PGA Championship

Lore & Background

The first PGA Championship was held in October 1916 at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York. The winner, Jim Barnes, received $500 and a diamond-studded gold medal donated by Rodman Wanamaker. The PGA Championship was originally a match play event in the early fall, but it varied from May to December. After World War II, the championship was usually in late May or late June, then moved to early July in 1953 and a few weeks later in 1954, with the finals played on Tuesday. The 1957 event lost money, and at the PGA meetings in November it was changed to stroke play, starting in 1958, with the standard 72-hole format of 18 holes per day for four days, Thursday to Sunday.

In Their Own Story

The August sun beats down on the 18th fairway, baking the earth until dust hangs in the air. A veteran player wipes sweat from his brow, gripping his putter with white-knuckled intensity. The gallery is silent, holding its breath as the ball rolls toward the hole, a single putt standing between glory and heartbreak. In this moment, under the weight of history, the PGA Championship demands not just skill, but soul.

Reader's Guide

The PGA Championship has been held at various venues. Some of the early sites are now quite obscure, but in recent years, the event has generally been played at a small group of celebrated courses. The state of New York has hosted the championship thirteen times, followed by Ohio (11) and Pennsylvania (9).

Did You Know?

• The Wanamaker Trophy stands nearly 2.5 feet (75 cm) tall and weighs 27 pounds (12 kg).
• The trophy was lost for a few years until it showed up in 1930 in the cellar of L.A. Young and Company.
• The PGA Championship is the only major that does not explicitly invite leading amateurs to compete.
• The 2016 winner, Jimmy Walker, earned $1.8 million.

Historic Victory for Aaron Rai

Aaron Rai etched his name into golf history by claiming the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, securing his first career major title with a commanding three-stroke victory. This triumph marked a significant milestone as Rai became only the second player of Indian heritage to win a men's major, following in the footsteps of Vijay Singh. Rai finished ahead of runners-up Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley, cementing his status as a global star. His win at this prestigious event, held in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, highlighted a breakthrough moment for international golfers and added a new chapter to the tournament's rich legacy.

Aronimink's Challenging Return

Known for hosting various prestigious tournaments like the U.S. Amateur and Women's PGA Championship, the course presented a formidable test for the world's best players. Conditions were notoriously difficult throughout the week, characterized by strong wind gusts and demanding hole locations that frustrated many competitors. Scoring averages reflected these challenges, with an average score of 72.26 in the opening round. The course's reputation for difficulty was further underscored when players criticized the severity of pin placements, particularly during the second round where cold weather and winds persisted.

Dramatic First Round Chaos

The opening day of the 2026 PGA Championship produced one of the most shared leads in recent major history. Seven players finished with a score of 67, tying for the lead at three under par. Open. Notable among these leaders were defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who recorded his first-ever major lead after round one, and Martin Kaymer, a former champion ranked outside the top 1,000 at the time. The day was also marred by controversy when Jon Rahm struck the turf in anger, accidentally hitting a volunteer with a divot, an incident he later called 'inexcusable.' Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy struggled significantly, closing with four consecutive bogeys and finishing well outside contention.

The Final Stretch Showdown

As the tournament reached its climax, Alex Smalley surged to the forefront after shooting a third-round 68 to take an outright lead. However, the final round saw Aaron Rai seize control, ultimately edging out Smalley and Jon Rahm to claim the title. Rahm and Rai both briefly held solo leads before faltering on the 18th hole with bogeys. Rory McIlroy staged a remarkable recovery from his poor start, shooting a 66 in the third round to regain confidence with his driver, though he could not quite catch the leaders. The shifting winds and accessible hole locations during moving day facilitated lower scores, setting the stage for an intense finish.

Gallery