Welcome to CaddyBytes' coverage of the PGA Championship, professional golf's most prestigious championship and the season's second major. Founded in 1916, the PGA Championship features the strongest field in golf, with 156 of the world's best professionals competing for the Wanamaker Trophy - one of the most coveted prizes in the sport.
Known as "Glory's Last Shot" as the final major of the season (though now played in May), the PGA Championship rotates among America's finest championship courses, testing players with demanding layouts that reward both power and precision. With the largest field of any major and no amateur participants, the tournament represents the purest test of professional golf, where only the most complete players can claim victory.
With a history spanning over a century, the PGA Championship has crowned legendary champions including Walter Hagen (5 wins), Jack Nicklaus (5 wins), Tiger Woods (4 wins), and modern greats like Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, and Rory McIlroy. The tournament is renowned for its brutal course setups, dramatic Sunday finishes, and the iconic presentation of the massive Wanamaker Trophy to the champion.
PGA Championship
2026 PGA Championship
Tournament Details
Date: May 14-17, 2026
Location: To be announced
Field: 156 Professionals
Professional golf's premier championship.
Tournament DetailsPGA Championship History (1916 - Present)
2026 PGA Championship
108th Edition
Venue to be announced
Field of 156 professional golfers
$17+ million purse
Winner receives Wanamaker Trophy
2025 PGA Championship
Recent Champion
Venue to be announced
Second major of the season
Strongest field in golf
Wanamaker Trophy presentation
2020s PGA Championship
Modern Champions
Various Championship Courses
Brooks Koepka won in 2018, 2019
Phil Mickelson champion in 2021
Justin Thomas won in 2022
2010s PGA Championship
Historic Victories
Various Championship Courses
Rory McIlroy won in 2012, 2014
Jason Day champion in 2015
Jimmy Walker won in 2016
2000s PGA Championship
Tiger Woods Dominance
Various Championship Courses
Tiger Woods won in 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007
Phil Mickelson won in 2005
David Toms champion in 2001
Tournament Format
Professional Major
156 Professional Golfers
72-hole stroke play format
Top 70 and ties advance
No amateur participants
Championship Venues
Rotating Courses
America's Finest Courses
Rotates among top courses
Typically par-70 or par-71
Emphasis on championship test
Championship Traditions
Glory's Last Shot
Wanamaker Trophy
Wanamaker Trophy presentation
Strongest field in golf
PGA Professionals qualify
Historic Champions
Golf's Greatest Professionals
Wanamaker Trophy Winners
Walter Hagen: 5 victories
Jack Nicklaus: 5 victories
Tiger Woods: 4 victories
The PGA Championship Legacy
The PGA Championship has established an unparalleled legacy as professional golf's most prestigious championship since its inception in 1916. Created by department store magnate Rodman Wanamaker, the tournament was designed to elevate professional golf and provide a championship that would rival the amateur-focused U.S. Open and British Open. This vision created "Glory's Last Shot," a phrase that perfectly captures the tournament's position as the final major championship of the season and the ultimate test of professional golf excellence.
The tournament's significance extends far beyond its status as a major championship. The PGA Championship represents the purest form of professional competition, featuring the strongest field in golf with 156 of the world's best professionals and no amateur participants. This creates a uniquely competitive environment where every player has earned their place through professional accomplishment, resulting in what many consider the most difficult major championship to win. The Wanamaker Trophy, awarded to the champion, symbolizes not just victory but membership in an elite fraternity of golf's greatest professionals.
The PGA Championship's rotating venue philosophy is integral to its identity and challenge. Unlike other majors played at fixed locations, the PGA Championship tests players on America's finest and most diverse championship courses, from classic designs to modern masterpieces. This rotation demands adaptability and complete games, as players must conquer different grasses, climates, and architectural challenges each year. The tournament's reputation for the most difficult course setups tests every aspect of a player's game, with narrow fairways, thick rough, fast greens, and strategic demands that separate champions from contenders.
As the PGA Championship continues into its second century, it maintains its commitment to honoring golf's rich professional heritage while embracing innovation. While preserving traditions like the Wanamaker Trophy presentation and the inclusion of PGA club professionals through qualifying, the tournament has modernized with May dates, enhanced fan experiences, and global television coverage. This balance between tradition and progress ensures that the PGA Championship remains not just one of golf's premier events, but the definitive championship of professional golf - a test that continues to identify and crown the world's most complete professional golfers.