The PGA Professional Championship is a golf tournament for golf club professionals and teachers who are members of the Professional Golfers' Association of America. It has been held by the PGA of America since 1968, when touring professionals split off to found the PGA Tour. It was known as the PGA Club Professional Championship until 2006 and as the PGA Professional National Championship from 2006 through 2015

Sam Snead and Bob Rosburg are the only players to win a major championship and the PGA Professional Championship. Bruce Fleisher and Larry Gilbert each would go on to win a senior major. Several other winners have had PGA Tour careers, either before or after winning the championship. The first edition in 1968 was held in early December in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The leading 20 players in the event receive an entry into that year's PGA Championship. The winner gets six exemptions into the PGA Tour for the next season, three of which must be opposite The Open Championship or World Golf Championship events. The top five finishers are also given entry into the second round of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament.

Although the event gives invitations to the men's PGA event, women are eligible to compete. Those who have made the 36-hole cut include Suzy Whaley (2005) and Karen Paolozzi (2016). Paolozzi placed inside the top 20 in 2016, but was not given entry due to the "Whaley Rule," where women must play from the same tees as the men during both the sectional and national tournaments.

Eligibility To earn entry into the PGA Professional Championship, players must have PGA membership, be certified as Class A PGA Professionals, and cannot have more than ten combined starts on professional tours (including various developmental tours, senior tours, and mini-tours) during a preceding twelve-month period, not counting majors. Players earn entry by allocations from championships of their respective PGA sections, as the defending champions of the Assistant PGA Professional Championship, or as former champions of the event.

Format The championship is a 72-hole stroke play tournament played over four days. Currently the field consists of 312 professionals representing the 41 sections of the PGA of America. At the end of two rounds, the top 90 and ties compete in round three. After round three, the field is reduced to the leading 70 and ties. Because of the large field, two courses are used for the first two rounds. The final two rounds are played on one of those courses.

The format has varied over years: 1968–1971: Two courses used for the first two rounds. A cut after two rounds with the leading 90 and ties playing in the last two rounds. 1972–1996: Three courses used for the first three rounds. A cut after three rounds with the leading 90 and ties playing in the last round. 1997–2005: One course used. A cut after two rounds with the leading 70 and ties playing in the last two rounds. 2006–2013: Two courses used for the first two rounds. A cut after two rounds with the leading 70 and ties playing in the last two rounds. 2014–present: Two courses used for the first two rounds. A cut after two rounds with the leading 90 and ties playing in the third round and then a second cut with the leading 70 and ties playing in the last round.

From 1968 to 1996 the tournament was played in the fall, anywhere from late September to early December. From 1997 to 2018, the tournament was played in the second half of June, six to seven weeks before the PGA Championship. which was held in mid-August. With the move of the PGA Championship to May in 2019, the PGA Professional Championship was moved to late April/early May.

Qualification for the PGA Championship The 20 leading players receive an entry into the following PGA Championship. The number of qualifiers was reduced from 40 to 25 in 1994 and then to 20 in 2006. If there is a tie for 20th place, a playoff occurs until exactly twenty advance to the PGA Championship.

With the change in dates from 1997, there were two club professional championships between the 1996 and 1997 PGA Championships. As a result only the winner of the 1996 event received an entry to the 1997 PGA Championship, 25 players qualifying through the 1997 event. The other players making the cut in the 1996 club professional championship were eligible to play in the 1997 event.

The 2020 edition of the PGA Professional Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For that year only, the 20 PGA Professionals given entry into the PGA Championship were based on a points system.2019 PGA Professional Player of the Year Standings

Winners Year Winner Score To par Margin ofvictory Runner(s)-up Winner'sshare ($) Venue LocationPGA Professional Championship 2026 Jesse Droemer 283 −1 1 stroke Ben Kern Bandon Dunes Bandon, Oregon 2025 Tyler Collet 272 −15 10 strokes Jesse Droemer 66,700 PGA Golf Club Port St. Lucie, Florida 2024 Ben Polland 286 −2 3 strokes Jared JonesAndrew Svoboda 60,000 PGA Frisco Frisco, Texas 2023 Braden Shattuck 279 −9 1 stroke Michael BlockMatt Cahill 60,000 Twin Warriors Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico 2022 Jesse Mueller 273 −10 5 strokes Michael BlockJared Jones 60,000 Barton Creek Austin, Texas 2021 Omar Uresti (2) 276 −11 3 strokes Frank Bensel Jr. 60,000 PGA Golf Club Port St. Lucie, Florida 2020 Canceled Barton Creek Austin, Texas 2019 Alex Beach 277 −10 2 strokes Danny Balin 55,000 Belfair Bluffton, South Carolina 2018 Ryan Vermeer 283 −5 2 strokes Sean McCartyBob Sowards 55,000 Bayonet Seaside, California 2017 Omar Uresti 283 −4 Playoff Dave McNabb 50,000 Crosswater Sunriver, Oregon 2016 Rich Berberian Jr. 277 −11 1 stroke Mark BrownOmar Uresti 75,000 Turning Stone Verona, New YorkPGA Professional National Championship 2015 Matt Dobyns (2) 279 −3 1 stroke Ben Polland 75,000 Philadelphia Cricket Flourtown, Pennsylvania 2014 Michael Block 286 −2 Playoff Jamie Broce 75,000 The Dunes Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 2013 Rod Perry 277 −10 3 strokes Ryan Polzin 75,000 Crosswater Sunriver, Oregon 2012 Matt Dobyns 275 −13 8 strokes Kelly MitchumRod Perry 75,000 Bayonet Seaside, California 2011 David Hutsell 274 −11 Playoff Scott ErdmannFaber Jamerson 75,000 Hershey Hershey, Pennsylvania 2010 Mike Small (3) 278 −8 3 strokes Sonny Skinner 75,000 French Lick French Lick, Indiana 2009 Mike Small (2) 277 −7 1 stroke Steve SchneiterMark Sheftic 75,000 Twin Warriors Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico 2008 Scott Hebert 276 −12 1 stroke Sonny Skinner 75,000 Reynolds Plantation Greensboro, Georgia 2007 Chip Sullivan 281 −7 4 strokes Ryan BenzelMike Small 75,000 Crosswater Sunriver, Oregon 2006 Ron Philo Jr. 278 −10 Playoff Alan Schulte 75,000 Turning Stone Verona, New YorkPGA Club Professional Championship 2005 Mike Small (1) 289 +1 3 strokes Travis Long 67,000 Kiawah Island Kiawah Island, South Carolina 2004 Bob Sowards 276 −12 1 stroke Mike Small 60,000 Longaberger Licking County, Ohio 2003 Tim Thelen (2) 282 −6 1 stroke Steve Schneiter 53,000 Twin Warriors Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico 2002 Barry Evans 281 −7 2 strokes Mike Gilmore 47,000 Valhalla Louisville, Kentucky 2001 Wayne DeFrancesco 278 −10 3 strokes John AberDon BerryMark BrownTim Thelen 40,000 Crosswater Sunriver, Oregon 2000 Tim Thelen (1) 214 +1 Playoff Mark Brown 40,000 Oak Tree Edmond, Oklahoma 1999 Jeff Freeman 287 −1 2 strokes Milan SwilorChris ToulsonBrett Upper 40,000 Whistling Straits Kohler, Wisconsin 1998 Mike Burke Jr. 281 −7 3 strokes Bob Gaus 40,000 Pinehurst Resort Pinehurst, North Carolina 1997 Bruce Zabriski 281 −7 1 stroke Mike Burke Jr.Jay OvertonSteve Schneiter 28,000 Pinehurst Resort Pinehurst, North Carolina 1996 Darrell Kestner 271 −17 1 stroke Dan Bateman 32,000 PGA West La Quinta, California 1995 Steve Schneiter 278 −10 1 stroke John DeForestBob Ford 32,000 PGA West La Quinta, California 1994 Sammy Rachels 284 −1 Playoff Darrell KestnerRon McDougal 32,000 The Oaks Osage Beach 1993 Jeff Roth 275 −13 2 strokes John Lee 32,000 PGA National Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 1992 Ron McDougal 273 −15 3 strokes Sammy Rachels 32,000 PGA West La Quinta, California 1991 Larry Gilbert (3) 267 −14 1 stroke Gene FiegerRon McDougal 32,000 Doral Doral, Florida 1990 Brett Upper 275 −13 3 strokes Gibby GilbertLarry Gilbert 32,000 PGA West La Quinta, California 1989 Bruce Fleisher 277 −11 3 strokes Jeff Thomsen 30,000 PGA West La Quinta, California 1988 Bob Boyd 287 +1 Playoff Rick Morton 30,000 Pinehurst Resort Pinehurst, North Carolina 1987 Jay Lumpkin 279 −9 3 strokes Gibby GilbertBob MenneJeff Roth 30,000 PGA West La Quinta, California 1986 Bob Lendzion 284 −4 1 stroke Bob Betley 30,000 PGA West La Quinta, California 1985 Ed Dougherty 277 −11 2 strokes Jim White 27,500 La Quinta La Quinta, California 1984 Bill Schumaker 284 −4 Playoff Gary Ostrega 25,000 PGA National Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 1983 Larry Webb 283 −5 4 strokes Bob Ford 20,000 La Quinta La Quinta, California 1982 Larry Gilbert (2) 284 −4 1 stroke Steve Benson 20,000 PGA National Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 1981 Larry Gilbert (1) 285 −3 Playoff Don Padgett II 20,000 PGA National Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 1980 John Traub 283 −5 2 strokes Jim Albus 20,000 PGA National Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 1979 Buddy Whitten 278 −8 Playoff Jack Lewis Jr. 20,000 Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain, Georgia 1978 John Gentile 276 −10 Playoff Jim Ferree 17,000 Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain, Georgia 1977 Laurie Hammer 282 −4 1 stroke Steve Benson 16,500 Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain, Georgia 1976 Bob Galloway 280 −6 1 stroke Jim FerriellLarry GilbertGeorge Lanning 16,500 Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain, Georgia 1975 Roger Watson (2) 279 −7 Playoff David Jimenez 16,500 Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain, Georgia 1974 Roger Watson (1) 284 −3 Playoff Sam Snead 16,500 Pinehurst Resort Pinehurst, North Carolina 1973 Rives McBee 282 −5 3 strokes Stan Brion 16,500 Pinehurst Resort Pinehurst, North Carolina 1972 Don Massengale 280 −6 2 strokes Bob Bruno 15,000 Pinehurst Resort Pinehurst, North Carolina 1971 Sam Snead 275 −11 5 strokes Ron LetellierJerry Steelsmith 15,000 Pinehurst Resort Pinehurst, North Carolina 1970 Rex Baxter 285 −3 1 stroke Bob DudenErnie George 8,000 Sunol Valley Sunol, California 1969 Bob Rosburg 275 −13 1 stroke Jimmy Wright 8,000 Roadrunner Chandler, Arizona 1968 Howell Fraser 272 −15 4 strokes Chuck MalchaskiBob Rosburg 8,000 Century Scottsdale, Arizona

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External links

Coverage on PGA of America web site