The world’s best golfers are gathering in Wisconsin, USA this week for the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. As they prepare to battle it out for the title, and vital Ryder Cup points, let us crunch some numbers...
92...
This year marks the 92nd edition of the PGA Championship. The first event was held in 1916 at the Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, N.Y, and was the brainchild of department store owner Rodman Wanamaker. The championship has since been held at 71 different courses around America, and the players still play for the Wanamaker trophy to this day.
2,500...
Total prize fund in US$ for the inaugural PGA Championship in 1916, won by Jim Barnes – the only Englishman ever to win the championship. When YE Yang got the better of Woods to win last year’s tournament and become the first ever Asian winner of the US PGA, he picked a cheque for a cool US$1.35m.
1958...
The year that the championship switched from a match play format to stroke play. Lionel Herbert became the last ever winner of the old format when he defeated Dow Finsterwald 3-and-1 in 1957. Finsterwald would get his revenge a year later however as his final-round 67 earned him the title in front of a televised audience of millions, and ushered in a new era for the tournament.
48...
Julius Boros was 48 years and 142 days old when he won the 1968 championship at the Pecan Valley Country Club in San Antonio, Texas and remains the oldest winner to date. Boros held off a late charge from Arnold Palmer – who never won the PGA – and the Texas heat to secure victory. The youngest ever winner was Gene Sarazen who was just 20 when he won in 1922. He would also become the oldest man to compete in the event when he took part in the 1972 tournament at the grand old age of 70.
-18...
The lowest score (in relation to par) carded in the tournament’s history, by Tiger Woods in 2000 and 2006, and Bob May in 2000. Woods would win a three-hole aggregate play-off against May in 2000 to become the first man to win back-to-back PGA titles since Denny Shute in 1937. The lowest overall score was shot by David Toms (265) as he won the 2001 event.
63...
The number of individual winners of the Wanamaker Trophy. Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen have the most titles to their name with five apiece. Woods is one further back on four but was unable to claim his fifth last year despite leading through 54 holes. 63 also represents the lowest 18-hole score ever recorded at the US PGA – 10 players have done so, including, Gary Player, Vijay Singh, José María Olazábal and most recently Woods.
For more ahead of the PGA Championship, head to the official website. For more ball sports action, click here.
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