Largest Margin of Victory in a PGA Championship
Biggest Winning Margins in Stroke Play
The PGA Championship switched to a stroke play format in 1958 and has used stroke play ever since.- 8 shots by Rory McIlroy in 2012: This was McIlroy's second win in a major championship after the 2011 U.S. Open, and just like in that one, he won the 2012 PGA Championship by eight strokes. McIlroy had a three-stroke lead after the third round, but his closest competitors stumbled in the final round while he shot 66.
- 7 shots by Jack Nicklaus in 1980: His win in the 1980 PGA Championship was Nicklaus' second major victory of the year and his 17th overall win in a major championship. It was also his fifth win in the PGA, tying Walter Hagen for the tournament record. Nicklaus led by three over second-place Lon Hinkle after 54 holes, but by six over anyone else. He shot 69 in the final round.
- 6 shots by Nick Price in 1994: Price became the first golfer to win this tournament with a score below 270 in the 1994 PGA Championship, finishing at 269. His lead after three rounds was three strokes, and he posted a 67 in the final round.
Biggest Winning Margins in Match Play
Prior to 1958, the PGA Championship used a match play format. These are the largest margins of victory in the championship match during the tournament's match play era:- 8-and-7 — Paul Runyan over Sam Snead, 1938
- 7-and-6 — Ben Hogan over Mike Turnesa, 1948
- 7-and-6 — Sam Snead over Walter Burkemo, 1951
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- Biggest margin of victory ever in a U.S. Open
