On this day in 1916, a group of 35 individuals, including the legendary Walter Hagen, convened for an exploratory meeting, which resulted in the formation of The PGA of America.
During the meeting, Wanamaker hinted the newly formed organization needed an annual all-professional tournament, and offered to put up $2,500 and various trophies and medals as part of the prize fund.
Wanamaker believed that the Championship should be conducted similar to the British News of the World Tournament. That championship, a 36-hole elimination match-play tournament, was the PGA Championship of Great Britain. Both the British Open and the US Open were played at medal play over 72 holes. Wanamaker’s offer was informally accepted, and seven months later, the first PGA Championship was played at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, N.Y. British-born professional Jim Barnes and Jock Hutchison, a native of St. Andrews, Scotland, played in the final match of the inaugural PGA Championship. Barnes emerged a 1-up victor.
