Who is the youngest and oldest winner of the PGA Championship? Past records explored

Modified May 12, 2024 12:01 GMT

LIV Golf Invitational - Singapore - Day One — Phil Mickelson (Image via Lionel Ng/Getty Images)

Gene Sarazen is the youngest winner of the PGA Championship in the history of the Major, while Phil Mickelson is the oldest. Sarazen was just 20 years and 174 days old when he clinched the PGA Championship in 1922.

At that time, the Major was contested in Match Play format, and Sarazen secured victory by defeating Emmet French with a score of 4&3. The tournament took place at Oakmont Country Club in Inwood, New York. Sarazen continued his success by successfully defending his title the following year, defeating Walter Hagen.

In contrast, Phil Mickelson became the oldest golfer to win the PGA Championship. He was 50 years and 11 months old when he clinched the Major in 2021, triumphing over Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen by two strokes. Mickelson's victory also earned him an exemption to compete in all four Majors for the next five years.

John McDermott holds the record for being the youngest winner of any major in men's professional golf in the modern era. He won the US Open in 1911 at the age of 19 years, ten months, and 14 days. However, Tom Morris Jr., who claimed victory in the 1868 Open Championship, holds the title of youngest Major winner of all time. He was just 17 years, five months, and eight days old at the time of his triumph.

Tiger Woods holds the record for the youngest winner of the Masters, securing victory at the age of 21 years, three months, and 14 days in 1997. When it comes to The Open Championship, Seve Ballesteros became the youngest winner in the modern era, capturing the Major at the age of 22 years, three months, and 12 days in 1979.

Winners of the PGA Championship

Here is the list of all the winners of the PGA Championship over the years:

2023: Brooks Koepka
2022: Justin Thomas
2021: Phil Mickelson
2020: Collin Morikawa
2019: Brooks Koepka
2018: Brooks Koepka
2017: Justin Thomas
2016: Jimmy Walker
2015: Jason Day
2014: Rory McIlroy
2013: Jason Dufner
2012: Rory McIlroy
2011: Keegan Bradley
2010: Martin Kaymer
2009: Yang Yong-eun
2008: Pádraig Harrington
2007: Tiger Woods
2006: Tiger Woods
2005: Phil Mickelson
2004: Vijay Singh
2003: Shaun Micheel
2002: Rich Beem
2001: David Toms
2000: Tiger Woods
1999: Tiger Woods
1998: Vijay Singh
1997: Davis Love III
1996: Mark Brooks
1995: Steve Elkington
1994: Nick Price
1993: Paul Azinger
1992: Nick Price
1991: John Daly
1990: Wayne Grady
1989: Payne Stewart
1988: Jeff Sluman
1987: Larry Nelson
1986: Bob Tway
1985: Hubert Green
1984: Lee Trevino
1983: Hal Sutton
1982: Raymond Floyd
1981: Larry Nelson
1980: Jack Nicklaus
1979: David Graham
1978: John Mahaffey
1977: Lanny Wadkins
1976: Dave Stockton
1975: Jack Nicklaus
1974: Lee Trevino
1973: Jack Nicklaus
1972: Gary Player
1971: Jack Nicklaus
1970: Dave Stockton
1969: Raymond Floyd
1968: Julius Boros
1967: Don January
1966: Al Geiberger
1965: Dave Marr
1964: Bobby Nichols
1963: Jack Nicklaus
1962: Gary Player
1961: Jerry Barber
1960: Jay Hebert
1959: Bob Rosburg
1958: Dow Finsterwald
1957: Lionel Hebert
1956: Jack Burke Jr.
1955: Doug Ford
1954: Chick Harbert
1953: Walter Burkemo
1952: Jim Turnesa
1951: Sam Snead
1950: Chandler Harper
1949: Sam Snead
1948: Ben Hogan
1947: Jim Ferrier
1946: Ben Hogan
1945: Byron Nelson
1944: Bob Hamilton
1943: No tournament (World War II)
1942: Sam Snead
1941: Vic Ghezzi
1940: Byron Nelson
1939: Henry Picard
1938: Paul Runyan
1937: Denny Shute
1936: Denny Shute
1935: Johnny Revolta
1934: Paul Runyan
1933: Gene Sarazen
1932: Olin Dutra
1931: Tom Creavy
1930: Tommy Armour
1929: Leo Diegel
1928: Leo Diegel
1927: Walter Hagen
1926: Walter Hagen
1925: Walter Hagen
1924: Walter Hagen
1923: Gene Sarazen
1922: Gene Sarazen
1921: Walter Hagen
1920: Jock Hutchison
1919: Jim Barnes
1916: Jim Barnes

The PGA Championship is one of the oldest Majors in men's professional golf. The 2024 edition of the event is scheduled to be held next week from May 16 to 19 at the Valhalla Golf Course.

Edited by Shirsh