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The last major in golf has moved to second place, but this upcoming one at Southern Hills is the first in quite some time. Understand?
The PGA Championship, which has been held since 1916, will take place this weekend at the Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The last major event hosted by Southern Hills was in 2007, when Tiger Woods emerged as the winner.
The course has been revamped to a length of 7,556 yards and will be played as a par 70. It includes two par-5 holes that are both over 600 yards. The course record of 63 is held by Woods and Ray Floyd. If ever asked a golf trivia question, just go with Tiger Woods as the answer.
Thanks to Illinois sports betting, you can place bets on all the PGA Championship action.
Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler are currently tied as favorites at +1200 to win the PGA championship according to BetMGM. Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy follow closely behind at +1600 each. Tiger Woods is listed at +6600.
Unfortunately, the defending champ, Phil Mickelson, will not be able to compete this year due to his involvement in a controversy surrounding a Saudi Arabia-backed tour.
Although the PGA Championship may not carry the same weight as The Masters or The Open, it has produced numerous memorable moments throughout its history. Here are the top five.
1951: Big Samuel Jackson Snead
The PGA Championship was often considered the lesser-known fourth major on the golf calendar, typically played towards the end of the year. However, the tour recently moved it to May to avoid conflicting with their FedEx playoffs, and it continued to rotate through the same courses.
The tournament began in 1916 as a match-play-style competition, with players going head-to-head. This format remained in place until 1958.
The event held in 1951 was a 64-man competition at Oakmont in Pennsylvania, lasting six days. It was a grueling amount of golf for the players. Snead, who had previously won the title in 1949, dominated the tournament and defeated Walter Burkemo 7 and 6 in the finals. Burkemo, a club professional from Michigan, was participating in his first PGA Tour event.
What is remarkable is the quantity and caliber of golf Snead displayed. He completed 166 holes of match play scoring 22-under. The upcoming tournament will consist of 72 holes.
Snead won a respectable $3,500 for his golfing efforts, but the format and prize money have certainly evolved since then.
1993: The zinger
Paul Azinger is a fan favorite on the PGA Tour, with his only major title coming at the 1993 PGA Championship after a playoff victory against the legendary Greg Norman.
Azinger won in sudden death on the second hole after Norman’s putt rimmed out. Later in the year, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma but successfully fought it off and made a comeback on the PGA Tour. He went on to captain the victorious United States Ryder Cup team in 2008 and is now a well-liked announcer.
1989: Bear down for Payne Stewart
Payne Stewart was known for his distinctive style on the PGA Tour, with his signature ivy caps and short knickerbocker pants. He also had a unique deal where he would wear the colors of the local NFL team at events.
Stewart, dressed in Bears orange and blue, was six strokes behind the leader at Kemper Lakes in Illinois as the final round began. However, he made an impressive comeback with a back-nine score of 31, surpassing Mike “Radar” Reid and securing his first major championship title.
Stewart’s untimely death occurred in a 1999 plane crash due to the cabin’s failure to pressurize. Despite his passing, his elegance and charm remained etched in the memories of those who knew him.
1991: The go big era
Even after three decades, the story of John Daly’s last-minute appearance as the ninth alternate at the PGA Championship still feels like a tall tale. Daly had to embark on a grueling overnight drive from Memphis to Crooked Stick in Indiana just to make it in time for the tournament. The final spot opened up when Nick Price had to withdraw at the last minute to be present for the birth of his first child.
Daly, who had never played the course before, unleashed his swing without hesitation. He was among the pioneers of golf’s big driver generation, revolutionizing the game with his remarkable ability to hit the ball long and straight.
The up-and-coming golfer from Arkansas surged ahead on Friday morning and maintained his position throughout the tournament. This win marked his first victory on the tour. Daly is now dominating the Senior PGA Tour.
1986: All the Tway
It could possibly go down as one of the best golf shots ever witnessed. Bob Tway found himself in a challenging situation in a bunker on the 18th hole, tied with Greg Norman. Wearing a green shirt and visor, Tway made a skillful and precise chop to secure his victory.
Tway is overjoyed as the ball, moving at a fast pace, hits the flag stick perfectly and lands in the hole.
However, Norman’s opportunity for a tie slipped away as his chip from the fringe fell short. It was yet another devastating defeat for Norman, while Tway celebrated his first major title.
