Golf is a weird, punishing game. One day you’re flushing every iron, and the next, you’re hacking out of fescue wondering why you even own a set of clubs. The PGA Championship, often called "Glory’s Last Shot" back in the day, is the ultimate proof of this volatility. When you look at the us pga golf winners list, it’s not just a collection of names. It’s a record of guys who managed to hold their nerve while everyone else was losing theirs.
Honestly, the list is kind of a mix of "all-time greats" and "wait, who was that?" That’s the beauty of it. You’ve got legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods sitting right next to guys who caught lightning in a bottle for four days and never really did it again. It makes the history of the Wanamaker Trophy feel a lot more human.
The Modern Era and the Scottie Scheffler Show
If you’ve been watching lately, it feels like we’re living in a very specific era of dominance. Looking at the most recent entries on the us pga golf winners list, 2025 was a massive statement. Scottie Scheffler showed up at Quail Hollow Club and basically did what Scottie does. He shot a 273 (-11) to claim his first Wanamaker.
It wasn't exactly a walk in the park, though. Jon Rahm was breathing down his neck after a late charge, but Scheffler has this mental gear that’s just... different. He’s the first guy since 2024 winner Xander Schauffele to really make it look like the course was playing easier than it actually was. Xander, by the way, holds the record for the lowest 72-hole score in major history with that ridiculous 263 (-21) at Valhalla.
The 2020s have been a bit of a rollercoaster for the winners circle:
- 2025: Scottie Scheffler (-11) at Quail Hollow
- 2024: Xander Schauffele (-21) at Valhalla
- 2023: Brooks Koepka (-9) at Oak Hill
- 2022: Justin Thomas (-5) at Southern Hills (won in a playoff)
- 2021: Phil Mickelson (-6) at Kiawah Island
That 2021 win by Phil? That was historic. He was 50 years old. Fifty! Most guys are looking at the Champions Tour and wondering which brand of orthotics to buy, and Phil is out there outlasting the best young players in the world. It made him the oldest major winner ever, a record that probably won't be touched for a long time.
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Why the US PGA Golf Winners List is Defined by the "Big Three"
You can't talk about this tournament without mentioning the three guys who basically owned it. Walter Hagen, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. If you combine their wins, they’ve taken home 14 Wanamaker trophies.
The Haig and the Golden Bear
Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus are currently tied for the most wins ever. They both have five. But they did it in completely different ways. Hagen won his during the match play era (1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927). Think about that—he won four in a row. That is a level of consistency in head-to-head golf that we just don't see anymore.
Then you have Jack. The Golden Bear. He won his in 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, and 1980. He won across three different decades. He also finished as the runner-up four times. If a couple of putts had dropped differently in '64 or '83, he could easily have seven or eight of these things sitting on his mantle.
Tiger’s Peak
Then there’s Tiger. He’s got four (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007). His win in 2000 at Valhalla is still the stuff of legend. That playoff against Bob May? It’s probably the best duel in the history of the event. Tiger was at the absolute height of his powers, and Bob May just wouldn't go away. It’s one of the few times on the us pga golf winners list where the runner-up's performance is remembered almost as much as the winner's.
The Match Play Era vs. Stroke Play
A lot of people forget that until 1958, this wasn't a stroke-play tournament. It was a bracket. You played your opponent, not the course. It was grueling. You could play 36 holes a day for several days straight.
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- Jim Barnes won the first-ever PGA Championship in 1916.
- Gene Sarazen became the youngest winner ever in 1922 at just 20 years old.
- Ben Hogan bagged two of them in the late 40s before the format change.
When the switch happened in 1958, Dow Finsterwald became the first winner of the stroke-play era. He shot a -4 at Llanerch Country Club. Since then, the tournament has evolved into the "Heavyweight" major. It’s known for long, difficult courses that require you to hit the ball a mile and putt like a wizard.
Non-American Dominance
While it's the "US" PGA, the list of winners is pretty international.
- Gary Player (South Africa) won twice, in '62 and '72.
- Nick Price (Zimbabwe) dominated the early 90s with wins in '92 and '94.
- Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) has two, including that rain-soaked finish at Valhalla in 2014.
- Jason Day (Australia) set a then-record score of -20 in 2015 at Whistling Straits.
It's actually gotten much harder for Americans to sweep the board lately. The talent pool is just too deep.
Notable Underdogs and One-Hit Wonders
Every once in a while, the us pga golf winners list throws a curveball. You get a name that leaves casual fans scratching their heads.
Rich Beem in 2002 is a classic example. He held off a charging Tiger Woods at Hazeltine. Tiger finished birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie, and Beem still didn't blink. Then you have Shaun Micheel in 2003 at Oak Hill. He hit one of the greatest 7-irons in history on the 72nd hole to tap-in range. He never won another PGA Tour event. Not one. But he’s a PGA Champion forever.
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John Daly’s 1991 win at Crooked Stick is perhaps the most famous "out of nowhere" victory. He was the ninth alternate. He didn't even get a practice round. He just drove through the night, tipped the caddy, and started bombing drives past everyone else. It changed the game of golf overnight.
What You Should Take Away from the History
If you're looking at this list to understand how to win a major, the data is pretty clear. You need to be a "mutterer." Not literally, but you need that internal dialogue that keeps you calm when the wheels are falling off.
Look at Brooks Koepka. He’s won three of these (2018, 2019, 2023). He thrives on the "tough" setups. When the winning score is -5 or -8, Brooks is usually in the mix. He wants it to be hard.
Actionable Insights from the PGA Winners Circle:
- Embrace the grind: The PGA Championship is often played in high heat and humidity (though the move to May has helped). Mental endurance is just as important as a 300-yard carry.
- Peak at the right time: Most multiple winners on this list didn't just play well; they had a specific 2-3 year window where they were untouchable.
- Short game saves lives: While the PGA is a "big hitter" course, guys like David Toms (2001) won by laying up on a par-4 and trusting their wedge game.
The us pga golf winners list is a living document. Every May, we see if a new name will join the ranks of Sarazen and Hogan, or if the current crop of stars like Scheffler and Schauffele will start climbing toward Nicklaus's record of five. It’s the most unpredictable major for a reason.
To truly appreciate the history, keep an eye on the host venues. The PGA of America loves returning to places like Southern Hills, Oak Hill, and Valhalla. These courses have "memory," and the players who understand their nuances—like Justin Thomas or Tiger Woods—often find themselves back at the top of the leaderboard years later. For anyone following the game, the next step is simple: watch how the 2026 field handles the pressure, because as history shows, the Wanamaker Trophy usually goes to the person who refuses to beat themselves.