All-Time PGA Championship Leaders

The PGA Championship, founded in 1916, has a rich history of dominant champions. Here are the golfers with the most PGA Championship titles:

1. Jack Nicklaus — 5 wins (1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980)
2. Walter Hagen — 5 wins (1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927)
3. Tiger Woods — 5 wins (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007)
4. Brooks Koepka — 3 wins (2018, 2019, 2023)
5. Phil Mickelson — 2 wins (2005, 2021)
6. Sam Snead — 3 wins (1942, 1949, 1951)
7. Gene Sarazen — 3 wins (1922, 1923, 1933)

Walter Hagen's Historic Dominance

Walter Hagen set a standard at the PGA Championship that stood for decades. His five victories included an astonishing four consecutive titles from 1924 through 1927 — a streak of dominance that remains unmatched in PGA Championship history. During this era, the PGA Championship was a match play event, and Hagen's fiery competitiveness and clutch play made him nearly unbeatable in head-to-head formats. He won 22 consecutive matches during his four-year winning streak, a record that speaks to his extraordinary mental toughness and consistency under pressure. Hagen's first PGA title came in 1921, meaning his five wins spanned just seven years of competition.

Jack Nicklaus's Five PGA Titles

Jack Nicklaus matched Hagen's record of five PGA Championship victories, though his wins were spread across a much longer timeframe — 17 years from 1963 to 1980. Nicklaus's first PGA win came at Dallas Athletic Club in 1963, where he dominated the field with a then-record score. He added titles in 1971 at PGA National, 1973 at Canterbury, 1975 at Firestone, and 1980 at Oak Hill. His ability to peak at major championships is legendary, and the PGA Championship was the stage for some of his finest performances. Nicklaus also finished as runner-up at the PGA Championship four times, underscoring just how consistently he contended at this event throughout his career.

Tiger Woods's Four PGA Wins

Tiger Woods sits just one victory behind the all-time record with four PGA Championship titles. His wins came in two pairs: back-to-back victories in 1999 and 2000, followed by consecutive wins again in 2006 and 2007. The 1999 PGA at Medinah was particularly memorable, as Woods rallied from a deficit on Sunday to defeat Sergio Garcia in a thrilling final round. His 2000 victory at Valhalla went to a dramatic three-hole playoff against Bob May, widely considered one of the greatest major championship finishes ever. Woods's dominance at the PGA Championship made him a perennial favorite every August.

Recent Winners and Rising Contenders

Brooks Koepka has emerged as a modern PGA Championship force, capturing three titles in a span of just six years. His back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019 announced him as a major championship specialist, and his 2023 victory at Oak Hill confirmed his status as one of the premier players in the game's biggest events. Phil Mickelson made history in 2021 by becoming the oldest major champion at age 50 when he won the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island's Ocean Course, adding to his first PGA title from 2005. The PGA Championship continues to produce dramatic moments and historic performances, and the race to match or surpass Nicklaus and Hagen's record of five titles remains one of golf's most compelling storylines.