The PGA Championship has always had a personality all its own—a major that isn't afraid to let its hair down, sometimes quite literally. While the Masters, U.S. Open, and Open Championship each carry their own weighty traditions, the PGA brings something refreshingly different to the table: a sense of humor and a willingness to embrace the unexpected.
Sure, golf fans love to joke that the PGA is the "Ringo" of the men's majors, but this championship has produced some of the sport's most unforgettable moments. Think back to Phil Mickelson becoming the oldest major champion in history at age 50 in 2021, or Justin Thomas storming back from seven shots down to win in 2022. Remember Brooks Koepka making history as the first LIV Golf player to win a major at Oak Hill in 2023? And who could forget Scottie Scheffler's wild 2024—from a bizarre arrest at Valhalla to a five-shot victory at Quail Hollow, all after learning his driver was deemed non-conforming.
These moments give the PGA Championship a unique charm that the other majors might actually envy. It's a tournament that doesn't take itself too seriously, and that's exactly why fans love it.
The story of the very first PGA Championship in 1916 perfectly captures this spirit. It wasn't dreamed up by golf's elite, but by a department-store magnate named Rodman Wanamaker. And the prize he secured for the winner? A massive 27-pound trophy that seems almost impossible to misplace—unless you're Walter Hagen, who famously managed to do just that. The inaugural champion was an Englishman named Jim Barnes, proving that from the very beginning, the PGA Championship has been full of surprises.
Four years later, Jock Hutchinson got his revenge after losing in the 1916 final, winning the championship at Flossmoor Country Club outside Chicago. It was a fitting start for a tournament that has always delivered drama, heart, and just a little bit of chaos.
Whether you're watching from the couch or gearing up for your next round in PGA-inspired gear, one thing is clear: this major knows how to keep things interesting.