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

• Most wins: 5 by Walter Hagen (1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927) and Jack Nicklaus (1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980)
• Most times runner-up: 4, Jack Nicklaus (1964, 1965, 1974, 1983)
• Largest margin of victory: 8 strokes by Rory McIlroy, 2012
• Biggest final-round comeback to win: 7 strokes by John Mahaffey, 1978; and Justin Thomas, 2022
• Youngest winner: Gene Sarazen, 20 Years, 5 months, 22 days old, 1922
• Oldest winner: Phil Mickelson, 50 years, 11 months, 7 days old, 2021
• Lowest winning total: 263, Xander Schauffele, 2024
• Most strokes under par: 21-under, Xander Schauffele, 2024
• Low 18 holes: 62 by Xander Schauffele and Shane Lowry in 2024
• Low 9 holes: 28, Brad Faxon, front nine in fourth round, 1995
• Best score, first 36 holes: 128, Brooks Koepka, 2019
• Best score, first 54 holes: 196, David Toms, 2001
• Most rounds under par: 53, Jack Nicklaus
• Most consecutive rounds under par: 10, Jason Day (2015-17) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (1995-99)
• Most Top 5 finishes (stroke play only): 14, Jack Nicklaus
• Most Top 10 finishes (stroke play only): 15, Jack Nicklaus
• Most Top 25 finishes (stroke play only): 23, Jack Nicklaus
• Most cuts made: 27, tie between Raymond Floyd, Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson
• Most consecutive cuts made: 21, Phil Mickelson (1996-2016)
• Most PGA Championship appearances: 38, Sam Snead
• Most consecutive PGA Championships played: 37, Arnold Palmer (1958-94)

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