First PGA Championship: When and Where Was It, and Who Won?

Question: First PGA Championship: When and Where Was It, and Who Won?

Answer: The first PGA Championship was played Oct. 9-14, 1916 - just 10 months after the "exploratory meeting" of pro golfers, held at businessman Rodman Wanamaker's request, that led to the creation of the PGA of America.

The site was Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, N.Y. Bronxville is a suburb of New York City, just east of Yonkers. The golf club still exists, not far from the more famous Wykagyl and Winged Foot clubs.

The U.S. PGA Championship was modeled after Great Britain's PGA Championship, which at that time was match play, so the newly created American PGA Championship also used a match play format.

Following several stroke-play qualifiers around the country, a field of 32 golfers advanced to the 1916 PGA Championship, and the first champion was Jim Barnes. Barnes defeated Jock Hutchison in the 36-hole championship match by a score of 1-up.

See also:
Who won the first Masters?
Who won the first U.S. Open?
Who won the first British Open?

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