PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: THE MATCH PLAY ERA
Golf’s second major of the year, the PGA Championship, is slated for May 14-17, 2026 at Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The host club has been the site of several significant events, including the 1962 PGA Championship won by Gary Player.
The Professional Golfers Association of America came into being in January of 1916 and its first championship was held six months later. It occupies a distinctive place in golf history: for nearly four decades — from its inception in 1916 through 1957 — the championship was contested as a single-elimination match play tournament. With its match play format, the PGA Championship immediately distinguished itself from the U.S. Open and The Open Championship. This decision aligned the event more closely with the traditions of amateur competition, including the U.S. Amateur and British Amateur championships, where match play had long been the standard and remains so today.
The earliest dominant figure in the championship’s history was Jim Barnes, who won the inaugural tournament in 1916 and successfully defended his title in 1919 (the event was not held during World War I). Barnes set the competitive standard for the fledgling championship and remained a formidable presence throughout the 1920s, notably finishing runner-up twice to Walter Hagen.
No figure looms larger over the match-play PGA Championship than Hagen himself. He captured five PGA titles, including an extraordinary run of four consecutive victories (1921, 1924-1927). His dominance was not merely statistical; it was theatrical. Hagen relished the mano-a-mano nature of match play, often intimidating opponents with his confidence and flair. In the 1920s, professional golfers held a significantly lower social status compared to amateurs, often viewed as working-class employees rather than gentlemen sportsman. He was largely responsible for changing that — “The Haig’s” success and charisma helped elevate the status of the professional game itself.
Another towering figure of the match-play era was Gene Sarazen, whose three PGA Championship victories (1922, 1923, 1933) showcased both technical excellence and competitive tenacity. Sarazen’s early back-to-back wins established him as one of the game’s first true stars, and his adaptability in match play foreshadowed the versatility required of modern champions.
The 1930s and 1940s saw the rise of players whose names remain synonymous with golfing greatness. Sam Snead won three PGA Championships (1942, 1949, 1951). “Slamming Sammy’s” length off the tee and natural shot-making ability translated well to match play.  Equally formidable were Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson. “Bantam Ben’s” two PGA titles (1946, 1948) came during a period when he was establishing himself as one of the most disciplined and technically precise players in history. “Lord Byron’s” was also a two-time winner (1940, 1945). His second PGA title came during a year in which he recorded 18 wins on the pro circuit, eleven of them consecutively.
Nine players won the PGA Championship two or more times during the match play era:
Golfer                      Total Wins         Years WonWalter Hagen         5                 1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927Gene Sarazen               3                 1922, 1923, 1933Sam Snead                    3                 1942, 1949, 1951Jim Barnes           2                 1916, 1919Leo Diegel                      2                 1928, 1929Paul Runyan          2                 1934, 1938Denny Shute          2                 1936, 1937Byron Nelson          2                 1940, 1945Ben Hogan            2                 1946, 1948
The shift to stroke play in 1958 was driven by practical considerations driven by the advent of television coverage. Match play required an extended schedule and limited the ability of top players to remain visible throughout the tournament.  Not infrequently, early-round eliminations removed marquee names from contention. Television, which was becoming an increasingly important medium for golf, favored the continuity and predictability of stroke play. The inaugural stroke-play PGA Championship was won by Dow Finsterwald, marking the beginning of a new era.
Yet the legacy of the match-play period endures. It produced champions who thrived in head-to-head competition and whose achievements cannot be fully appreciated through modern statistical comparisons. The format demanded a different kind of excellence. One measured not just in strokes, but in moments: clutch putts to win a hole, daring drives under pressure, and bold recovery shots that might shift the momentum of a match.
The match-play era of the PGA Championship represents more than a historical curiosity. It’s a reminder of golf’s rich competitive diversity. As today’s celebrate the achievements of modern major champions, it’s worth recalling the giants of the past who battled one opponent at a time, forging their legacies in the crucible of match play.