By Bob Denney, PGA of America
Bob Denney is the Historian for the PGA of America and has attended every PGA Championship from 1993-2018.

*Story updated on May 8, 2019*

Seventy-one golfers – from Jim Barnes to Jimmy Walker – have hoisted the Rodman Wanamaker Trophy since October 10, 1916, when the inaugural PGA Championship debuted at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York. Such a Champions’ honor roll is rich with special moments.

Follow this personal tour highlighting five days at various PGA Championships, where thrills on the course meshed with happenings never recorded on a scorecard.

August 15, 1993 – Inverness Club
Toledo, Ohio

The 18th green at Inverness Club is an amphitheater, and in 1993, it was the focal point of  arguably the best Saturday leaderboard in a PGA Championship. The top 10 (including ties) after the third round featured six players who had won a combined 19 Major Championships. Leading the way was Greg Norman, a stroke better than Paul Azinger, Vijay Singh, Bob Estes, Tom Watson, Hale Irwin and Lanny Wadkins. Lurking two strokes back was Nick Faldo, Dudley Hart, Scott Simpson and Brad Faxon.

A day later, I followed a vanquished Norman back up the 10th fairway to the clubhouse after his playoff loss to Azinger. Norman kept his right arm on his son’s left shoulder. A nearby golf cart was missing a key, and Norman was patient at a time he had the right to be testy. Seconds later, a Rules official appeared with a new golf cart. Riding behind Norman and his son, spectators near the Media Center applauded and yelled encouragement.

An hour later, following Azinger’s post-round news conference, I carried the Wanamaker Trophy ahead of the Champion into a clubhouse reception. Azinger was first toasted by PGA officials and then headed upstairs for taped interviews.

“That was a great approach to the 10th hole,” I said, hauling the trophy up the narrow staircase.

“What was it?”

“A pitching wedge,” said Azinger, smiling broadly, “Wasn’t it pure?”

Valhalla Golf Club
Louisville, Kentucky
August 7, 1996

During a Wednesday practice round of the first PGA Championship hosted at Valhalla Golf Club, two of sport’s greatest rubbed shoulders. Jack Nicklaus had just finished nine holes and was stopped as Muhammad Ali, a victim of Parkinson’s disease, arrived in a golf cart.

“We’re not going to fight, are we?” Nicklaus joked.

The two embraced, posed for photos, each with his hands up in a boxing position. A spokesperson for Ali said “The Greatest” wanted to share the commemorative gold medal he won during the Olympics with Nicklaus.

Nicklaus examined it, and then placed it around Ali’s neck. A month earlier, Ali had lighted the cauldron at the Opening Ceremonies at the Atlanta Olympics.

Ali, by this time in his illness, rarely spoke publicly.

“I told him to take care of himself, and I didn’t get a response,” Nicklaus said. “I understand that. He put his head over and sort of touched my cheek with his head, and that was his way of saying hello, I think. That’s the way I took it.”

It was the first time the two legends had met. “I’ve always been a great fan of his,” Nicklaus,  said. “He’s been good for his sport and sport, period.”

Nicklaus told Ali that it was “a great honor” and that he “was very pleased for him to light the torch at the Olympics.”

Winged Foot Golf Club
Mamaroneck, New York
August 16, 1997

It was the final major of 1997, and fabled Winged Foot Golf Club was host. It was the year that Davis Love III finished with a birdie wrapped by a rainbow overhead, and where Tiger Woods made the Masters his first major triumph. Woods’ presence at Winged Foot added to the allure for New York sports fans, especially those who had never been part of a golf gallery – folks like reigning world heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield.

Someone in Holyfield’s entourage noticed that I was a member of the PGA of America Communications staff and sought me out during the third round for advice as to where the Champ would find the best viewing locations. I ended up walking with Holyfield, who said that he would like to someday arrange a charity pro-am. He wanted to find players that might be interested. The Champ stopped in an archway by the clubhouse for a chat, and soon we were surrounded by media and spectators.

I got a close-up view of Holyfield’s right ear, which was surgically repaired after Mike Tyson’s infamous bite during a WBA Heavyweight title fight 12 days earlier in Las Vegas. I believe the Champ enjoyed his day at Winged Foot, even though he didn’t see that much golf.

Valhalla Golf Club
Louisville, Kentucky
August 20, 2000

The final round of the 2000 PGA Championship is arguably the most pulsating performance in modern Major Championship history. Tiger Woods and Bob May, who had grown up 20 minutes from each other in southern California, were center stage. May, seven years older than Woods, was a dominant force in junior golf, so much so that Woods once told his parents, “I just wanted to hopefully one day win as many tournaments as he did.”

Woods fell behind by two strokes after six holes, then played the closing 12 holes in seven under par. May kept pace and capped his round on 18 by rolling in an 18-foot birdie putt.

Woods followed by making a ticklish six-footer for birdie, forcing the first aggregate score playoff in a PGA Championship.

Beginning at the 16th hole, Woods chased in a birdie putt and scrambled for pars after that. At the 18th tee, Woods pulled his tee shot, and watched as the ball caromed off a steep cart path. It came to rest in a collection area deep and left of the fairway. Meanwhile, May’s drive found the right-hand rough. Though CBS cameras followed a spectator chasing behind Woods’ ball, and announcer Ken Venturi adding to the speculation about that spectator, no individual touched Woods’ ball.

PGA Rules Official Ron Hickman was on the spot and had eyes on both players’ tee shots.

“Yes, nobody touched either ball, but a marshal nearly stepped on Bob May’s,” said Hickman.

Woods grinded his way to a winning par after May’s uphill birdie try just missed the hole.

“We were part of a great piece of history that day,” Hickman recalled.

Hazeltine National Golf Club
Chaska, Minnesota
August 16, 2009

South Korean Y.E. Yang took down Tiger Woods at the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club with a remarkable display of shotmaking. It was the first time any golfer had defeated Woods in a Major when he either shared or owned the 54-hole lead.

The gallery enveloping the 18th hole on Sunday watched as Yang rifled a 210-yard hybrid approach clear of an overhanging tree to within 12 feet of the hole. Woods’ ensuing approach found the left greenside rough. Yang followed by rolling in the birdie putt. Moments later, he grabbed his golf bag with both arms and raised it triumphantly above his head. He was the first Asian male to win a Major Championship.

When it was time for the Champion’s Toast in the clubhouse, Yang and his wife, Young-Joo Park, picked up their respective glasses of champagne, locked arms and sipped as if they had performed the ceremony many times.

“This might be my last win as a golfer,” said Yang, through an interpreter, “but it sure is a great day. It means the world right now.”