Stats & Facts
PGA Championship
Established 105 years ago, the PGA Championship is one of golf's prized tournaments. Here are some of the sats and facts atributed to the coveted event which is one of golf's four men's major championships.
In The Beginning
The first PGA Championship was held in 1916. England’s Jim Barnes defeated Scotland’s Jock Hutchison 1up at Siwanoy Country club in Bronxville, New York. Thomas Kerrigan, who was the Head Professional at Siwanoy CC at that time, is reputed to be the first player ever to tee off at the PGA Championship.
Cup Size
Standing at an impressive 75cm tall and weighing 12kg, the Wanamaker Trophy is the largest cup of the four men’s major championships. The award is named after wealthy department store owner Rodman Wanamaker. Wanamaker is responsible for organising an exploratory meeting led to the establishment of the PGA of America.
Format
From 1916 to 1957, the PGA Championship was contested in Match Play format. American Lionel Herbert overcame compatriot Dow Finsterwald 2&1 in 1957 to end the match play era. Finsterwald would triumph the following year by two shots over Billy Casper at the PGA Championship’s first outing as a 72-hole stroke play event.
Pros Only
The PGA Championship features a 156-man field of professional golfers—no amateur golfers can qualify. The field includes 20 spots for PGA of America members (club & teaching professionals). No club professional has won the PGA Championship in the modern era.
Most Wins
Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus boast the most wins in PGA Championship history with five. Hagen collected all his titles in the match play format including four consecutive wins from 1924-1927. Nicklaus scored his handful of wins in stroke play.
Old & Young
Julius Boros became the oldest PGA Champion with victory in 1968. Boros was aged 48 years and 142 days when he overcame Bob Charles and Arnold Palmer by one shot at Pecan Valley Golf Club in Texas. Gene Sarazen is the youngest winner of the Wanamaker Trophy. Sarazen, who would end up a three-time PGA Championship winner, was aged 20 years and 174 days when he earned the 1920 title with a 4&3 match play victory over Emmet French at Oakmont Country Club, Pennsylvania.
US Dominance
American golfers have won 84 of the 102 PGA Championship titles. After England’s Jim Barnes won the first two contests the only non-American to win the PGA Championship during the match play format up until 1957 was Australia’s Jim Ferrier. Ferrier took out the 1947 Championship with a 2&1 victory over Chick Harbert. Winners from seven further nations have occurred since the stroke play format was introduced. Australian golfers own the second most wins by nations at the PGA Championship with five. David Graham (1979), Wayne Grady (1990), Steve Elkington (1995) and Jason Day (2015) followed Ferrier’s earlier success.
Jason’s Day Out
In 2015 at Whistling Straits, Jason Day covered the 72 holes in 20-under. It was the lowest score in relation to par at any major championship, let alone the PGA. He won by three shots over Jordan Spieth. Day opened the event with a steady 4-under 68 to sit in a tie for third place two shots behind Dustin Johnson after the first round. At the halfway mark, Day was in solo second place after firing a 5-under 67 to get to 9-under for the event—he was two shots behind fellow Australian Matt Jones. By the end of the third round, Day headed the field by two shots after producing eight birdies en route to a stunning 6-under 66 on Saturday. He would never really by challenged during the final round, posting seven birdies and two bogeys in his 5-under 67. His seventh birdie of the round at the 16th hole got him to the magical mark of 20-under.
