The PGA Championship has taken place since 1916. In 2016, Jimmy
Walker was a surprising first-time major winner, holding off 2015 PGA
Championship victor Jason Day. But who won each PGA Championship before
that?
Here, we look at every winner of the PGA Championship since
1916, because every true golf fan needs to know the champion of the year
you were born.
2018: Brooks Koepka
Jeff Curry / USA Today Sports
Tiger Woods made a late run but finished two shots back of Koepka at Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Missouri. Koepka finished the tournament 16 under. It was his first PGA Championship and third major victory after winning the U.S. Open two months earlier.
2017: Justin Thomas
Brett Davis / USA TODAY Sports
Thomas won by two strokes at eight under, beating out three runners-up at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina. The win was Thomas' first major victory, and he was the leading tour money winner in 2017.
2016: Jimmy Walker
Brian Spurlock / USA TODAY Sports
Leading from the opening round and never letting go, American Jimmy Walker won his first major by shooting 14 under at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey. While he led after each round, Walker faced a late surge by 2015 champion Jason Day. Ultimately Walker held him off, defeating Day by one stroke.
2015: Jason Day
David Cannon / Getty Images
Day finished at 20 under, defeating Jordan Spieth by three strokes at Whistling Straits.
2014: Rory McIlroy
David Cannon / Getty Images
McIlroy won the tournament for the second time in three years, finishing at minus-16.
2013: Jason Dufner
Andrew Redington / Getty Images
Dufner came close to winning the 2011 PGA Championship but finally finished the job two years later.
2012: Rory McIlroy
David Cannon / Getty Images
McIlroy won his first PGA Championship after shooting minus-13 in 2012.
2011: Keegan Bradley
Andrew Redington / Getty Images
Bradley defeated Jason Dufner in a playoff to win the 2011 PGA Championship. Dufner won two years later.
2010: Martin Kaymer
Andy Lyons / Getty Images
Kaymer beat American Bubba Watson in a playoff to win the 2010 PGA Championship.
2009: Y.E. Yang
Andy Lyons / Getty Images
Yang became the first Korean to win the PGA Championship, shooting eight under at Hazeltine National.
2008: Padraig Harrington
Hunter Martin / Getty Images
Harrington won the PGA Championship after shooting a three under at Oakland Hills.
2007: Tiger Woods
Montana Pritchard / PGA of America
Tiger won his fourth PGA Championship and second in as many years, shooting eight under at Southern Hills.
2006: Tiger Woods
Montana Pritchard / PGA of America
Tiger won his third PGA Championship, shooting 18 under at Medinah Country Club.
2005: Phil Mickelson
Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
Mickelson won the PGA Championship after shooting four under, beating Thomas Bjorn by one stroke.
2004: Vijay Singh
Scott Halleran / Getty Images
Singh won a playoff against Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard to claim the PGA Championship.
2003: Shaun Micheel
Scott Halleran / Getty Images
Micheel shot minus-four at Oak Hill to win the PGA Championship.
2002: Rich Beem
Harry How / Getty Images
Beem shot 10 under, beating Tiger Woods by one stroke.
2001: David Toms
Craig Jones / Getty Images
Toms beat Phil Mickelson by just one stroke, shooting minus-15.
2000: Tiger Woods
David Cannon / Getty Images
Woods won back-to-back PGA Championships after defeating Bob May in a playoff.
1999: Tiger Woods
Jamie Squire / Getty Images
Woods won his first of four PGA Championships, beating Sergio Garcia by one stroke.
1998: Vijay Singh
Harry How / Getty Images
Singh won his first PGA Championship after shooting nine under.
1997: Davis Love III
Timothy Clary / AFP
Love III won easily at Winged Foot, beating Justin Leonard by five strokes.
1996: Mark Brooks
J.D. Cuban / Getty Images
Brooks beat Kenny Perry in a playoff to win the PGA Championship.
1995: Steve Elkington
J.D. Cuban / Getty Images
Elkington defeated Colin Montgomerie in a playoff to win the PGA Championship.
1994: Nick Price
Gary Newkirk / Getty Images
Price won his second PGA Championship in three years after shooting minus-11.
1993: Paul Azinger
David Cannon / Getty Images
Azinger defeated Greg Norman in a playoff to win the PGA Championship.
1992: Nick Price
Stephen Munday / Getty Images
Price won his first PGA Championship after shooting six under at Bellerive Country Club.
1991: John Daly
Stephen Munday / Getty Images
Daly won his first major tournament after shooting minus-12.
1990: Wayne Grady
David Cannon / Getty Images
Grady became the first Aussie since David Graham in 1979 to win the PGA Championship.
1989: Payne Stewart
David Cannon / Getty Images
Stewart won his first major tournament after shooting minus-12 at Kemper Lakes.
1988: Jeff Sluman
PGA Tour Photo Services / US PGA Tour
Sluman shot minus-12 to win the tournament by three strokes over Paul Azinger.
1987: Larry Nelson
Jeff McBride / PGA of America
Nelson won in a playoff over Lanny Wadkins to claim the PGA Championship.
1986: Bob Tway
David Cannon / Getty Images
Tway shot eight under for the tournament, beating Greg Norman by two strokes.
1985: Hubert Green
Jeff McBride / PGA of America
Green shot six under at Cherry Hill to win the tournament.
1984: Lee Trevino
David Cannon / Getty Images
Trevino won his second PGA Championship 10 years following his first win.
1983: Hal Sutton
Brian Morgan / Getty Images
Sutton shot minus-10, beating Jack Nicklaus by one stroke.
1982: Raymond Floyd
Brian Morgan / Getty Images
Floyd shot eight under, beating Lanny Wadkins by three strokes.
1981: Larry Nelson
Peter Dazeley / Getty Images
Nelson won after shooting seven under at Atlanta Athletic Club.
1980: Jack Nicklaus
Brian Morgan / Getty Images
Nicklaus won his fifth PGA Championship after shooting six under at Oak Hill.
1979: David Graham
Steve Powell / Getty Images
Graham won in a playoff over Ben Crenshaw to claim the PGA Championship.
1978: John Mahaffey
John Iacono / Sports Illustrated
Mahaffey beat Jerry Pate and Tom Watson in a playoff to win the PGA Championship.
1977: Lanny Wadkins
Bettmann / Getty Images
Wadkins beat Gene Littler in a playoff to win the PGA Championship.
1976: Dave Stockton
Bettmann / Getty Images
Stockton won his second PGA Championship after shooting one over at Congressional Country Club.
1975: Jack Nicklaus
James Drake / Sports Illustrated
Nicklaus won his second PGA Championship in three years and fourth PGA Championship overall after shooting four under.
1974: Lee Trevino
James Drake / Sports Illustrated
Trevino won his first PGA Championship, shooting four under.
1973: Jack Nicklaus
Walter Iooss Jr. / Sports Illustrated
Nicklaus won his third PGA Championship after shooting seven under.
1972: Gary Player
Bettmann / Getty Images
Player won the PGA Championship 10 years following his first win.
1971: Jack Nicklaus
James Drake / Sports Illustrated
Nicklaus won his second PGA Championship, shooting seven under at PGA National.
1970: Dave Stockton
Bettmann / Getty Images
Stockton won his first PGA Championship after shooting one under at Southern Hills.
1969: Raymond Floyd
Martin Mills / Getty Images
Floyd won his first of two PGA Championships after shooting eight under at NCR Country Club.
1968: Julius Boros
Don Uhrbrock / Sports Illustrated
Boros shot one over to win the PGA Championship.
1967: Don January
Ira Gay Sealy / Denver Post
January defeated Don Massengale in a playoff to win the PGA Championship.
1966: Al Geiberger
Duane Howell / Denver Post
Geiberger finished even at Firestone Country Club to win the PGA Championship.
1965: Dave Marr
Central Press / Hulton Archive
Marr beat Billy Casper and Jack Nicklaus by two strokes to win the PGA Championship.
1964: Bobby Nichols
Walter Iooss Jr. / Sports Illustrated
Nichols beat defending PGA Champ Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer by three strokes to win the tournament.
1963: Jack Nicklaus
Popperfoto / Getty Images
Nicklaus won his first of five PGA Championships after shooting five under.
1962: Gary Player
Bettmann / Getty Images
Player won his first PGA Championship, shooting two under at Aronimink Golf Club.
1961: Jerry Barber
Bettmann / Getty Images
Barber beat Don January in a playoff to claim the PGA Championship.
1960: Jay Hebert
New York Post Archives / The New York Post
Hebert won the PGA Championship just three years after his brother, Lionel, claimed the Championship.
1959: Bob Rosburg
New York Post Archives / The New York Post
Rosburg shot three under, beating Jerry Barber and Doug Sanders by one stroke.
1958: Dow Finsterwald
Ira Gay Sealy / Denver Post
Finsterwald shot four under to win the PGA Championship after finishing second place in 1957.
1957: Lionel Hebert
Bettmann / Getty Images
Hebert beat Dow Finsterwald in match play to win the tournament.
1956: Jack Burke Jr.
John G. Zimmerman / Sports Illustrated
Burke Jr. beat Ted Kroll at Blue Hill Country Club to win.
1955: Doug Ford
Bettmann / Getty Images
Ford won over Cary Middlecoff to win the PGA Championship.
1954: Chick Harbert
Bettmann / Getty Images
Harbert claimed victory over defending champ Walter Burkemo to win the PGA Championship.
1953: Walter Burkemo
Bettmann / Getty Images
Burkemo defeated Felice Torza in match play to win the PGA Championship.
1952: Jim Turnesa
Bettmann / Getty Images
Turnesa beat Chick Harbert in match play win the tournament.
1951: Sam Snead
Bettmann / Getty Images
Snead won his third PGA Championship, defeating Walter Burkemo in match play.
1950: Chandler Harper
Bettmann / Getty Images
Harper defeated Henry Williams Jr. in match play at Scioto Country Club.
1949: Sam Snead
Bettmann / Getty Images
Snead won his second PGA Championship after beating Johnny Palmer in match play.
1948: Ben Hogan
John Malmin / Los Angeles Times
Hogan won his second PGA Championship in three years, beating Mike Turnesa in match play.
1947: Jim Ferrier
Augusta National / Masters Historic Imagery
Ferrier became the first Australian win the PGA Championship.
1946: Ben Hogan
Bettmann / Getty Images
Hogan won his first PGA Championship in 1946, defeating Ed Oliver in match play.
1945: Byron Nelson
Bettmann / Getty Images
Nelson won the 1945 PGA Championship over Sam Byrd in match play.
1944: Bob Hamilton
Bettmann / Getty Images
Hamilton defeated Byron Nelson in match play to win the PGA Championship.
1943: No Tournament
Harry How / Getty Images
The PGA Championship wasn't held in 1943 due to WWII.
1942: Sam Snead
Bettmann / Getty Images
Snead won his first PGA Championship after beating Jim Turnesa in match play.
1941: Vic Ghezzi
Bettmann / Getty Images
Ghezzi defeated defending champ Byron Nelson in match play to win the tournament.
1940: Byron Nelson
Time Life Pictures / The LIFE Picture Collection
Nelson won his first PGA Championship after finishing as a runner-up in 1939.
1939: Henry Picard
Bettmann / Getty Images
Picard defeated Byron Nelson to win the PGA Championship.
1938: Paul Runyan
Bettmann / Getty Images
Runyan won his second PGA Championship in 1938.
1937: Denny Shute
Bettmann / Getty Images
Shute won his second straight PGA Championship, defeating Harold McSpaden in match play.
1936: Denny Shute
Bettmann / Getty Images
Shute won his first of two PGA Championships in 1936.
1935: Johnny Revolta
Bettmann / Getty Images
Revolta defeated Tommy Armour in match play to win.
1934: Paul Runyan
Bettmann / Getty Images
Runyan won his first PGA Championship in 1934.
1933: Gene Sarazen
Bettmann / Getty Images
Sarazen won his third PGA Championship in 1933.
1932: Olin Dutra
Bettmann / Getty Images
Dutra won the PGA Championship in 1932 at Keller Golf Course.
1931: Tom Creavy
Bettmann / Getty Images
Creavy defeated future champ Denny Shute in the PGA Championship.
1930: Tommy Armour
Bettmann / Getty Images
Armour prevented Gene Sarazen from winning his third PGA Championship.
1929: Leo Diegel
Bettmann / Getty Images
Diegel won his second consecutive PGA Championship in 1929.
1928: Leo Diegel
Bettmann / Getty Images
Diegel defeated Al Espinosa in 1928 to win the PGA Championship.
1927: Walter Hagen
E. Bacon / Getty Images
Hagen won his fourth consecutive PGA Championship, beating Joe Turnesa in match play.
1926: Walter Hagen
Bettmann / Getty Images
Hagen made it three straight wins, beating Leo Diegel in match play.
1925: Walter Hagen
George Rinhart / Corbis Historical / Getty Images
Hagen won his second PGA Championship, winning at Olympia Fields Country Club.
1924: Walter Hagen
Kirby / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
Hagen won his first of four straight PGA Championships, defeating Jim Barnes in match play.
1923: Gene Sarazen
Topical Press Agency / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
Sarazen won his second straight PGA Championship, beating Bill Mehlhorn in match play.
1922: Gene Sarazen
Bettmann / Getty Images
Sarazen claimed his first PGA Championship win in 1922.
1921: Walter Hagen
Thompson / Getty Images
Hagen won his first of five PGA Championships in 1921.
1920: Jock Hutchison
Bettmann / Getty Images
Hutchison became the first American to win the PGA Championship in 1920.
1919: James M. Barnes
Bettmann / Getty Images
Barnes won the second PGA Championship in 1919 after winning the first tournament in 1916.
1917-18: No Tournament
Topical Press Agency / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
The PGA Championship wasn't held in 1917 or 1918 due to World War I.
1916: James M. Barnes
Bettmann / Getty Images
Barnes won the inaugural PGA Championship in 1916.