PGA Championship Records: Tournament Bests and Mosts

The PGA Championship is the second-oldest of the USA-based major championships of men's professional golf, first played in 1916. Below you'll find a rundown of the tournament's all-time records, the bests and worsts and the golfers who set those marks.

The PGA Championship began as a match-play tournament. In 1958, it switched to the stroke-play format. At the end of the article you'll find a few records that pertain only to the match-play era.

If a record's category (such as "most wins") appears as a link, you can click that link to go more in-depth and read more about it.

All-Time Bests in the PGA Championship

Plus a Few Match Play Records

The match-play era in the PGA Championship ran from the first tournament in 1916 through 1957. All PGA Championships prior to 1958 used the match-play format. These are records specific to the match-play era:
  • Most appearances in the championship match: 6, Walter Hagen
  • Most appearances in the semifinals: 8, Walter Hagen
  • Most years qualifying for match play: 28, Gene Sarazen
  • Most matches won: 57, Gene Sarazen
  • Highest match winning percentage: 82-percent, tie between Byron Nelson (37-8 record) and Walter Burkemo (27-6)
  • Most consecutive matches won: 22, Walter Hagen
  • Largest winning margin, any round, 36-hole match: 12-and-11, seven times. Jim Barnes def. George Denback, first round, 1923; Jim Barnes def. John Cowan, second round, 1923; Willie Ogg def. Carl Anderson, second round, 1923; Walter Hagen def. George McLean, semifinals, 1923; Mortie Dutra def. Albert Alcroft, first round, 1927; Johnny Revolta def. Alex Gerlak, first round, 1933; Ky Laffoon def. Vic Bass, first round, 1942
  • Largest winning margin, championship match: 8-and-7, Paul Runyan def. Sam Snead, 1938

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