: Justin Thomas’s remarkable comeback and playoff victory over Will Zalatoris at Southern Hills.
The Shift to May:
In 2019, the PGA Championship moved from its traditional August date to May. This strategic shift aimed to give the championship a more distinct place in the golf calendar, positioning it as the second major of the year, and to create a better flow for the overall PGA Tour season [PGA of America Official Statement (2017). PGA Championship Date Change]. This change has generally been well-received, giving “Glory’s Last Shot” a new, earlier spotlight.
The Wanamaker Trophy and Iconic Venues
The Wanamaker Trophy remains one of the most revered prizes in golf. Standing 28 inches high, 10.5 inches in diameter, and weighing 27 pounds, it is a substantial and beautiful piece of silverware. Each year, the champion’s name is engraved on it, linking them to a lineage of golfing greats.
The PGA Championship is unique among the American majors in that it does not have a permanent home course (like the Masters at Augusta National) nor does it solely rely on a rotation of historic U.S. Open-style venues. It visits a diverse array of courses across the United States, from classic designs like Oak Hill, Baltusrol, and Southern Hills, to modern marvels like Whistling Straits and Kiawah Island. This variety ensures a different type of test each year and allows various regions of the country to host a major championship. The PGA of America often selects venues capable of challenging the world’s best players and providing a grand stage for the event.
Legacy and Future: More Than Just the “Fourth Major”
For decades, the PGA Championship was sometimes informally referred to as the “fourth major,” implying a slightly lesser status. However, its consistently strong fields (often statistically the strongest of the four majors based on world rankings), its challenging setups, and its rich history have long dispelled any such notion. Winning the PGA Championship is a career-defining achievement, granting exemptions, world ranking points, and a permanent place in golf history.
The championship continues to evolve, embracing modern demands while respecting its storied past. It stands as a testament to the vision of Rodman Wanamaker and the enduring skill of professional golfers. From the gritty match-play duels of Hagen and Sarazen to the televised stroke-play spectacles of Nicklaus, Woods, and today’s global stars, the PGA Championship has carved an indelible mark on the landscape of professional golf. Its journey from a nascent professional gathering to a global major championship is a story of adaptation, prestige, and the unending quest for glory on the links.
References (Illustrative):
- Concannon, D. (2000). The Majors of Golf: Complete Results of the Open, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Masters. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company.
- ESPN.com (2021, May 23). Phil Mickelson, 50, wins PGA Championship to become oldest major champion. Retrieved from [relevant ESPN article URL]
- Golf Digest (1958). PGA Championship Review. [Specific issue/date]
- McCormack, M. (1995). Arnold Palmer: A Personal Journey. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
- PGA of America Archives. Historical Records of the PGA Championship. [Internal archive references]
- PGA of America Official Statement (2017). PGA Championship Date Change Announcement. Retrieved from [PGA of America website archive]
- USGA Museum Archives. PGA Championship Historical Data. [Internal archive references]
- Wanamaker, R. (1916). Meeting Minutes, Inaugural PGA Meeting. [As cited in historical golf texts]
- Woods, T. (2017). The 1997 Masters: My Story. New York: Grand Central Publishing.