The PGA Championship holds a special place as the second men’s major championship each year. What began in 1916 as a match-play tournament transformed into a stroke-play event in 1958, marking a significant shift in the competition’s format.
Let’s look back at the champions who’ve hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy throughout the tournament’s rich history.
Stroke-Play Era (1958-Present)
When the PGA Championship switched to stroke play, it created a different kind of challenge. Instead of beating individual opponents head-to-head, players now faced the full field over four days of competition. This format has produced memorable moments, from Jack Nicklaus’s five victories to Tiger Woods matching that record with wins that spanned from his breakthrough in 1999 to his inspiring comeback in 2007.
The tournament has been played at some of America’s most iconic venues, including Whistling Straits, Baltusrol, Oak Hill, and Southern Hills. Each champion’s winning score tells its own story about the course conditions and competitive landscape of that year.
Match-Play Era (1916-1957)
The PGA Championship’s origins as a match-play tournament created a different kind of drama. Players faced elimination in each round, creating intense head-to-head battles. Walter Hagen dominated this era with five consecutive wins from 1924-1927, while Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, and Byron Nelson all claimed multiple titles.
These early champions helped establish the tournament’s prestige before it evolved into the stroke-play format we know today. The transition between eras represents not just a change in format, but the evolution of professional golf itself.
