The Senior PGA Championship is one of the major championships in men's senior golf. It is administered by the Professional Golfers' Association of America and is recognised as a major championship by both the Champions Tour and the European Seniors Tour. It was formerly an unofficial money event on the European Seniors Tour, but from 2007 it is an official money event. Winners gain entry into the same season's PGA Championship. The winners prior to 1980 are not consider major champions of this event by the Champions Tour. It was founded in 1937, and the inaugural event was played at Augusta National Golf Club. The lower age limit is 50, which is the standard limit for men's senior professional golf tournaments. In the past the event has had long spells of playing on a single host course, but currently it is played on a different course each year. Two tournaments were played in 1979 and 1984, and no tournaments were held in 1939, 1943, 1944, 1983, and 1985. The tournament was gone by several different names:
Past Winners Senior PGA Championship 2009 Michael Allen 2008 Jay Haas 2007 Denis Watson 2006 Jay Haas 2005 Mike Reid 2004 Hale Irwin 2003 John Jacobs 2002 Fuzzy Zoeller 2001 Tom Watson PGA Seniors' Championship 2000 Doug Tewell 1999 Allen Doyle 1998 Hale Irwin 1997 Hale Irwin 1996 Hale Irwin 1995 Raymond Floyd 1994 Lee Trevino 1993 Tom Wargo 1992 Lee Trevino 1991 Jack Nicklaus 1990 Gary Player General Foods PGA Seniors' Championship 1989 Larry Mowry 1988 Gary Player 1987 Chi-Chi RodrÃguez 1986 (Feb.) Gary Player 1984 (Dec.) Peter Thom 1984 (Jan.) Arnold Palmer PGA Seniors' Championship 1982 (Dec.) Don January 1981 Miller Barber 1980 Arnold Palmer 1979 (Dec.) Don January 1979 (Feb.) Jack Fleck 1978 Joe Jimenez 1977 Julius Boros 1976 Pete Cooper 1975 Charlie Sifford 1974 Roberto DeVicenzo 1973 Sam Snead 1972 Sam Snead 1971 Julius Boros 1970 Sam Snead 1969 Tommy Bolt 1968 Chandler Harper 1967 Sam Snead 1966 Fred Haas 1965 Sam Snead 1964 Sam Snead 1963 Herman Barron 1962 Paul Runyan 1961 Paul Runyan 1960 Dick Metz 1959 Willie Goggin 1958 Gene Sarazen 1957 Al Watrous 1956 Pete Burke 1955 Mortie Dutra 1954 Gene Sarazen 1953 Harry Schwab 1952 Ernie Newnham 1951 Al Watrous 1950 Al Watrous 1949 Marshall Crichton 1948 Charles McKenna 1947 Jock Hutchison 1946 Eddie Williams 1945 Eddie Williams 1943-44 No championships due to World War II 1942 Eddie Williams 1941 Jack Burke, Sr. 1940 Otto Hackbarth 1939 No championship 1938 Fred McLeod 1937 Jock Hutchison
