US PGA Championship WinnersÂ
Over the past nine decades, the PGA Championship has developed into one of the premier sporting events in the world. More than 100,000 people line the fairways of the nation's finest golf facilities during PGA Championship week to view the strongest, all-professional international field in major championship golf. As it was more than 80 years ago, the Wanamaker Trophy is still prized as one of the golf world's greatest treasures.
The first PGA Championship played in 1916 at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, N.Y. And saw England's Jim Barnes win the inaugural tournament. Interrupted for two years by Wold War I, Barnes returned in 1919 to capture his second consecutive win. Walter Hagen would go on to post his record-tying five PGA Championships in the 1920s with Gene Sarazen claiming victories in 1922, 1923 and 1933.
Denny Shute captured the PGA Championship title in 1936 and 1937 and became the first back-to-back winner before Tiger Woods in 2000. The baptism of Byron Nelson as one of the finest competitors in PGA Championship history began in 1939 when he was defeated, 1-up by Henry Picard, in the finals. "Lord Byron" reached the finals in four of the next five PGA Championships, and etched his name on the Wanamaker Trophy twice, in 1940 and 1945.
The Championship was again not played in 1943 because of World War II. During the post-war years, the Wanamaker Trophy added the names of Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Chick Harbert, Doug Ford and Jack Burke.
In 1958, the format of the PGA Championship changed from match play to stroke play. This new era in PGA Championship history saw the names of Dow Finsterwald, Bob Rosburg, Jay Hebert and Gary Player to its Champions roster. In 1963, legend Jack Nicklaus won his first of a record-tying five PGA Championships. Fittingly, Nicklaus tied Hagen's record with his last PGA Championship triumph in 1980 at Oak Hill Country Club in Hagen's hometown of Rochester, N.Y.
In 1999, a 23-year-old named Tiger Woods became the fifth-youngest winner in PGA Championship history when he outlasted Spain's 19-year-old Sergio Garcia by one stroke at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club. His return in 2000 at Valhalla Golf Club resulted in his becoming the first back-to-back PGA Champion since Shute.
David Toms made golf history by finishing with a 15-under-par 265 in 2001, setting a major championship record for 72 holes.
Rich Beem made away with the title at the 84th PGA Championship in 2002, charging past Tiger Woods to the winning post. Another spectacular win followed at the 85th PGA championship for Shaun Micheel, his first career victory.
Vijay Singh made his comeback for a second time with his PGA Championship victory (his last being in 1998) by closing with a final round 4-over 76, the highest winning score ever by a PGA champion.
The following year, Phil Mickelson claimed his second major in as many years and it was the first Monday finish at the PGA Championship in 19 years.
Tiger Woods returned to capture the top prize in both 2006 and 2007 and is currently holding the second most wins at 4, just behind Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus at five.
Tiger Woods will probably do it again, but only at the 2009 PGA Championship, as he is still recovering from surgery on his knee - but the world number one will be back! Read more about previous winners and their winning statistics.
