Padraig Harrington will defend his PGA Championship title at the Hazeltine National Golf Club between August 13-16 2009. A fit again Tiger Woods will be among many hoping to defeat the Irishman in what will be another exciting and competitive event.
The Hazeltine National Golf Club
Designed by Robert Trench Jones, Hazeltine opened to the public in 1962 and was renowned as a long and demanding test for even the best of players. The 1970 US Open, won by Englishman Tony Jacklin, was contested in trying conditions not popular with the majority of competitors and events during that tournament initiated a change in the structure of the course.
To meet the rigorous standards of major championship golf, the course was modified by Jones and subsequently his son Rees resulting in it being awarded the 1991 US Open Championship. Payne Stewart triumphed that year with a play off victory over Scott Simpson.
Hazeltine has twice played host to the UC Women's Open, in 1966 and 1977, and the US Senior Open in 1983 saw victory for Billy Casper.
In 2002 the PGA Championship first came to Hazeltine, Rich Beem defeating a late surge by Tiger Woods, who birdied the final four holes, in a wonderfully exciting climax. One major event that will grace the course in 2016 is the fiercely competitive Ryder Cup between Europe and the US.
History of the PGA Championship
The first PGA Championship was played in 1916 the Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville with victory claimed by Englishman Jim Barnes. Earlier that year, Walter Hagen and his fellow professionals formed The Professional Golfers Association of America and laid foundations that hold firm to this day.
Hagen, Gene Sarazen and Denny Shute would dominate through the 20's and 30's and great names such as Ben Hogan and Sam Snead secured the Wanamaker Trophy in the following decades.
Originally contested as a match play tournament, in 1958 it became stroke play and a new era in the history of the PGA Championship was born. Great names continued to addorn the winners list with Gary Player triumphant and Jack Nicklaus equalling Hagen's five Championship titles.
Modern great Tiger Woods won back to back titles in 1999 and 2000 with contemporaries such as Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh joining him on the list of champions.
2009 PGA Championship
In the ninety odd years since its inception the PGA Championship has grown into one of the major events in the sporting calendar. The 2009 tournament will see the greatest players in the world contest one of golf's most sought after prizes. Those attending the Hazeltine National Golf Club between August 13-16 are sure to witness some memorable and captivating golf.
Sources:
BBC Sport
The PGA Championship
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