Over the years, there have been many great champions who’ve won the PGA Championship. From Hogan and Nelson to Player and Nicklaus, there have been many greats who’ve etched their names on the Wanamaker Trophy.

Today, we count down the 10 Greatest PGA Champions of all time.

1. Jack Nicklaus



With 5 wins, Jack Nicklaus is tied with Walter Hagen for the most wins at the PGA Championship. Jack was also runner-up on four occasions – 1964, 1965, 1974 and 1983 (which is a record).

Nicklaus also holds a host of other records, including Most Top-3 finishes (12), Most Top-5 finishes (14) and Most Top-10 finishes (15).

PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS

1963, Dallas Athletics Club -5

1971, PGA National GC -7

1973, Canterbury GC -7

1975, Firestone CC -4

1980, Oak Hill CC -6

2. Walter Hagen



Five of Walter Hagen’s major victories came at the PGA Championship, and all in a seven year span. Hagen is without out a doubt the greatest player of the Match Play era of this championship. The only reason Hagen’s wins aren’t as highly regarded is because his greatest opponent during this era, Bobby Jones, never played the PGA Championship due to his amateur status.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS

1921, Inwood CC 3&2

1924, French Lick Springs 2-UP

1925, Olympia Field CC 6&5

1926, Salisbury GC 5&3

1927, Cedar Crest CC 1-UP

3. Tiger Woods



Tiger Woods’ career has always been about peaking for the majors. To go along with his four wins at the PGA Championship, he also has two runner-up finishes and two other Top-10s. He would have made it five wins, had he not lost in 2009 when he went into the final round with a 2 shot lead, only to shoot 3-over par and lose out to YE Yang.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS

1999, Medinah CC -11

2000, Valhalla CC -18

2006, Medinah CC -18

2007, Southern Hills CC -8

4. Sam Snead



Another three-time winner of the PGA Championship is Sam Snead. Before winning his first championship 1942, Snead had already lost in the finals twice. Although Snead never won in the Stroke Play format, he still posted eight Top-10 finishes. Even at the age of 62, Snead was highly competitive and finished T-3rd, three-strokes behind winner Lee Trevino.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS

1942, Seaview CC 2&1

1949, Hermitage CC 3&2

1951, Oakmont CC 7&6

5. Gene Sarazen



One of five career Grand Slam winners, Gene Sarazen won the first of three PGA Championship at the age of 20. He also reached the quarter-finals on nine other occasions. In 1930, he lost to Tommy Armour in the finals. A little known factoid about Sarazen is that he’s said to be the inventor of the modern Sand Wedge.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS

1922, Oakmont CC 4&3

1923, Pelham CC 38 Holes

1933, Blue Mound CC 5&4

6. Ben Hogan



Probably the greatest ball striker of all time, Hogan’s first major was at the PGA Championship, which he won in 1946. He also won in 1948. Following his life threatening accident in 1949, Hogan opted out of the PGA Championship quite often. The primary reason was that Hogan struggled to walk more than 18 holes a day, and during the Match Play years, players were required to play 36 holes in a day on more than one occasion.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS

1946, Portland GC 6&4

1948, Norwood Hills GC 2&1

7. Byron Nelson



Two-time PGA Champion Byron Nelson could have won much more if it wasn’t for his early retirement. In the nine times he played in the event, he reached the quarter-finals each and every time and lost in the finals three other times. His 1945 PGA Championship victory was part of his 11 consecutive win streak that year.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS

1940, Hershey CC 1-UP

1945, Moraine CC 4&3

8. Gary Player



The only non-American to achieve the career Grand Slam, Gary Player won two PGA Championships, with his PGA wins coming 10 years apart. His second win, in 1972, was courtesy of a “miracle” 9-iron shot. Coming off bogeys on 14 & 15, Player pushed his drive on the 16th and had somewhat of a shot over a willow tree and a pond. He went for it and it landed four feet from the pin. Player eventual won by two shots.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS

1962, Aronimink GC -2

1972, Oakland Hills CC +1

9. Lee Trevino



The last two of Lee Trevino’s Major victories came at the PGA Championship. One of Trevino and Nicklaus’ classic final round battles took place in 1974, in which the Merry Mex triumphed. Trevino was struggling with his putter, so just days before the tournament he switched to a new putter, which he found in the attic of the house he was renting for the week.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS

1974, Tanglewood GC -4

1984, Shoal Creek CC -15

10. Rory McIlroy



Rory McIlroy is the most recent winner in this list having won in 2014 to go along with his 2012 title. In seven starts at this event, including his two wins, he has 4 Top-3s and 5 Top-10s. The PGA Championship might not be his favorite major, but his records certainly say otherwise.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIPS

2012, The Ocean Course -13

2014, Valhalla GC -16