The 104th PGA Championship returns to Southern Hills Country Club in over a decade.
Southern Hills Country Club may not have been the first option for this year’s PGA Championship, but it isn’t new to hosting majors. The 104th PGA Championship venue was a decision made back in 2014 as most majors outside the Masters often see their venues announced years in advance.
To have a major-worthy course takes time, a lot of effort, and planning. To put in perspective, the next seven years of PGA Championships already have their sites in place. PGA of America also has 2031 and 2034 locations decided.
This event was initially set to be hosted at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, where it would have been the first time a Donald Trump course got selected to host this type of event.
“The PGA of America Board of Directors voted tonight to exercise the right to terminate the agreement to play the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster.” — Jim Richerson, PGA of America President
— PGA of America (@PGA) January 11, 2021
After the events in early 2021, PGA of America decided to change the venue. According to the Fire Pit Collective, after the series of events on Jan. 6 at the Capital, PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh and the senior staff and board members met to weigh the factors — ultimately deciding to change venues.
Switching a venue that late in the game had to happen quickly, and by Jan. 10, they publically announced to move away from Trump’s course. They quickly decided on a new venue and chose a venue with four PGA Championships under its belt in Southern Hills.
The last time PGA Championship was at Southern Hills
This year’s championship will be Southern Hill’s fifth time hosting the event. The last time it hosted the PGA Championship was in 2007 when Tiger Woods shot 8-under and won by two strokes.
Southern Hills hosted in 1994, 1982 and 1970 as well.
Nick Price won in 1994 with an 11-under score that beat the field by six shots. Raymond Floyd won in 1982 by three strokes with an 8-under total, and Dave Stockton won Southern Hills’ first PGA Championship in 1970 with a 1-under total to win by two shots.
Southern Hills a is a par-70 track that is 7,556-yards featuring just two par 5 holes. The PGA Championship enjoys testing the world’s best professional players, and Southern Hills will be able to do that.
2007 PGA Championship leaderboard
1- Tiger Woods: -8
2- Woody Austin: -6
3- Ernie Els: -5
T4- Arron Oberholser: -1
T4- John Senden: -1
T6- Simon Dyson: E
T6- Trevor Immelmen: E
T6- Geoff Ogilvy: E
T9- Kevin Sutherland: +1
T9- Scott Verplank: +1
Woods fought off a tough field in the 2007 PGA Championship after opening with a 71 in Round 1. He closed out the tournament with a 63 on Friday and two 69s on the weekend to win by two strokes.
Austin and Els fought hard to take him down on Sunday as they shot a better final-round score than Woods, but it wasn’t enough.
Who will be the fifth PGA Championship winner at Southern Hills and hoist the Wannamaker Trophy? This year’s event features some of the best golfers globally, and without the defending champ there, it’s anyone’s game.
