Photo: Montana Pritchard/PGA of America.
SEVENTY-FIVE years ago Jim Ferrier got the ball rolling for Australia at the US PGA Championship when he defeated American Chick Harbert 2&1in the final played at Plum Hollow Golf Club in Michigan.
For the first 41 years (1916-1957) the tournament was a matchplay contest. Since Ferrier’s famous victory in 1947, four other Aussies have lifted the Wanamaker Trophy – David Graham, Wayne Grady, Steve Elkington and Jason Day.
Can Day become a dual US PGA Championship winner or will another of the Aussie contingent, led by Cameron Smith, break through?
This year’s championship will be played at Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa, Oklahoma from May 19-22.
US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS
Aussie winners
Jim Ferrier 1947 – Plum Hollow CC
David Graham 1979 – Oakland Hills
Wayne Grady 1990 – Shoal Creek
Steve Elkington 1995 – Riviera CC
Jason Day 2015 – Whistling Straits
Aussie runners-up
Jim Ferrier – 1960
Bruce Crampton – 1973-’75
Greg Norman – 1986-’93
Steve Elkington – 2005
Jason Day – 2016
Most wins
Walter Hagen – (5) 1921-’24-’25-’26-’27
Jack Nicklaus – (5) 1963-’71-’73-’75-’80
Tiger Woods – (4) 1999-2000-’06-’07
Gene Sarazen – (3) 1922-’23-’33
Sam Snead – (3) 1943-’49-’51
Two-time champions
16 players have won two titles – Jim Barnes (1916-’19), Leo Diegel (1928-’29), Denny Shute (1936-’37), Paul Runyan (1934-’38), Byron Nelson (1940-’45), Ben Hogan (1946-’48), Gary Player (1962-’72), Dave Stockton (1970-’76), Lee Trevino (1974-’84), Larry Nelson (1981-’87), Nick Price (1992-’94), Vijay Singh (1998-2004), Phil Mickelson (2005-’21), Rory McIlroy (2012-’14) and Brooks Koepka (2018-’19).
Players who defended their title
Walter Hagan – 1924-’25-’26-’27
Tiger Woods – 1999-2000-’06-’07
Gene Sarazen – 1922-’23
Leo Diegel – 1928-’29
Denny Shute – 1936-’37
Brooks Koepka – 2018-’19
Biggest stretch between wins
Phil Mickelson – 16 years – 2005-2021
Ray Floyd – 13 years – 1969-’82
Gary Player – 10 years – 1962-’72
Lee Trevino – 10 years – 1974-’84
Biggest stretch between first win and last win
Jack Nicklaus – 17 years – 1963 – 1980
Phil Mickelson – 16 years – 2005 – 2021
Gene Sarazen – 11 years – 1922 – 1933
Gary Player – 10 years – 1962 – 1972
Lee Trevino – 10 years – 1974 – 1884
Champions by nationality
Nationality – Wins – Winners
United States – 85 – 59
Australia – 5 – 5
South Africa – 2 – 1
Zimbabwe – 2 – 1
England – 2 – 1
Fiji – 2 – 1
Northern Ireland – 2 – 1
Rep of Ireland – 1 – 1
South Korea – 1 – 1
Germany – 1 – 1
Biggest winning matchplay margin (1916-1957)
1938 – Paul Runyan defeated Sam Snead 8&7
1948 – Ben Hogan defeated Mike turnesa 7&6
1951 – Sam Snead defeated Walter Burkemo 7&6
1919 – Jim Barnes defeated Fred McLeod 6&5
1925 – Walter Hagen defeated Bill Mehlhorn 6&5
1928 – Leo Digel defeated Al Espinosa 6&5
Biggest winning stroke play margin
In 1994, Nick Price (269) finished six shots ahead of runner-up Corey Pavin (275).
Lowest winning totals
2015 – Jason Day – 268 – 20-under par
2000 – Tiger Woods – 270 – 18-under par
2006 – Tiger Woods – 270 – 18-under par
1995 – Steve Elkington – 267 – 17-under par
Over-par winners
1960 – Jay Herbert – 281 – one-over par
1968 – Julius Boros – 281 – one-over par
1972 – Gary Player – 281 – one-over par
1976 – Dave Stockton – 281 – one-over par
Chief writer David Newbery has been living, breathing and writing and editing golf for more than 30 years. His extensive knowledge of the game comes from covering golf around the world. Hired by Inside Golf in 2009, David previously worked as the editor of The Golfer for 25 years and before that worked for numerous daily newspapers in Australia and overseas. The Brisbane-based journalist describes his golf game as “a work in progress”, but has had the privilege of playing golf with some of the game’s best players including nine-time major winner Gary Player. David enjoys travelling, reading, music, photography and spending time with family and friends – on and off the golf course. 
