Major championship

PGA Championship

Rotating venues in the United States Established 1916

American Golf Archive illustration of the Wanamaker Trophy presented at the PGA Championship.
American Golf Archive editorial illustration

A championship built around the professional game, where touring professionals and PGA of America Golf Professionals compete for the Wanamaker Trophy.

At a glance

Founded
1916 ↘
Governing organization
PGA of America ↘
Usual calendar position
May ↘
Venue model
Rotating host courses in the United States ↘
Field character
Professional-only field assembled through exemptions and invitations, including PGA of America Golf Professionals ↘
Format
72-hole stroke play ↘

Across the years

Champions through time

Latest verified Edition

Aaron Rai

Status
Completed
Venue
Aronimink Golf Club
Champion
Aaron Rai
Open 2026 PGA Championship
Browse complete history 111 editions

Archive essay

Why it matters

The PGA Championship is the PGA of America’s annual men’s professional major, played at rotating U.S. venues for the Wanamaker Trophy. ↘

The PGA of America describes this as a major for professionals and by professionals. Its field makes that institutional link visible by bringing touring professionals and qualifiers from the PGA Professional Championship into the same competition, while the Wanamaker Trophy connects the Championship’s stroke-play identity to its match-play beginning. ↘

Chapter 01

Origins and identity

The Championship began in 1916 as match play and changed to 72-hole stroke play in 1958. Its history follows the development of organized professional golf rather than one fixed competition format, and its place in today’s men’s major canon should not erase that evolution. ↘

Chapter 02

Place and competitive character

The host course changes, and the Championship’s register records a long succession of American venues. That movement changes the architecture and conditions presented to the field; the continuing elements are the PGA of America’s professional mission and the Wanamaker Trophy. ↘

Chapter 03

Traditions, qualification and evolution

The PGA publishes edition-specific eligibility categories rather than offering open entry. Those routes include past championship records, recent performance in designated events and standings, and leading finishers from the PGA Professional Championship; the PGA of America may also invite additional players. The Championship is decided by 72-hole stroke play. ↘

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