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In 1916 the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) was founded in New York City, thanks to wealthy store owner, Rodman Wanamaker, and a many professional golfers of the day. Later that same year the first ever PGA Championship was hosted at Siwanoy Country Club in Eastchester, New York. Jim Barnes won the event and took home the $500 first prize and a gold medal studded with diamonds.
Between then and now, the PGA Championship, or U.S. PGA as it is often called outside the U.S., has evolved into the prestigious event it is today as well as one of the four majors. Until 1958 the U.S. PGA was a matchplay tournament, but due to popular demand was changed to a 'stroke play' event. It is contested over four rounds of 18 holes each over four days.
The PGA Championship used to be scheduled in late July, but over the years players complained that it was too close to the third major, the Open Championship, or British Open. As such it was eventually shifted to its current date, which is roughly four weeks after the British Open. Like the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship is played at a different course each year.
This Year
The 2010 PGA Championship is scheduled for August 12-15 at the Straits Course of the Whistling Straits complex in Haven, Wisconsin. It will be the 92nd annual U.S. PGA and is expected to attract a top field of players from all over the world.
Players and Favourites
U.S. PGA betting favorites include Tiger Woods (US), who despite his recent personal woes, will more than likely start as the favorite to win, followed by Phil Mickelson (US), Lee Westwood (ENG), Rory McIlroy (IRE), Ernie Els (RSA) and Anthony Kim (US).
Records
Since the U.S. PGA became a stroke play tournament, legendary American golfer Jack Nicklaus holds the record for the most tournament wins with five. The next best is current world #1 Tiger Woods, who has won the U.S. PGA four times. And a string of players have each won it twice, including South African Gary Player, Zimbabwean Nick Price and Fiji's Vijay Singh.
The PGA Championship, also known as the U.S. PGA, is one of the four 'majors', i.e. one of the four most prestigious tournaments in the sport of golf, and takes place in mid-August each year. As such, it's the last major of the calendar year.
