PGA Championship facts for kids
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| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | multiple |
| Established | 1916 |
| Course(s) | multiple |
| 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$19,000,000 |
| Month played | May (formerly August) |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 263 Xander Schauffele (2024) |
| To par | −21 Xander Schauffele (2024) |
| Current champion | |
 Scottie Scheffler |
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| Image:Golf current event.svg 2025 PGA Championship | |
The PGA Championship is a big annual golf tournament. It is run by the Professional Golfers' Association of America. People sometimes call it the US PGA Championship.
This tournament is one of the four most important golf events for men. These are called the "majors." The other three are The Open, the Masters, and the U.S. Open. The PGA Championship is special because only professional golfers can play in it.
The tournament used to be played in August. But since 2019, it takes place in May. It is now the second major event of the golf season. Winning the PGA Championship gives golfers many special chances. They get to play in the other three major tournaments for five years. They can also play in the PGA Championship for their whole lives.
Contents
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 formed. This group helped make golf an official sport in the country.
In 1916, a new group was started in New York City. It was called the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA). A rich store owner named Rodman Wanamaker helped create it. He invited top golfers to a meeting to plan the new organization.
The first PGA Championship was held in October 1916. It took place at Siwanoy Country Club in New York. The first winner, Jim Barnes, received $500 and a special gold medal. Rodman Wanamaker also donated the Wanamaker Trophy. The winner gets to keep a copy of this trophy for one year. They also get a smaller copy to keep forever.
How the Tournament Changed
The PGA Championship first started as a "match play" event. In match play, golfers compete hole by hole. The person who wins more holes wins the match. This format was used until 1957.
After 1957, the tournament changed to "stroke play." In stroke play, golfers count all their shots over four days. The player with the lowest total score wins. This change made the tournament more exciting for TV viewers. It allowed more famous golfers to be in the running on the final day.
The tournament's timing also changed over the years. For a while, it was played right after The Open Championship. This made it hard for golfers to play in both. In 1965, it moved to August. Then, in 2019, it moved to May. This change happened partly because golf became an Olympic sport. Playing in May also means cooler weather for the courses.
Where the PGA Championship Is Played
The PGA Championship is held at different golf courses each year. Most of the time, it is played in the eastern part of the United States. However, it has been held in other areas too. For example, in 2020, it was played 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 Wanamaker Trophy is named after Rodman Wanamaker. It is very tall, almost 2.5 feet, and weighs 27 pounds. For a short time, the trophy was lost! It was found in 1930 in the basement of a company that made golf clubs. The golfer Walter Hagen had lost it. He said he trusted a taxi driver with it, but it never came back to his hotel.
The champion gets a smaller copy of the trophy to keep forever. The original trophy must be returned for the next year's tournament.
Who Can Play in the PGA Championship
The PGA Championship was created for professional golfers. It was a way to show how important professional golf was. Even today, it is the only major tournament that does not invite amateur (non-professional) golfers to play.
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.
Here are some ways golfers can qualify to play:
- Being a past PGA Champion.
- Winning one of the other major championships in the last five years.
- Being one of the top 70 golfers on the PGA Tour's points list.
- Being one of the top 20 club professionals from the PGA Professional Championship.
- Winning a PGA Tour event since the last PGA Championship.
- The PGA of America can also invite other players.
The tournament usually has up to 156 players.
PGA Championship Winners
The PGA Championship has had many great winners. Here are some of the recent champions:
| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Scottie Scheffler |
273 | −11 | Quail Hollow Club | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| 2024 | Xander Schauffele |
263 | −21 | Valhalla Golf Club | Louisville, Kentucky |
| 2023 | Brooks Koepka (3) |
271 | −9 | Oak Hill Country Club (East Course) |
Rochester, New York |
| 2022 | Justin Thomas (2) |
275 | −5 | Southern Hills Country Club | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| 2021 | Phil Mickelson (2) |
282 | −6 | Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean Course) |
Kiawah Island, South Carolina |
| 2020 | Collin Morikawa |
267 | −13 | TPC Harding Park | San Francisco, California |
Match Play Era Winners (Before 1958)
Before 1958, the PGA Championship was a match play event. Here are some of the winners from that time:
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 |  Lionel Hebert |
2 and 1 | Dow Finsterwald |
Miami Valley Country Club | Dayton, Ohio |
| 1956 | Jack Burke Jr. |
3 and 2 | Ted Kroll |
Blue Hill Country Club | Canton, Massachusetts |
| 1955 | Doug Ford |
4 and 3 | Cary Middlecoff |
Meadowbrook Country Club | Northville, Michigan |
| 1954 | Chick Harbert |
4 and 3 | Walter Burkemo |
Keller Golf Course | Maplewood, Minnesota |
| 1953 | Walter Burkemo |
2 and 1 | Felice Torza |
Birmingham Country Club | Birmingham, Michigan |
PGA Championship Records
- Most wins: Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen both won 5 times.
- Oldest winner: Phil Mickelson in 2021, when he was 50 years and 11 months old.
- Youngest winner: Gene Sarazen in 1922, when he was 20 years and 174 days old.
- Biggest winning difference (match play): Paul Runyan beat Sam Snead by 8 and 7 in 1938.
- Biggest winning difference (stroke play): Rory McIlroy won by 8 strokes in 2012.
- Lowest 72-hole score: 263 by Xander Schauffele in 2024.
- Lowest score compared to par: −21 by Xander Schauffele in 2024. This is also the lowest score compared to par in any major golf championship.
- Lowest 18-hole score: 62 by Xander Schauffele in the first round of 2024.
- Courses used most often:
- Southern Hills Country Club has hosted 5 PGA Championships.
- Oak Hill Country Club (East Course) and Valhalla Golf Club have each hosted 4 times.
Images for kids
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The official logo of the PGA Championship.
See also
In Spanish: Campeonato de la PGA para niños
