PGA Championship

Lore & Background

In 1894, with 41 golf courses operating in the United States, two unofficial national championships for amateur golfers were organized. One was held at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island, and the other at Saint Andrew's Golf Club in New York. In addition, and at the same time as the amateur event, Saint Andrew's conducted an Open championship for professional golfers. None of the championships were officially sanctioned by a governing body for American golf, causing considerable controversy among players and organizers.

Later in 1894 this led to the formation of the United States Golf Association (USGA), which became the first formal golf organization in the country. After the formation of the USGA, golf quickly became a sport of national popularity and importance. In February 1916, the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) was established in New York City. One month earlier, the wealthy department store owner Rodman Wanamaker hosted a luncheon with the leading golf professionals of the day at the Wykagyl Country Club in nearby New Rochelle.

The attendees prepared the agenda for the formal organization of the PGA; consequently, golf historians have dubbed Wykagyl 'The Cradle of the PGA.' The new organization's first president was Robert White, one of Wykagyl's best-known golf professionals. 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 2016 winner, Jimmy Walker, earned $1.8 million. The champion is also awarded a replica of the Wanamaker Trophy, which was also donated by Wanamaker, to keep for one year, and a smaller-sized keeper replica Wanamaker Trophy.

Reader's Guide

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. As a match play event (with a stroke play qualifier), it was not uncommon for the finalists to play over 200 holes in seven days. 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.

Network television broadcasters, preferring a large group of well-known contenders on the final day, pressured the PGA of America to make the format change. During the 1960s, the PGA Championship was played the week after The Open Championship five times, making it virtually impossible for players to compete in both majors. In 1965, the PGA was contested for the first time in August, and returned in 1969, save for a one-year move to late February in 1971, played in Florida.

The 2016 event was moved to late July, two weeks after the Open Championship, to accommodate the 2016 Summer Olympics in August. Before the 2017 edition, it was announced that the PGA Championship would be moved to May on the weekend before Memorial Day, beginning in 2019. The PGA Tour concurrently announced that it would move its Players Championship back to March the same year; it had been moved from March to May in 2007. The PGA of America cited the addition of golf to the Summer Olympics, as well as cooler weather enabling a wider array of options for host courses, as reasoning for the change.

It was also believed that the PGA Tour wished to re-align its season so that the FedEx Cup Playoffs would not have to compete with the start of football season in late-August.

Did You Know?

• The Wanamaker Trophy stands nearly 2.5 ft tall and weighs 27 lb.
• The trophy was lost for a few years until it showed up in 1930 in the cellar of L.A. Young and Company.
• The state of New York has hosted the championship thirteen times, followed by Ohio (11) and Pennsylvania (9).

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.

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