PGA Championship facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
PGA Championship

Tournament information
Location	Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Established	1916
Course(s)	Valhalla Golf Club
Par	71
Length	7,394 yards (6,761 m)
Organized by	PGA of America
Tour(s)	PGA Tour European Tour Japan Golf Tour
Format	Stroke play (1958–present) Match play (1916–1957)
Prize fund	US$18,500,000
Month played	May (formerly August)
Tournament record score
Aggregate	263 Xander Schauffele (2024)
To par	−21 Xander Schauffele (2024)
Current champion
Xander Schauffele
2024 PGA Championship

The PGA Championship is a big annual golf tournament in the United States. It is one of the four most important golf events for men, called "major championships."

This tournament used to happen in August. But since 2019, it takes place in May, right before Memorial Day. This makes it the second major golf event of the year, after the Masters Tournament. Winning the PGA Championship is a huge deal for golfers. It gives them special invitations to play in other major tournaments for the next five years. They also get to play in the PGA Championship for the rest of their lives! This championship is special because only professional golfers can play in it.

History of the PGA Championship

Golf became very popular in the United States in the late 1800s. In 1894, the United States Golf Association (USGA) was created. This was the first official golf group in the country.

In 1916, another important group was formed: the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA). A rich store owner named Rodman Wanamaker helped start it. He invited top golfers to a meeting to plan the new organization.

The very first PGA Championship was held in October 1916 in Bronxville, New York. The winner, Jim Barnes, received $500 and a special gold medal. Fast forward to 2016, the winner, Jimmy Walker, earned $1.8 million! The champion also gets to keep a copy of the famous Wanamaker Trophy for one year. They also get a smaller trophy to keep forever.

How the Game is Played

The PGA Championship used to be a "match play" event. This means golfers played against each other, hole by hole. But after World War II, the tournament changed. In 1958, it became a "stroke play" event. In stroke play, golfers count every shot they take over 72 holes (four rounds). The player with the lowest total score wins. This change happened partly because TV networks wanted to show more golfers competing on the final day.

The tournament's timing also changed a few times. For example, in 2016, it moved to July because of the Summer Olympics. Then, in 2019, it moved to May. This was done to avoid competing with the start of American football season. It also meant cooler weather, allowing more golf courses to host the event.

Where it's Held

The PGA Championship is usually played in the eastern part of the United States. However, it has been held in other areas too. For example, in 2020, it was in San Francisco, California.

The state of New York has hosted the championship 13 times. Ohio has hosted it 11 times, and Pennsylvania 9 times.

The Wanamaker Trophy

The famous Wanamaker Trophy is named after Rodman Wanamaker. It's about 2.5 feet tall and weighs 27 pounds!

There's a funny story about the trophy. For a few years, it went missing! It was finally found in 1930 in the basement of a company that made golf clubs. The golfer who lost it, Walter Hagen, said he trusted a taxi driver with it, but it never made it back to his hotel. The winner gets to keep a smaller copy of the trophy forever.

How Golfers Qualify

The PGA Championship was created to give professional golfers a special tournament. Back then, golf was mostly run by rich amateur players. This history is why the championship is mostly for professionals.

It's the only major golf tournament that doesn't invite top amateur players directly. However, amateurs can still play if they win another major championship or a PGA Tour event. The tournament also saves 20 spots for "club professionals." These are golf teachers or managers at golf clubs. They earn their spots by doing well in the PGA Professional Championship.

To play in the PGA Championship, golfers can qualify in many ways. Some common ways include:

• Being a past PGA Champion.
• Winning one of the other major championships (like the U.S. Open or Masters Tournament) in the last five years.
• Being among the top golfers in the world rankings.
• Finishing well in the previous PGA Championship.
• Being a top club professional from the PGA Professional Championship.
• Winning a PGA Tour event since the last PGA Championship.

The PGA of America can also invite other players who don't fit these rules. A maximum of 156 players compete in the tournament.

Winners of the PGA Championship

Here are some of the golfers who have won the PGA Championship since it changed to stroke play.

Stroke play era winners

Year	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Winner's share ($)	Venue	Location
2024	Xander Schauffele	263	−21	1 stroke	Bryson DeChambeau	3,330,000	Valhalla	Louisville, Kentucky
2023	Brooks Koepka (3)	271	−9	2 strokes	Viktor Hovland Scottie Scheffler	3,150,000	Oak Hill (East Course)	Rochester, New York
2022	Justin Thomas (2)	275	−5	Playoff	Will Zalatoris	2,700,000	Southern Hills	Tulsa, Oklahoma
2021	Phil Mickelson (2)	282	−6	2 strokes	Brooks Koepka Louis Oosthuizen	2,160,000	Kiawah Island (Ocean Course)	Kiawah Island, South Carolina
2020	Collin Morikawa	267	−13	2 strokes	Paul Casey Dustin Johnson	1,980,000	TPC Harding Park	San Francisco, California
2019	Brooks Koepka (2)	272	−8	2 strokes	Dustin Johnson	1,980,000	Bethpage Black	Farmingdale, New York
2018	Brooks Koepka	264	−16	2 strokes	Tiger Woods	1,980,000	Bellerive	Town and Country, Missouri
2017	Justin Thomas	276	−8	2 strokes	Francesco Molinari Louis Oosthuizen Patrick Reed	1,890,000	Quail Hollow	Charlotte, North Carolina
2016	Jimmy Walker	266	−14	1 stroke	Jason Day	1,800,000	Baltusrol (Lower Course)	Springfield, New Jersey
2015	Jason Day	268	−20	3 strokes	Jordan Spieth	1,800,000	Whistling Straits (Straits Course)	Kohler, Wisconsin
2014	Rory McIlroy (2)	268	−16	1 stroke	Phil Mickelson	1,800,000	Valhalla	Louisville, Kentucky
2013	Jason Dufner	270	−10	2 strokes	Jim Furyk	1,445,000	Oak Hill (East Course)	Rochester, New York
2012	Rory McIlroy	275	−13	8 strokes	David Lynn	1,445,000	Kiawah Island (Ocean Course)	Kiawah Island, South Carolina
2011	Keegan Bradley	272	−8	Playoff	Jason Dufner	1,445,000	Atlanta (Highlands Course)	Johns Creek, Georgia
2010	Martin Kaymer	277	−11	Playoff	Bubba Watson	1,350,000	Whistling Straits (Straits Course)	Kohler, Wisconsin
2009	Yang Yong-eun	280	−8	3 strokes	Tiger Woods	1,350,000	Hazeltine National	Chaska, Minnesota
2008	Pádraig Harrington	277	−3	2 strokes	Ben Curtis Sergio García	1,350,000	Oakland Hills (South Course)	Bloomfield, Michigan
2007	Tiger Woods (4)	272	−8	2 strokes	Woody Austin	1,260,000	Southern Hills	Tulsa, Oklahoma
2006	Tiger Woods (3)	270	−18	5 strokes	Shaun Micheel	1,224,000	Medinah (Course No. 3)	Medinah, Illinois
2005	Phil Mickelson	276	−4	1 stroke	Thomas Bjørn Steve Elkington	1,170,000	Baltusrol (Lower Course)	Springfield, New Jersey
2004	Vijay Singh (2)	280	−8	Playoff	Chris DiMarco Justin Leonard	1,125,000	Whistling Straits (Straits Course)	Kohler, Wisconsin
2003	Shaun Micheel	276	−4	2 strokes	Chad Campbell	1,080,000	Oak Hill (East Course)	Rochester, New York
2002	Rich Beem	278	−10	1 stroke	Tiger Woods	990,000	Hazeltine National	Chaska, Minnesota
2001	David Toms	265	−15	1 stroke	Phil Mickelson	936,000	Atlanta (Highlands Course)	Duluth, Georgia
2000	Tiger Woods (2)	270	−18	Playoff	Bob May	900,000	Valhalla	Louisville, Kentucky
1999	Tiger Woods	277	−11	1 stroke	Sergio García	630,000	Medinah (Course No. 3)	Medinah, Illinois
1998	Vijay Singh	271	−9	2 strokes	Steve Stricker	540,000	Sahalee	Sammamish, Washington
1997	Davis Love III	269	−11	5 strokes	Justin Leonard	470,000	Winged Foot (West Course)	Mamaroneck, New York
1996	Mark Brooks	277	−11	Playoff	Kenny Perry	430,000	Valhalla	Louisville, Kentucky
1995	Steve Elkington	267	−17	Playoff	Colin Montgomerie	360,000	Riviera	Pacific Palisades, California
1994	Nick Price (2)	269	−11	6 strokes	Corey Pavin	310,000	Southern Hills	Tulsa, Oklahoma
1993	Paul Azinger	272	−12	Playoff	Greg Norman	300,000	Inverness Club	Toledo, Ohio
1992	Nick Price	278	−6	3 strokes	John Cook Nick Faldo Jim Gallagher Jr. Gene Sauers	280,000	Bellerive	St. Louis, Missouri
1991	John Daly	276	−12	3 strokes	Bruce Lietzke	230,000	Crooked Stick	Carmel, Indiana
1990	Wayne Grady	282	−6	3 strokes	Fred Couples	225,000	Shoal Creek	Birmingham, Alabama
1989	Payne Stewart	276	−12	1 stroke	Andy Bean Mike Reid Curtis Strange	200,000	Kemper Lakes	Kildeer, Illinois
1988	Jeff Sluman	272	−12	3 strokes	Paul Azinger	160,000	Oak Tree	Edmond, Oklahoma
1987	Larry Nelson (2)	287	−1	Playoff	Lanny Wadkins	150,000	PGA National	Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
1986	Bob Tway	276	−8	2 strokes	Greg Norman	145,000	Inverness Club	Toledo, Ohio
1985	Hubert Green	278	−6	2 strokes	Lee Trevino	125,000	Cherry Hills	Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
1984	Lee Trevino (2)	273	−15	4 strokes	Gary Player Lanny Wadkins	125,000	Shoal Creek	Birmingham, Alabama
1983	Hal Sutton	274	−10	1 stroke	Jack Nicklaus	100,000	Riviera	Pacific Palisades, California
1982	Raymond Floyd (2)	272	−8	3 strokes	Lanny Wadkins	65,000	Southern Hills	Tulsa, Oklahoma
1981	Larry Nelson	273	−7	4 strokes	Fuzzy Zoeller	60,000	Atlanta (Highlands Course)	Duluth, Georgia
1980	Jack Nicklaus (5)	274	−6	7 strokes	Andy Bean	60,000	Oak Hill (East Course)	Rochester, New York
1979	David Graham	272	−8	Playoff	Ben Crenshaw	60,000	Oakland Hills (South Course)	Bloomfield, Michigan
1978	John Mahaffey	276	−8	Playoff	Jerry Pate Tom Watson	50,000	Oakmont	Plum, Pennsylvania
1977	Lanny Wadkins	282	−6	Playoff	Gene Littler	45,000	Pebble Beach	Pebble Beach, California
1976	Dave Stockton (2)	281	+1	1 stroke	Raymond Floyd Don January	45,000	Congressional (Blue Course)	Bethesda, Maryland
1975	Jack Nicklaus (4)	276	−4	2 strokes	Bruce Crampton	45,000	Firestone (South Course)	Akron, Ohio
1974	Lee Trevino	276	−4	1 stroke	Jack Nicklaus	45,000	Tanglewood Park (Championship Course)	Clemmons, North Carolina
1973	Jack Nicklaus (3)	277	−7	4 strokes	Bruce Crampton	45,000	Canterbury	Beachwood, Ohio
1972	Gary Player (2)	281	+1	2 strokes	Tommy Aaron Jim Jamieson	45,000	Oakland Hills (South Course)	Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
1971	Jack Nicklaus (2)	281	−7	2 strokes	Billy Casper	40,000	PGA National	Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
1970	Dave Stockton	279	−1	2 strokes	Bob Murphy Arnold Palmer	40,000	Southern Hills	Tulsa, Oklahoma
1969	Raymond Floyd	276	−8	1 stroke	Gary Player	35,000	NCR (South Course)	Dayton, Ohio
1968	Julius Boros	281	+1	1 stroke	Bob Charles Arnold Palmer	25,000	Pecan Valley	San Antonio, Texas
1967	Don January	281	−7	Playoff	Don Massengale	25,000	Columbine	Columbine Valley, Colorado
1966	Al Geiberger	280	E	4 strokes	Dudley Wysong	25,000	Firestone (South Course)	Akron, Ohio
1965	Dave Marr	280	−4	2 strokes	Billy Casper Jack Nicklaus	25,000	Laurel Valley	Ligonier, Pennsylvania
1964	Bobby Nichols	271	−9	3 strokes	Jack Nicklaus Arnold Palmer	18,000	Columbus	Columbus, Ohio
1963	Jack Nicklaus	279	−5	2 strokes	Dave Ragan	13,000	Dallas (Blue Course)	Dallas, Texas
1962	Gary Player	278	−2	1 stroke	Bob Goalby	13,000	Aronimink	Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
1961	Jerry Barber	277	−3	Playoff	Don January	11,000	Olympia Fields	Olympia Fields, Illinois
1960	Jay Hebert	281	+1	1 stroke	Jim Ferrier	11,000	Firestone (South Course)	Akron, Ohio
1959	Bob Rosburg	277	−3	1 stroke	Jerry Barber Doug Sanders	8,250	Minneapolis	St. Louis Park, Minnesota
1958	Dow Finsterwald	276	−4	2 strokes	Billy Casper	5,500	Llanerch	Havertown, Pennsylvania

Here are the winners from when the PGA Championship was a match play event.

Match play era winners

Year	Winner	Score	Runner-up	Winners share ($)	Venue	Location
1957	Lionel Hebert	2 and 1	Dow Finsterwald	8,000	Miami Valley	Dayton, Ohio
1956	Jack Burke Jr.	3 and 2	Ted Kroll	5,000	Blue Hill	Canton, Massachusetts
1955	Doug Ford	4 and 3	Cary Middlecoff	5,000	Meadowbrook	Detroit, Michigan
1954	Chick Harbert	4 and 3	Walter Burkemo	5,000	Keller	Maplewood, Minnesota
1953	Walter Burkemo	2 and 1	Felice Torza	5,000	Birmingham	Birmingham, Michigan
1952	Jim Turnesa	1 up	Chick Harbert	3,500	Big Spring	Louisville, Kentucky
1951	Sam Snead (3)	7 and 6	Walter Burkemo	3,500	Oakmont	Plum, Pennsylvania
1950	Chandler Harper	4 and 3	Henry Williams Jr.	3,500	Scioto	Columbus, Ohio
1949	Sam Snead (2)	3 and 2	Johnny Palmer	3,500	Hermitage	Richmond, Virginia
1948	Ben Hogan (2)	7 and 6	Mike Turnesa	3,500	Norwood Hills	St. Louis, Missouri
1947	Jim Ferrier	2 and 1	Chick Harbert	3,500	Plum Hollow	Detroit, Michigan
1946	Ben Hogan	6 and 4	Ed Oliver	3,500	Portland	Portland, Oregon
1945	Byron Nelson (2)	4 and 3	Sam Byrd	3,750	Moraine	Dayton, Ohio
1944	Bob Hamilton	1 up	Byron Nelson	3,500	Manito	Spokane, Washington
1943: No tournament due to World War II
1942	Sam Snead	2 and 1	Jim Turnesa	1,000	Seaview	Atlantic City, New Jersey
1941	Vic Ghezzi	38 holes	Byron Nelson	1,100	Cherry Hills	Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
1940	Byron Nelson	1 up	Sam Snead	1,100	Hershey (West Course)	Hershey, Pennsylvania
1939	Henry Picard	37 holes	Byron Nelson	1,100	Pomonok	Flushing, New York
1938	Paul Runyan (2)	8 and 7	Sam Snead	1,100	The Shawnee	Smithfield Township, Pennsylvania
1937	Denny Shute (2)	37 holes	Harold McSpaden	1,000	Pittsburgh	O'Hara Township, Pennsylvania
1936	Denny Shute	3 and 2	Jimmy Thomson	1,000	Pinehurst Resort (No. 2 Course)	Pinehurst, North Carolina
1935	Johnny Revolta	5 and 4	Tommy Armour	1,000	Twin Hills	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1934	Paul Runyan	38 holes	Craig Wood	1,000	The Park	Williamsville, New York
1933	Gene Sarazen (3)	5 and 4	Willie Goggin	1,000	Blue Mound	Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
1932	Olin Dutra	4 and 3	Frank Walsh	1,000	Keller	Maplewood, Minnesota
1931	Tom Creavy	2 and 1	Denny Shute	1,000	Wannamoisett	Rumford, Rhode Island
1930	Tommy Armour	1 up	Gene Sarazen		Fresh Meadow	Queens, New York
1929	Leo Diegel (2)	6 and 4	Johnny Farrell		Hillcrest	Los Angeles, California
1928	Leo Diegel	6 and 5	Al Espinosa		Baltimore (East Course)	Timonium, Maryland
1927	Walter Hagen (5)	1 up	Joe Turnesa		Cedar Crest	Dallas, Texas
1926	Walter Hagen (4)	5 and 3	Leo Diegel		Salisbury (Red Course)	East Meadow, New York
1925	Walter Hagen (3)	6 and 5	Bill Mehlhorn		Olympia Fields	Olympia Fields, Illinois
1924	Walter Hagen (2)	2 up	Jim Barnes		French Lick Springs (Hill Course)	French Lick, Indiana
1923	Gene Sarazen (2)	38 holes	Walter Hagen		Pelham	Pelham Manor, New York
1922	Gene Sarazen	4 and 3	Emmet French	500	Oakmont	Plum, Pennsylvania
1921	Walter Hagen	3 and 2	Jim Barnes	500	Inwood	Inwood, New York
1920	Jock Hutchison	1 up	J. Douglas Edgar	500	Flossmoor	Flossmoor, Illinois
1919	Jim Barnes (2)	6 and 5	Fred McLeod	500	Engineers	Roslyn Harbor, New York
1917–18: No tournament due to World War I
1916	Jim Barnes	1 up	Jock Hutchison	500	Siwanoy	Bronxville, New York

Source:

PGA Championship Records

Here are some cool facts and records from the PGA Championship:

• Most wins: Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen have both won 5 times.
• Oldest winner: Phil Mickelson was 50 years and 11 months old when he won in 2021.
• Youngest winner: Gene Sarazen was only 20 years old when he won in 1922.
• Biggest winning lead (match play): Paul Runyan won by 8 and 7 against Sam Snead in 1938.
• Biggest winning lead (stroke play): Rory McIlroy won by 8 strokes in 2012.
• Lowest 72-hole score: Brooks Koepka shot 264 in 2018.
• Lowest score compared to par: Jason Day was 20 shots under par (–20) in 2015. This is the lowest score compared to par in any major golf championship!
• Lowest 18-hole score: Xander Schauffele shot a 62 in the first round of the 2024 tournament.
• Courses that hosted the most times:
  • 5 times: Southern Hills Country Club
  • 4 times: Oak Hill Country Club (East Course), Valhalla Golf Club
  • 3 times: Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands Course), Firestone Country Club (South Course), Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course), Oakmont Country Club, Whistling Straits (Straits Course)

Watching the PGA Championship

In the United States, you can watch the PGA Championship on CBS and ESPN. ESPN shows the early rounds and morning coverage on weekends. CBS shows the main weekend afternoon coverage. These channels will broadcast the tournament until 2030.

Future Championship Locations

Here's where the PGA Championship will be held in the coming years:

Source:

See also

In Spanish: Campeonato de la PGA para niños

• Golf in the United States