PGA Championship 101: History, records and qualifications for this year at Quail Hollow

by oqtey
PGA Championship 101: History, records and qualifications for this year at Quail Hollow

Take a look at some answers to frequently asked questions about the PGA Championship:

When did the PGA Championship become the second major of the season?

The PGA Championship moved from the major finale in August to the second of the season in May, in 2019. Then 2020 came and the golf calendar was reorganized because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PGA was contested again in August, after the U.S. Open and ahead of the Masters. Things returned to order in ’21 and, for the foreseeable future, the PGA of America’s crown jewel sits in its spring spot.


Is this the PGA Tour championship?

No, this is not the championship of the PGA Tour. That would be considered The Players Championship (or even the season-finale, Tour Championship). This is the championship of the PGA of America.


What’s the difference between the PGA of America and the PGA Tour?

There used to be one PGA — the “of America” one, which was founded in 1916. In 1968, action was begun that resulted in an eventual split into the PGA of America and the PGA Tour.


What does PGA stand for?

Professional Golfers’ Association. Remember, in the early years of the 20th century, pros were looked down upon. It was only natural that they band together under one umbrella organization.


Why did players split from the PGA of America?

The original golf pros were the people who work at golf clubs. You know, the ones who sell us logoed ball markers and take our green fees when they’re not trying to cure our slices by giving us lessons. The better players among them also played the national tournament circuit.

As golf grew in popularity and tournaments became more lucrative, a class of pros evolved who were tournament players first and foremost. If they held a club job, it was often ceremonial. Over time, more of these pros discarded the idea of working at a club at all, instead devoting full time to tournament play.

So now you had one organization, the PGA of America, trying to represent the interests of two entirely different types of “golf pros.” No surprise that the root of the dispute was money, specifically what to do with what was becoming a windfall in rights fees from the TV networks. The tournament players, a group that included Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, wanted that money to go to increased tournament purses, while the club pros wanted it to go into the PGA’s general fund. Eventually the touring pros broke off on their own. The PGA of America remained in place, representing the traditional “club” pros.


Why does the PGA of America still have a championship? And why is it a major?

It wanted to keep the PGA Championship alive for many reasons, not the least of which is that it generates considerable revenue. The event has long held a spot as one of golf’s Big 4 events, and golf is a sport that clings to tradition. Many consider The Players Championship, which is operated by the PGA Tour, to be the unofficial fifth major but — regardless of how that plays out — it is unlikely to ever wrest away status from the PGA.


Anything else about its history that sets the PGA apart?

The most obvious thing is that from its inception in 1916 through 1957, the PGA was a match-play tournament. It has been periodically suggested that it return to match play, but that is not considered likely. Prior to the shift to May in 2019, it was previously held during this month in 1949, when Sam Snead won.

All of the PGA Championship winners since the men’s major first began in 1916.

Why isn’t the PGA Championship match play?

Worst-case scenario — all the highly seeded “name” players get eliminated before the final. If you’re a TV network that has spent big bucks to televise this event, do you want two guys you’re not overly familiar with in the final?


What’s the name of the winner’s trophy?

It’s called the Wanamaker Trophy, and it was named after Rodman Wanamaker, a department store magnate who was influential in the formation of the PGA.


How do players qualify for the PGA Championship?

These are the ways, based on the PGA’s 2025 qualifying criteria:

  • 1. All former winners of the PGA Championship;
  • 2. Winners of the last five Masters (2021-25);
  • 3. Winners of the last five U.S. Opens (2020-24);
  • 4. Winners of the last five Open Championships (2019-24). [Note: canceled in 2020];
  • 5. Winners of the last three Players Championships (2023-25);
  • 6. Top three on the International Federation Official World Golf Ranking List
  • 7. Winner of 2024 Senior PGA Championship;
  • 8. The top 15 finishers and ties from the 2024 PGA Championship;
  • 9. The top 20 finishers from the 2025 PGA Professional Championship;
  • 10. The top 70 players who are eligible and have earned the most PGA Championship points* from the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge through the 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (ending May 4);
  • 11. Playing members of the last named U.S. and European Ryder Cup teams (2023), provided they remain in the top 100 on the Official World Golf Ranking as of May 5;
  • 12. Winners of PGA Tour co-sponsored or approved tournaments whose victories are considered official, since previous PGA Championship;
  • 13. The PGA of America reserves the right to invite additional players not included in the categories listed above (note: the PGA has traditionally invited the top 100 from the Official World Golf Ranking as of the week before the championship);
  • 14. If necessary to complete the field, those players beyond the top 70 players who are eligible and who have earned the most PGA Championship points* through same time period as criteria No. 10, in order of their position on such a list.

*Note: PGA Championship points are based on official PGA Tour earnings.


Are LIV Golf players eligible for the PGA Championship?

Yes, as long as they meet the above criteria. Beginning this year, the PGA of America uses criteria No. 13 to invite the top 3 players from the LIV Golf season standings, if they are not otherwise eligible.


What are some memorable PGA moments?

It would be hard to beat a then-unknown John Daly winning in 1991. He got into the tournament as ninth — ninth! — alternate, then torched the course with a combination of absurdly long driving and incredible touch around the greens. Then there was Bob Tway holing a final-hole bunker shot to beat Greg Norman in 1986 — something we didn’t yet know would become a trend. And who could have predicted that the player who would give Woods his toughest test would be one of his former junior-golf rivals, Bob May, who did everything except beat him in 2000? And, of course, there was 2021, when Phil Mickelson, at age 51, became the oldest-ever major champion.


What happened in the 2024 PGA Championship?

It was one of the most surreal weeks in golf history. The madness began Friday at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, when Masters champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was arrested while trying to enter tournament grounds. He made it from jail to the course to compete, and followed his opening 67 with a 66 to finish within three of the 36-hole lead. Scheffler ran out of gas in the third round, falling out of contention with a 73 (he tied for eighth). The championship was ultimately won by Xander Schauffele, who birdied the 72nd hole to edge Bryson DeChambeau by a shot. It was Schauffele’s first major title (he also set multiple PGA records as well; more below).


Who has the most PGA Championship wins?

Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen have each won five times. Tiger Woods has won four times. Woods has twice won back-to-back in this major, in 1999-2000 and 2006-07.


What are the PGA Championship scoring records?

  • 18 holes: 62 (Xander Schauffele, Round 1, 2024 Valhalla; Shane Lowry, Round 3, 2024 Valhalla)
  • 72-hole aggregate: 263 (Schauffele, 2024)
  • 72-hole in relation to par: 21 under (Schauffele, 2024)

On 18 occasions, players have shot 63 in this championship.


Where is the 2025 PGA Championship?

Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. The venue traditionally hosts what is now known as the Truist Championship. That signature event moved to Philadelphia Cricket Club in ’25 and precedes the PGA. Quail Hollow previously hosted the 2017 PGA Championship, won by Justin Thomas.

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