Imagine, you are a professional golfer. It's Sunday at the PGA Championship, you have the lead, and you're on the 18th hole. You take your final putt. You watch it as it slowly drifts toward the hole, taking the slight curve it needs. Then, you see it fall. You feel the breath reenter your lungs as you did not even realize you stopped breathing. You made it, you're the champion! Years of dedication and hard work have led you to this moment. You now get to lift that huge trophy, and write your name into PGA history.
What a feeling right? Well, soon, 156 golfers from around the world will be competing for a chance to be the next PGA Championship winner.
If you happen to be wondering, PGA stands for "Professional Golfers' Association," and the PGA Tour is the major professional golf organization in America. The PGA Tour is responsible for organizing series of golf tournaments for professionals to compete in for a living. Meanwhile, the PGA Championship is one of golf's four major tournaments.
If you remember back to my Masters post, professional golf recognizes these four major championships: The Masters, The British Open, The US open, and The PGA Championship.
In this post, I will discuss the wh-questions surrounding the PGA Championship.
Time to tee-off.
When: In its history, the PGA Championship has been held in a variety of months, but, since 2019, the PGA Championship occurs every May, the weekend before Memorial Day. Prior to 2019, the PGA Championship was most commonly held in mid-August making it the final major championship of the year...now, it is the second major championship of the year (followed by the first: The Masters in April). This year, the PGA Championship will be May 15-21.
Monday-Wednesday are practice rounds.
Thursday and Friday are the 1st and 2nd rounds, after Friday a cut is made from 156 to 70 players.The 70 players with the lowest scores/ties will advance to weekend play.
Saturday and Sunday are the final rounds with a winner announced on Sunday.
Where: This year the PGA Championship will be held at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, NY. However, the PGA Championship is not held at one traditional location like the Masters. Instead, it is held at rotating venues. Venues include: The Ocean Course (Kiawah Island, SC), Oakland Hills Country Club (Bloomfield Township, MI), and Whistling Straits (Kohler, WI). (source)
Fun Fact: The course that has held the most PGA Championships is Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, OK (5).
What: What will the winner win? The winner of the PGA Championship will receive:
18% of the $15 million dollar purse ($2.7 million...not bad)
Wanamaker Trophy (actually it is a replica to keep...but the trophy is also pictured below to the left of the photo)
Ability to compete at the PGA Championship for life
Ability to play in the other Majors for the next five years
Guaranteed PGA membership for the next five years (source)
Who: The PGA Championship and the PGA itself is said to have originated as an idea from Rodman Wanamaker (does his last name look familiar?), who was a merchandising magnate. He met with 35 other golf enthusiasts at the Taplow Club in New York City, and he shared a vision for the sport. He believed the growing sport of golf needed an official organization to better promote it. After several meetings, the PGA was officially born on April 10, 1916. Additionally, it was purposed that the organization hold an annual tournament in that Wanamaker himself would donate the trophy and prize fund. At the first ever PGA Championship in October 1916, the winner took home $2,580--the equivalent of $74,343 today. (source)
How: How do players qualify for the PGA Championship (including but not limited to)?
Win a previous PGA Championship, you're guaranteed to always return
Win another Major Championship, you're guaranteed to return for the next five years
Win the Player's Championship, you're guaranteed to return for the next three years
The top 15 players/ties from the previous PGA championship may return the next year
Be top 70 in the world
The top 20 players from the PGA Professional Championship are invited to play (A tournament dedicated to PGA members who are not "professional golfers" as we would know it. These people are golfers but work on the business or management side of golf. They are also often teachers, trainers, and/or advisors for golf. Often they're called "golf pros.")
Why: Although the PGA Championship is sometimes considered the "least" of the four Majors, there are many people who consider it the best. Here is why some believe the PGA Championship is the best of the four Majors. First, because the PGA Championship switches locations, it allows for more excitement. Players don't play on the same course, to expect the same layout--which often becomes "conquerable." They are now faced with new challenges from the course set-ups, weather conditions, time zones, and more. This new challenge adds an extra layer to the sport. Additionally, it allows for more fans across the nation an opportunity to attend the event if it is close to them for one year, that maybe they would not otherwise be able to. Second, many believe the PGA Championship has a better field of players to compete. Most of the top 100 players in the world are qualified to play, meanwhile tournaments like the Masters are invite-only for the top 50-60 players. Also, the PGA Championship offers the chance for 20 "golf pros" to compete in the tournament. Those from home can often find themselves cheering for the "average Joe," if you will (although to note, golf pros are dang good at golf too). By adding the golf pros, the PGA Championship adds another level of depth and uniqueness. Third, people are in love with the trophy. It's old, it's beautiful, and it's HUGE! Who doesn't love a big, ostentatious trophy to take a picture with? No other Major trophy really compares in size and extravagance to the Wanamaker.
Pictures Courtesy of Twitter @Jasonmø3 and @CassieR8ø986725
On Sunday, May 21, one player out of 156 will be crowned this year's PGA Championship winner. It will be a weekend filled with emotion and fight for all participants. Every one of them will be looking for a chance to become part of an elite group of champions, who will be next? Who will raise the Wanamaker Trophy? Only time will tell.
The PGA Championship can be complicated, but remember to KISS (Keep It Simple, Sister).
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."-Joshua 1:9
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