The PGA Championship is one of the four major tournaments that makes up golf's Grand Slam. It is the last Grand Slam tournament played, usually in August about a month following the British Open. Winning the PGA Championship comes with the perk of being invited to play in the Masters, as well as making the winner exempt from qualifying for the tournament for the rest of their life. Over the history of the event, the PGA Championship has been won by the biggest names in golf as well as surprise winners who all but disappeared after winning.
1999-2009
The ten-year period from 1999 to 2009 was most notable for Tiger Woods twice pulling off back-to-back victories.
2009 - Y.E. Yang
2008 - Padraig Harrington
2007 - Tiger Woods
2006 - Tiger Woods
2005 - Phil Mickelson
2004 - Vijay Singh
2003 - Shaun Micheel
2002 - Rich Beem
2001 - David Toms
2000 - Tiger Woods
1999 - Tiger Woods
1981-1998
The most notable thing about this period of the PGA Championship is the lack of any dominant player. Except for non-consecutive wins by Nick Price, no player was able to win more than once between 1981 and 1998.
1998 - Vijay Singh
1997 - Davis Love III
1996 - Mark Brooks
1995 - Steve Elkington
1994 - Nick Price
1993 - Paul Azinger
1992 - Nick Price
1991 - John Daly
1990 - Wayne Grady
1989 - Payne Stewart
1988 - Jeff Sluman
1987 - Larry Nelson
1986 - Bob Tway
1985 - Hubert Green
1984 - Lee Trevino
1983 - Hal Sutton
1982 - Raymond Floyd
1981 - Larry Nelson
1963-1980
This era can best be described as the Golden Bear Era. Between 1963 and 1980 Jack Nicklaus won the PGA Championship five times, becoming the most dominant player of his time.
1980 - Jack Nicklaus
1979 - David Graham
1978 - John Mahaffey
1977 - Lanny Wadkins
1976 - Dave Stockton
1975 - Jack Nicklaus
1974 - Lee Trevino
1973 - Jack Nicklaus
1972 - Gary Player
1971 - Jack Nicklaus
1970 - Dave Stockton
1969 - Ray Floyd
1968 - Julius Boros
1967 - Don January
1966 - Al Geiberger
1965 - Dave Marr
1964 - Bobby Nichols
1963 - Jack Nicklaus
1944-1963
Following a suspension of play in 1943 due to World War II, the PGA Championship entered the modern era. This period saw the final glory of legends like Ben Hogan and Sam Snead. This period is also notable for a series of winners whose names are now mostly forgotten.
1962 - Gary Player
1961 - Jerry Barber
1960 - Jay Hebert
1959 - Bob Rosburg
1958 - Dow Finsterwald
1957 - Lionel Hebert
1956 - Jack Burke
1955 - Doug Ford
1954 - Chick Harbert
1953 - Walter Burkemo
1952 - Jim Turnesa
1951 - Sam Snead
1950 - Chandler Harper
1949 - Sam Snead
1948 - Ben Hogan
1947 - Jim Ferrier
1946 - Ben Hogan
1945 - Byron Nelson
1944 - Bob Hamilton
1916-1942
The early era of the PGA Championship was one of domination by a few players. Between 1921 and 1929, only three different men won the tournament. The 1930s and 1940s witnessed a broader spectrum of winners as golf grew in stature as a spectator sport.
1942 - Sam Snead
1941 - Vic Ghezzi
1940 - Byron Nelson
1939 - Henry Picard
1938 - Paul Runyan
1937 - Denny Shute
1936 - Denny Shute
1935 - Johnny Revolta
1934 - Paul Runyan
1933 - Gene Sarazen
1932 - Olin Dutra
1931 - Tom Creavy
1930 - Tommy Armour
1929 - Leo Diegel
1928 - Leo Diegel
1927 - Walter Hagen
1926 - Walter Hagen
1925 - Walter Hagen
1924 - Walter Hagen
1923 - Gene Sarazen
1922 - Gene Sarazen
1921 - Walter Hagen
1920 - Jock Hutchison
1919 - James M. Barnes
1917-18 - Not played due to World War I
1916 - James M. Barnes
About The Author
Timothy Sexton is an award-winning writer who has published over 4,000 articles, two novels, and hundreds of short stories. He was twice named among Who's Who of America's Teachers. One of his articles was chosen for inclusion in a law school packet at Vanderbilt Univ. and another was directly responsible for the arrest of a predatory home contractor who ripped off dozens.
