The latest attempt to raise its standing in the game, as if being the fourth most important tournament in the world was not good enough, was to dramatically alter its position in the calendar. For many years it was held in August, so was the last major of the calendar year, but in 2019 it was moved to May, thus becoming the second of the big four to be played each year.
Ultimately, whenever it takes place, and whatever fans think of it in relation to the Open Championship, the US Open and the Masters, the USPGA is a big deal. A really big deal. As one of the four majors it simply means more than other regular events and the field that assembles is as good as for any tournament anywhere. What’s more, with the winner in 2023, Brooks Koepka, taking home well over $3m, it is also one of the most lucrative events around as well.
First played back in 1916, the 2024 tournament will be the 106th. That is some serious history, and over the years the USPGA Championship has been won by so many of the game’s greatest players. But who has won it the most? And which players have multiple wins to their name?
Which Player Has the Most USPGA Championship Wins?
In its earliest years, this event was played as a match play tournament. Despite the huge change in format, that occurred in 1958, we will consider all editions when looking at which golfer boasts the most USPGA Championship wins.
Given that Jack Nicklaus (18 wins), Tiger Woods (15) and Walter Hagen (11) are the only three players to have made it to double-digits when it comes to success in the game’s big four tournaments, it should come as little surprise that they lead the way in terms of wins in the USPGA. But who is the very best of the best?
Well, this is one tournament where the mighty Tiger does not top the pile and it is the other two mentioned above who have won the most USPGA titles. Both Nicklaus and Hagen boast a hugely impressive five wins in this tournament.
Hagen, whose major wins spanned the period from 1914 to 1929, won all of his titles when the event was match play. In contrast, the Golden Bear collected his record 18 majors between 1962 and 1986, so all five of his were won in the stroke play format of the game.
Walter Hagen – 5 USPGA Wins
Hagen was born in Rochester, New York, in 1892 and he claimed his first win in this tournament in its fourth edition, in 1921, there being no USPGA in 1917 or 1918 due to the First World War. He beat English golfer Jim Barnes in the key match, winning 3 & 2 at Inwood and earning himself $500 in the process! How times have changed.
He lost the 1923 final to the other outstanding golfer of the era, Gene Sarazen, but would not be denied in 1924. Or 1925. Or 1926 … or 1927. “Sir Walter”, as he was known, won four in a row, beating Barnes again in 1924 in French Lick, Indiana, which we only mention as we like the name.
Jack Nicklaus – 5 USPGA Wins
Nicklaus, whom many consider to be the greatest golfer of all time, not only won the most majors, but was runner-up most often too – a staggering 19 times! Four of those second-placed finishes came in this tournament, but he can’t feel too aggrieved given he got his hands on the Wanamaker Trophy five times.
Nicklaus’s first win at this event came in 1963, whilst he tied for second with Arnold Palmer in defence of his title 12 months on. A second win did eventually come in 1971, the winner’s cheque having swollen to $40,000 by then. Win number three – payday $45,000 – came in 1973, with his penultimate USPGA title coming in 1975. Jack’s fifth and final victory in this event came on Hagen’s home soil, at Oak Hill in Rochester.
Tiger Best of the Rest
Tiger Woods is the best of the rest and is the only golfer in history – for now at least – to have won this tournament four times. Woods triumphed in 1999 and 2000, as well as 2006 and 2007. His victory in 1999 was his second major title after his storming win at the 1997 US Masters, and really parked an era of domination by the man from California.
Other Multiple Winners of the USPGA Championship
Over the years several other players have won this event on more than one occasion. With four of those still active, of which three would feel they have a very decent chance of adding to their tally, the list below could well change. One man who will certainly feel he can move higher up the USPGA pecking order is current champ Koepka.
The LIV golfer won that tour’s Singapore contest in warm-up for the defence of his crown and he will certainly feel he can join Tiger on four wins, if not this year, then certainly in the seasons ahead. Rory McIlroy is another who might well and this one again before calling time on his career, and must long for the carefree days of his youth when he won this tournament in 2012 and 2014.
- Gene Sarazen – 3 wins – 1922, 1923, 1933
- Sam Snead – 3 wins – 1942, 1949, 1951
- Brookes Koepka – 3 wins – 2018, 2019, 2023
- Players with 2 wins – Jim Barnes, Leo Diegel, Denny Shute, Paul Runyan, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Dave Stockton, Raymond Floyd, Lee Trevino, Larry Nelson, Nick Price, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Juston Thomas.