History of the USPGA Championship

Few people know that the first PGA Championship was won by a Cornishman. Jim Barnes had left his home in Cornwall in the UK in 1906 in search of greater riches. He found them 10 years later in 1916 after taking up golf and winning the first ever PGA Trophy and a cheque for $500. The Tournament was the brainchild of businessman, Rodman Wanamaker, who had some years earlier founded the Millrose Games, still one of the most famous track and field events held in the USA. Wanamaker wanted to create a prestigious Tournament for professional players only. In the USA at the time it was Amateur sport that dominated.

Agreement was reached with several other business owners and sporting authorities and the PGA was formed as a consequence. It was June 1916. The first PGA Championship followed in October the same year at the Siwanoy Country Club in New York. Today the Tournament has prize money in excess of $7m with the winner taking home a cheque for over $1m. The Wanamaker trophy is one of the most coveted awards in golf and it has been held by a great many true champions, some of them are listed in our PGA Champions results.

Up until 1958 the Tournament was played as a matchplay event, but due to the popularity and commercial viabilty of stroke play it was changed. This year of course will be the 90th Championship and will be played at the magnificent Oakland Hills Golf Club, scene of the 2004 Ryder Cup.

The PGA is now the second largest sporting association in the world. The main role of the PGA was to organise Professional Golfing events, but a split in the organisation in 1968 led to the formation of the affiliated PGA tour. The PGA itself still organises the Major Championships and the Ryder Cup.