The PGA Championship is one of golf’s four major championships, held annually and contested by the world’s elite professional golfers.
Established in 1916, the PGA Championship has crowned more than 100 champions across more than a century of competition at varying courses throughout the United States.
The tournament evolved from a match-play format in its early years to the stroke-play format used today, making it one of golf’s most prestigious and challenging events.
This comprehensive guide covers all PGA Championship winners from 1916 through 2024, including record-holders, multiple champions, and how this major championship has evolved into a cornerstone of professional golf.
PGA Championship Winners: 2015-2024 Recent Champions
| Year | Winner | Course | Score | To Par | Prize Money |
| 2024 | Scottie Scheffler | Valhalla GC | 270 | -6 | $4,500,000 |
| 2023 | Brooks Koepka | Oak Hill CC | 276 | -4 | $4,500,000 |
| 2022 | Justin Thomas | Southern Hills CC | 267 | -13 | $3,800,000 |
| 2021 | Phil Mickelson | Kiawah Island | 282 | -6 | $2,700,000 |
| 2020 | Collin Morikawa | TPC Harding Park | 266 | -6 | $2,750,000 |
| 2019 | Brooks Koepka | Bethpage Black | 279 | -1 | $2,750,000 |
| 2018 | Brooks Koepka | Bellerive CC | 272 | -8 | $2,750,000 |
| 2017 | Justin Thomas | Quail Hollow | 275 | -5 | $2,750,000 |
| 2016 | Jimmy Walker | Baltusrol GC | 268 | -12 | $2,750,000 |
| 2015 | Jason Day | Whistling Straits | 268 | -4 | $2,750,000 |
All-Time PGA Championship Winners: Complete Record
The PGA Championship began in 1916 as a match-play tournament before converting to stroke-play format in 1958. Over this extended history, numerous players have won multiple titles, with Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods leading the way.
The championship has been contested at more than 50 different courses throughout the United States, each presenting unique challenges to competitors.
The earliest PGA Championship winners faced different competition levels and playing conditions compared to modern champions.
Jim Barnes won the first event in 1916, establishing a tradition that continues today with some of golf’s greatest names winning this prestigious major championship.
Most PGA Championship Wins: Record Holders
Jack Nicklaus holds the record for most PGA Championship victories with five titles won across multiple decades.
His dominance in major championships includes this prestigious PGA event, demonstrating his consistent excellence at the highest levels of professional golf competition.
Tiger Woods has won the PGA Championship five times as well, matching Nicklaus’s record and cementing his place among golf’s all-time greats. Woods won his titles across a 16-year span, showing remarkable longevity at major championship level.
Several other players have won multiple PGA Championship titles, establishing themselves as champions of the highest order.
Walter Hagen won five PGA Championships during the match-play era, while Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, and Byron Nelson each claimed three victories.
Multiple PGA Championship Winners:
- Jack Nicklaus: 5 wins (1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980)
- Tiger Woods: 5 wins (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2012)
- Walter Hagen: 5 wins (1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927)
- Gene Sarazen: 3 wins (1922, 1923, 1933)
- Sam Snead: 3 wins (1942, 1949, 1951)
- Byron Nelson: 3 wins (1940, 1945, 1955)
Recent PGA Championship Dominance: 2018-2024
Brooks Koepka established himself as a modern PGA Championship force by winning three times in recent years.
His victories in 2018, 2019, and 2023 demonstrate exceptional skill at the highest major championship level. Koepka’s consistent excellence across multiple PGA Championships places him among the tournament’s most accomplished recent winners.
Scottie Scheffler won the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, adding another major championship to his impressive resume.
His victory continues a trend of younger players dominating major championship golf in the modern era.
Phil Mickelson captured the 2021 PGA Championship at age 50, becoming the oldest major championship winner in professional golf history.
His victory at Kiawah Island demonstrated that experience and skill can overcome age in major championship competition.
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Justin Thomas won twice in recent years, claiming victories in 2017 and 2022. His two PGA Championship titles establish him among the elite players of his generation competing at the highest levels of professional golf.
Prize Money Growth: Evolution of PGA Championship Purses
The PGA Championship prize purse has grown substantially since the tournament’s inception in 1916.
Early champions received modest purses compared to modern standards, with prize money increasing gradually throughout the twentieth century and accelerating in recent decades.
When the PGA Championship converted to stroke-play format in 1958, prize purses were relatively modest by today’s standards.
The tournament’s prestige as a major championship drove steady increases in prize money as television revenue and sponsorships expanded professional golf’s financial landscape.
Modern PGA Championship winners receive purses comparable to other major championships. The 2024 winner earned $4.5 million from a total purse structure that rewards tournament excellence at the highest professional levels.
Prize money distribution reflects the championship’s status as one of golf’s four major competitions.
Prize Money Progression
| Era | Year | Winner’s Prize | Total Purse |
| Match-Play | 1920 | $500 | $2,600 |
| Early Modern | 1960 | $6,000 | $25,000 |
| Television Era | 1980 | $60,000 | $275,000 |
| Modern Era | 2000 | $900,000 | $5,000,000 |
| Premium Status | 2010 | $1,350,000 | $8,000,000 |
| Current | 2024 | $4,500,000 | $18,000,000 |
The dramatic increase in prize purses reflects the PGA Championship’s growing importance in professional golf.
Prize money has increased 9,000 times from the match-play era to today’s stroke-play championship, demonstrating the tournament’s financial evolution alongside golf’s global expansion and media growth.
Historic PGA Championship Venues and Course Challenges
The PGA Championship has been contested at more than 50 different golf courses throughout the United States since 1916.
Each venue presents unique challenges that test competitors’ abilities across diverse playing conditions and course designs.
The championship rotates among prestigious clubs that maintain championship-level playing standards.
Augusta National, Pebble Beach, Merion, and Winged Foot have hosted the PGA Championship multiple times, each adding to the tournament’s legendary history. Valhalla Golf Club, home to recent championships, has become a modern classic venue for major championship golf.
Course difficulty varies significantly based on weather conditions, course setup, and field strength. Par scores at PGA Championship venues typically range from 70 to 72, with scoring difficulty adjusted by the USGA based on course conditions and player ability levels in any given year.
Legendary PGA Championship Moments and Stories
Tiger Woods captured his first major championship at the 1999 PGA Championship while still in his twenties, launching a career that would redefine professional golf.
His five PGA Championship victories across multiple decades established Woods as one of the championship’s greatest competitors.
Jack Nicklaus won his final major championship at the 1980 PGA Championship, cementing his legacy as one of golf’s most accomplished players ever to compete at the highest levels. His five PGA Championship titles spanned different eras of professional golf competition.
Phil Mickelson’s 2021 victory at age 50 captivated the golf world and demonstrated that major championship success transcends age when skill and determination align.
His emotional victory provided inspiration for players competing throughout their professional careers.
PGA Championship Format Evolution: Match-Play to Stroke-Play
The PGA Championship began as a match-play tournament in 1916, a format that remained until 1957.
Match-play competition pitted individual golfers against each other in head-to-head competition, with the player winning the most holes claiming victory regardless of total score.
The PGA Championship converted to stroke-play format in 1958, aligning with other major championships that use this scoring method. Stroke-play requires golfers to record their total score across all holes, with the lowest 72-hole total determining the champion.
This format change modernized the championship and allowed greater emphasis on consistency and overall performance across all four rounds.
The current PGA Championship stroke-play format features a 156-player field that competes over four rounds at championship venues.
Players must qualify through various pathways including PGA Tour standings, major championship invitations, and international world golf ranking positions.
Format details and qualification criteria ensure the best golfers in the world compete annually for this prestigious major championship title.
FAQs
What is the PGA Championship?
The PGA Championship is one of four major championships in professional golf, held annually with the field competing for multi-million dollar purses at prestigious championship venues.
Who has won the PGA Championship most?
Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods each have five PGA Championship victories, the most by any player in the tournament’s history.
When did the PGA Championship start?
The PGA Championship began in 1916 as a match-play event before converting to stroke-play format in 1958.
What is the current PGA Championship prize?
The 2024 PGA Championship winner earned $4.5 million from an $18 million total purse.
Where are PGA Championships typically held?
PGA Championships rotate among prestigious courses throughout the United States that meet championship standards.
Has any player won multiple consecutive PGA Championships?
Walter Hagen won four consecutive PGA Championships from 1924 to 1927, the longest streak by any player.
