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History of the PGA Championship

Since its inception in 1916, the PGA Championship has evolved into the one of the world's premier golf events. Each summer, one of the nation's most outstanding golf facilties hosts golf's best professionals as they compete for the Rodman Wanamaker Trophy. Winning this trophy has only been savored by 58 individuals. Department store magnate Rodman Wanamaker had an idea. He invited prominent golfers and other leading industry representatives including Winged Foot architect A.W. Tillinghast to a luncheon at the Taplow Club in New York City. On Jan. 16, 1916, a group of 35 individuals, including legendary Walter Hagen, convened, a meeting which resulted in the formation of the PGA of America. PGA Championship During the meeting, Wanamaker hinted at the need for the new organization for an annual all-professional tournament, and offered to put up $2,500 as part of the prize funds. The first PGA Championship was played at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, N.Y. and was won by British-born professional Jim Barnes. In the Roaring 20's, winners included Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen and Leo Diegel. Hagen went on to win 5 PGA Championships. In 1940, Byron Nelson won with a 1-up victory over Sam Snead. With the outbreak of World War II, the match-play field was reduced to 32 players. Snead called the '42 PGA Championship, his first of seven major triumphs, his biggest thrill in golf - he finished the match by holing a 60-foot chip shot for birdie on the 35th hole! Ben Hogan won in 1946; he qualified seven times for the match-play portion and won 81 percent of his matches (22 of 27). In 1957, the Championship was going to be changed to a combination of medal play and match play, but was not carried out. Television was a major factor that caused the PGA to decide to go with stroke play format. In the Sixties, South African Gary Player won in '62, Jack Nicklaus won first of five in '63, and Arnold Palmer set a record with rounds of 68-68-69-69 but never ended up with a Championship victory (like Sam Snead's US Open "jinx", golf historians consider Palmer as one of the best players never to have won a PGA Championship).  You can search for Golf Tickets on this page. Click on click on any Golf Tournament link such as Masters Tickets or US Open Golf Tickets to search for Golf Tickets for your tournament here. British Open Golf Tickets are available. We also purchase Ryder Cup Tickets.

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