Miles Bennett
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the Professional Golfers' Association of America. It is one of four major golf championships, and the only one exclusively for professional golfers. Each year, 156 professional golfers assemble at a set location to compete for the Wanamaker Trophy. The tournament was established to provide a high-profile tournament for professional golfers, who were generally not held in high esteem in a sport largely run by wealthy amateurs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of golfers | 156 |
| Number of golfers who are paid | Top 65 |
| Total purse | $11 million |
| Grand prize | $1.98 million |
| Year established | 1916 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Organizer | Professional Golfers' Association of America |
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What You'll Learn
The PGA Championship is an annual tournament
The PGA Championship is an official money event on the PGA Tour, European Tour, and Japan Golf Tour, attracting a purse of $11 million in 2018. The winner of the tournament receives a substantial cash prize, a coveted trophy, and memberships to participate in the PGA and European tours. The championship has been held at various venues over the years, with a recent preference for a small group of celebrated courses.
Each year, 156 professional golfers assemble at a designated location to compete for the prestigious Wanamaker Trophy, named after Rodman Wanamaker, the founder of the PGA Championship. The top 65 players are paid from the PGA purse, with the winner taking home a significant portion. The tournament has witnessed historic moments, such as Gene Sarazen becoming the youngest champion at 20 years old in 1922, and Phil Mickelson breaking records as the oldest winner at 50 years old in 2021.
The PGA Championship has undergone a scheduling change, moving from mid-August to May starting in 2019. This shift positions the tournament as the second major of the golf season, following the Masters in April. The change was influenced by the reintroduction of golf at the 2016 Olympics, which boosted the morale of golfers worldwide and encouraged greater participation in the sport.
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It's hosted by the Professional Golfers' Association of America
The PGA Championship is hosted by the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA). It is an annual golf tournament and one of the four major golf championships, alongside The Open, the Masters, and the U.S. Open. The PGA Championship is the only one of the four that is exclusively for professional players.
The PGA Championship was established to provide a high-profile tournament specifically for professional golfers, as the sport was largely run by wealthy amateurs at the time. It was first held in October 1916 at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York, with the winner, Jim Barnes, receiving a $500 and a diamond-studded gold medal donated by Rodman Wanamaker.
The tournament has been held annually since then, with some format changes over the years. It was previously played in mid-August on the third weekend before Labor Day weekend, serving as the fourth and final men's major of the golf season. However, beginning in 2019, the tournament is played in May on the weekend before Memorial Day, becoming the season's second major following the Masters in April.
Each year, 156 professional golfers assemble at a set location to compete for the prestigious Wanamaker Trophy, named after the founder of the PGA Championship, Rodman Wanamaker. The champion also receives a significant cash prize, with the 2016 winner, Jimmy Walker, earning $1.8 million, and various memberships and privileges that improve career security.
The PGA of America is one of the world's largest sports organizations, composed of PGA of America Golf Professionals who work to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
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156 golfers compete each year
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the Professional Golfers' Association of America. It is one of four major golf championships, including The Open, the Masters, and the U.S. Open. The tournament is exclusively for professional players, and 156 golfers compete each year.
The PGA Championship was established to provide a high-profile tournament for professional golfers, who were generally not held in high esteem in a sport largely run by wealthy amateurs. This origin is reflected in the entry system for the Championship, which is the only major that does not invite leading amateurs to compete. Amateurs can still enter the field by winning one of the other major championships or a PGA Tour event while playing on a sponsor's exemption.
The tournament has a purse of $11 million, and the top 65 players are paid from this fund. The winner of the tournament receives a grand prize of $1.98 million, which is 18% of the total purse. They also receive a 5-year membership to participate in the PGA Tour and a 7-year membership for the European tour.
The golfers compete for the prestigious Wanamaker Trophy, which is named after the founder of the PGA Championship, Rodman Wanamaker. The winner also receives a replica of the trophy, which they can keep for one year, and a smaller-sized keeper replica. The trophy stands nearly 2.5 feet (75 cm) tall and weighs 27 pounds (12 kg).
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The winner receives a grand prize of $1.98 million
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament organised by the Professional Golfers' Association of America. It is one of four major golf championships, the others being The Open, the Masters, and the U.S. Open. The tournament is open to 156 professional golfers each year, with 20 of the 156 places reserved for club professionals.
The winner of the PGA Championship receives a grand prize of $1.98 million, which is 18% of the $11 million PGA purse. This prize money has increased over the years, with the 2016 winner, Jimmy Walker, earning $1.8 million. In addition to the grand prize, the winner of the PGA Championship receives a 5-year membership to the PGA Tour and a 7-year membership to the European Tour. They also receive the prestigious Wanamaker Trophy, named after the founder of the PGA Championship, Rodman Wanamaker. The trophy stands nearly 2.5 feet (75 cm) tall and weighs 27 pounds (12 kg).
The PGA Championship was established to provide a high-profile tournament exclusively for professional golfers, as the sport was largely run by wealthy amateurs at the time. It is the only major golf championship that does not invite leading amateurs to compete. The tournament was previously held in mid-August, serving as the fourth and final men's major of the golf season. However, since 2019, it has been held in May, becoming the season's second major.
The PGA Championship offers a significant opportunity for professional golfers to compete for a substantial grand prize and secure career-enhancing privileges. With a purse of $11 million, it attracts top players from around the world, contributing to its prestige and impact on the golf season.
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The Wanamaker Trophy is awarded to the winner
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the Professional Golfers' Association of America. It is one of the four major golf championships exclusively for professional players. The tournament was established to provide a high-profile platform specifically for professional golfers, who were generally not held in high esteem in a sport largely run by wealthy amateurs.
The winner of the PGA Championship is awarded The Wanamaker Trophy, which was donated by Rodman Wanamaker, a businessman and golfer, and heir to the Wanamaker department store fortune. The trophy is named after him and is one of the largest in professional sports. It stands nearly 2.5 feet (75 cm) tall and weighs 27 pounds (12 kg).
The Wanamaker Trophy has been awarded to the winner of the PGA Championship every year since 1916. The first player to have his name engraved on the trophy was Jim Barnes, who won the first two PGA Championships. The original trophy was briefly lost for a few years until it was found in 1930 in the cellar of the L.A. Young Golf Company, the same factory that made the golf clubs of Walter Hagen, who had won the trophy in 1924 and lost it.
Since the recovery of the original trophy, it has been retired and is now displayed at the Home of the PGA of America in Frisco, Texas. A duplicate trophy is now awarded to the winner of the PGA Championship, which they get to keep for one year, along with a smaller-sized keeper replica.
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Frequently asked questions
156 golfers participate in the PGA Championship each year.
No, the PGA Championship is one of the four major golf championships that is exclusively for professional golfers.
20 out of 156 places are reserved for club professionals.
Since 2019, the tournament has been held in May on the weekend before Memorial Day.
The winner of the PGA Championship receives a grand prize of $1.98 million, an 18% cut of the $11 million PGA purse.
