CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

The East Course at Oak Hill Country Club was restored in 2020 by architect Andrew Green who sought to return the course to be more true to its original Donald Ross design. The course was originally built in 1921 after a land-swap with the University of Rochester gave Oak Hill Country Club a 355-acre plot of land in nearby Pittsford, NY. This replaced an 85-acre plot on the banks of the Genesee River where members played on their 9-hole layout. The increase in acreage allowed for two courses and a brand new clubhouse.

Oak Hill CC has hosted 4 previous PGA Championships, with the last occurring in 2023 and being won by Brooks Koepka.

Justin Thomas, the 2017 PGA Champion, erased a seven-shot deficit and won a 3-hole aggregate score playoff over Will Zalatoris on at Southern Hills Country Club to collect his second Wanamaker Trophy.

Thomas tied John Mahaffey for the biggest comeback in PGA Championship history. Mahaffey came back from the same deficit in 1978 to win at Oakmont.

"You know, it hasn't sunk in just yet. I think it did more in the moment. I was jittery and I almost kind of couldn't feel my limbs walking up to that tap-in," said Thomas. "Although trying to two-putt from 25 feet or whatever it was is usually pretty doable, but downhill when you know you've got a two-putter to win, I was very pleased to see it end up that close to the hole."

Designed by Alice and Pete Dye to host the 1991 Ryder Cup, The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort winds naturally through windswept dunes along the coast of South Carolina. The iconic course previously held a PGA Championship in 2012, when Rory McIlroy captured the Wanamaker Trophy by a record margin of eight strokes in South Carolina's first-ever major golf championship.

In 2021, Mickelson, at 6-under par for the Championship won the 103rd PGA Championship by two shots and in the proces became the oldest winner in Championship history, just one month shy of his 51st birthday. Julius Boros, who won the 1968 PGA Championship at 48 years old, saw his record supplanted by Mickelson – who turns 51 on June 16. 

“Although I believed it, until I actually did it, there was a lot of doubt, I'm sure," Mickelson said.

The PGA had been shifted from May to a familiar August date and did not include onsite spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the PGA led off the major-championship season for the first time since 1971 and at Harding Park, the second municipal golf facility to host a PGA Championship. 

Even without the usual large galleries, the 2020 PGA was one to remember, with California’s own Collin Morikawa emerging from an unprecedented seven-way tie for the lead on the back nine Sunday with a chip-in at the 14th hole and a heart-stopping tee shot at the drivable par-4 16th. The birdie at 14 gave Morikawa sole possession of the lead for the first time, and his unforgettable drive at No. 16 led to a 7-foot eagle putt that propelled him to his first major title. Morikawa, who played college golf and graduated just across the Bay Bridge at the University of California, won by two shots over Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey. The 23-year-old displayed poise beyond his years, enabling him to become the third-youngest player since World War II to win the PGA, behind Rory McIlroy and Jack Nicklaus, and the ninth to win his PGA debut. Johnson shot a scintillating 65 Saturday to take a one-shot lead over Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Champ, then Sunday saw the talent-rich leaderboard tighten. Twice there were seven players tied for the lead, with almost another dozen within three shots. That included Matthew Wolff, just 21, who roared into contention with three birdies and an eagle in a four-hole stretch. 

Morikawa finally pulled away with “The Drive” at 16, which immediately became part of golf lore – even without the crowd’s roar. Two more pars and Morikawa was lifting the Wanamaker Trophy.

Held in May for the first time since 1949, Brooks Koepka defended his title in the PGA of America’s signature Championship. Koepka became the first player to repeat as champion of the PGA and the U.S. Open — at the same time, no less — and the first player since Tiger Woods to win back-to-back PGAs since it shifted to stroke play in 1958. But it wasn’t easy. It rarely is in major championships, especially at one of the world’s toughest public courses.

Koepka held a seven-shot lead entering the final round, knowing no player had lost that big of a lead in one of golf’s four major championships. Koepka led by six with eight holes to play before Bethpage Black’s demanding back nine, the toughening wind conditions and world No. 1 Dustin Johnson’s charge cut the lead to one shot when Koepka walked off the 14th green. Koepka steadied his game and made clutch pars on the 15th and 16th holes, adding another up-and-down par at the 18th to win by two shots at 8-under 272. Koepka said he was never as excited as when he made the final putt to once again etch his name onto the Wanamaker Trophy.

Brooks Koepka posted a final-round 4-under 66 to win the historic 100th PGA Championship by two shots at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis. Koepka, 28, entered play Sunday with a 2-shot advantage, but that evaporated thanks to five Adam Scott birdies in a seven-hole stretch. Koepka answered with 10- and 7-foot birdie putts on Nos. 15 and 16 to reset the margin he began the day with and ultimately won by. Tiger Woods (266) closed strong with a 64 to finish second, while Scott’s 67 to put him third at 267.

For the third time in seven majors, or 14 short months, Koepka won a major championship, this time hoisting the Wanamaker Trophy for the first time. In doing so, he overcame recognizable roars as Woods climbed a Sunday afternoon leaderboard in a major.

Koepka’s two-stroke victory came 56 days after his second career major championship triumph at Shinnecock Hills, and by doing so, he became only the fifth player to win the PGA Championship and U.S. Open in the same year, joining Woods (2000), Jack Nicklaus (1975), Ben Hogan (1948) and Gene Sarazen (1922).

“When I look at what I’ve done in the past two months, it’s incredible. Looking where I was, sitting on my couch watching the Masters, and to think I could do this, I would have laughed and told you there was no way, no chance,” said Koepka, who essentially missed the season’s first four months with a wrist injury.”

At 264, Koepka set the lowest 72-hole score in a PGA Championship and matched Henrik Stenson’s mark (2016 Open Championship) for lowest four-round score in a major championship.

Some storylines are too good to be true. But for Justin Thomas, the son and grandson of PGA Professionals, winning the PGA Championship was a dream come true.

Thomas fired a closing three-under-par, 68 to win the 99th PGA Championship by two shots at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte. Francesco Molinari, Louis Oosthuizen and Patrick Reed finished in a tie for second at 6-under, 278. Third-round leader, Kevin Kisner, shot 74 on Sunday and finished in a tie for seventh.

Thomas, 24, entered play Sunday two shots back and in a tie for fourth place, but three birdies on his inward 9 eventually secured the first major championship of his career.

“For me, the PGA (Championship) definitely had a special place in my heart, and maybe (it provided) a special drive. (Winning the PGA) was really cool,” said Thomas. “For this to be my first (major championship victory) and have my Dad (PGA Master Professional, Mike Thomas) here, and I know grandpa (retired PGA Life Member, Paul Thomas) was watching at home ... was pretty cool. It’s just a great win for the family.”

In the longest final day at the PGA Championship in 64 years, Jimmy Walker produced three big birdies on the back nine at Baltusrol and held his nerve Sunday against the No. 1 player in the world to the very end. He closed with a bogey-free 3-under 67 for a one-shot victory over defending champion Jason Day.

Walker built a three-shot lead with an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-5 17th, only to watch Day blast a 3-wood onto the green at the par-5 18th to 15 feet for an eagle, closing the margin to one shot. Needing only a par to win, Walker went for the green and left it in deep rough to the right and well below the green. He safely pitched to 35 feet, and the putt settled 3 feet beyond the hole.

He shot 68-67 on Sunday to finish at 14-under 266, one shot from David Toms’ record score in the 2001 PGAChampionship. Walker played the final 28 holes without a bogey.

It was a long road to his first major for the 37-year-old American, and it ended with a marathon. More amazing than Walker playing bogey-free for his first major was that the PGA Championship even finished. Any delay would have meant a Monday finish. Instead, it was the first time since Jim Turnesa won the 1952 PGA Championship in a 36-hole match that the winner played so many holes on the final day.

Jason Day entered Sunday’s final round leading Jordan Spieth, who was attempting to cap a historical summer by winning all three U.S.-based major championships, by three strokes. Day, 27, answered both obstacles -- his own and Spieth’s pursuit – by hatching a little history of his own. Day distanced himself from Spieth with a 5-under-par 67 to win his first major comfortably by three strokes. He was never seriously threatened and became the fifth Australian to win the PGA Championship, the first since Steve Elkington in 1995. With his friend, mentor, coach and caddie, Colin Swatton, on his bag, Day became the first player in major championship history to finish as low as 20-under-par.

Rory McIlroy emerged from a four-man race to outlast Phil Mickelson and the darkness at Valhalla Golf Club, to capture his second straight major championship. McIlroy’s closing 3-under 68 made him the fifth player to win four majors at age 25 or younger. The others – Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones and “Young” Tom Morris.

Trailing by three shots heading to the back nine, McIlroy rallied to take the lead and then birdied No. 17 for a two-shot advantage. Because of a two-hour rain delay, and with darkness falling quickly, it wasn’t certain that McIlroy would be able to finish. McIlroy got the invitation from Rickie Fowler at the No. 18 tee to hit his tee shot before Fowler and his playing partner, Mickelson, had reached their drives. Both were only two shots behind. McIlroy then came within a yard of driving into a hazard right of the fairway before getting permission from a PGA of America Rules Official to hit his second shot. Trying to force a tie, Fowler missed a 50-foot eagle attempt before Mickelson’s eagle chip came within inches of the hole. McIlroy’s second found a bunker, and he two-putted from 35 feet for a one-shot victory. Mickelson (66) finished runner- up for the ninth time in a major.

Jason Dufner officially closed any debate that he had not recovered from a back-nine PGA Championship collapse in 2011, by turning in a technician- like performance at Oak Hill Country Club’s East Course to win the 95th PGA Championship and his first major title. Dufner’s closing 2-under-par 68 was good for a 10-under-par 270 total and a two-stroke victory over Jim Furyk, who could not close the gap, nor could any other challengers, in the final round.

The final weekend stretch was as much proof of how far Dufner has come as perhaps any other segment of the week. He struggled to a 71 on Saturday, and trailed Furyk by one stroke to open Sunday’s finale. He made a knee- knocking three-foot par putt on No. 1, saved par on 2, then made back-to-back birdies on Nos. 4 and 5 to tie and go ahead for good. He reached 12-under par through 16 holes, before closing with a pair of bogeys. At age 36, playing in all four majors for just the second time, Dufner made the most of his opportunities, producing a near-flawless, second-round 7-under-par 63, which was the 26th round of 63 in a major.

Furyk finished runner-up after an even-par 70. Sweden’s duo of Henrik Stenson and Jonas Blixt, attempting to make history themselves by giving their homeland its first male major champion, finished third and fourth, respectively, with each posting 70s.

Dufner took the 36-hole lead, and ultimately became the sixth player in history to win a major after posting a 63.

Rory McIlroy had all the tools at his command in the 94th PGA Championship, registering a performance that will rank among legends who march generations ahead. McIlroy validated his record- setting 2011 U.S. Open Championship by blowing away the field at The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island.

McIlroy closed in the style befitting golf’s royalty by knocking home a birdie putt from 25 feet on the 18th hole for a 6-under-par 66, and a 13-under-par 275 total. His eight-stroke victory broke the PGA Championship record for victory margin that Jack Nicklaus set in 1980. The 23-year-old from Northern Ireland, who jumped back to No. 1 in the world rankings, is the first from his homeland to win a PGA Championship and a U.S. Open. McIlroy also became the youngest player since Seve Ballesteros to win two majors.

McIlroy separated himself from the field, returning to the course Sunday morning to complete nine holes of a rain-delayed third round, offsetting a bogey at 13 with birdies at 15 and 16. His third-round 67 gave him a three-stroke lead. From that point, he went bogey free over his final 23 holes, and no one came closer than two strokes.

Trailing by five strokes with just three holes to play, Keegan Bradley rallied over a crucible quartet of holes at Atlanta Athletic Club’s Highlands Course to become the first major champion using a belly putter, and just the third player in nearly a century to win a major championship in his first attempt. Bradley made back-to-back birdies at the 16th and 17th holes to force a three-hole aggregate-hole playoff with Jason Dufner. Bradley opened the playoff on the 16th hole by hitting his approach to four feet, after Dunfer’s approach nearly hit the flag- stick and rolled six feet past.

When Bradley made his birdie putt, it was his first outright lead of the day. He added a two-putt par at 17 and then reached the 471-yard 18th hole in regulation. His ball landed just inside of Dufner’s. Though Dufner made his final putt, Bradley followed and had a short tap-in to close and become only the third player in nearly a century to win a major championship in his first try. He joined Francis Ouimet (1913 U.S. Open) and Ben Curtis (2003 Open Championship) in that exclusive club.

Bradley also is one of six PGA Champions (following Jack Burke Jr., Dave Marr, Raymond Floyd, Davis Love III and Rich Beem), who is the son of a PGA Professional. Bradley closed regulation play with a 2-under-par 68 and matched Dufner at 8-under-par 272. Dufner posted a 69.

Germany's Martin Kaymer emerged victorious from a three-hole playoff with Bubba Watson, posting a winning even-par total in overtime drama to become his country's first PGA Champion and second ever towin one of golf’s four majors.

The dramatics, however, were more compelling prior to the playoff when Dustin Johnson –clinging to a one-stroke lead standing on the 18th tee – saw his chances for glory erased due to a rule violation in a tiny sand bunker on the right-hand side of the fairway. Johnson had placed his 4-iron behind the ball, unaware that it was part of a bunker. He went on to pitch to seven feet of the hole, just missing a par putt that was to have been a Championship-winning stroke. However, he incurred a two-stroke penalty for grounding his club in a bunker – outside the ropes and missed the playoff.

Kaymer accomplished his feat after tying for eighth in the U.S.Open and sharing seventh at the Open Championship. Kaymer began the day four strokes behind third-round leader Nick Watney and finished regulation tied with Watson at 11-under par 277. Watson birdied the first playoff hole and Kaymer the second. Then Watson went for the green out of thick rough from 206 yards at the 18th, the third playoff hole, and put his ball into Seven Mile Creek, 40 yards short of the green. After seeing what happened to Watson, Kaymer chipped back to the fairway before putting a 7-iron third shot 15 feet from the hole. Watson took a penalty stroke, on his way to a double bogey. Kaymer two-putted for a bogey and victory.