Incredibly, the 107th edition of the PGA Championship will be hosted by the PGA of America this month. The year’s second major takes place May 12-18 and returns to Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, site of two-time PGA Champion Justin Thomas’ first major in 2017.
As the son of PGA of America Golf Professional Mike Thomas, Justin’s PGA Championships are extra special to the Association. His victory eight years ago was my first PGA Championship as a PGA of America Board Member. Did you know Mike Thomas, PGA, served our Association as a Board of Director? He absolutely did.
As it displayed in 2017, Quail Hollow’s a terrific major championship venue. The hospitality from the city of Charlotte, the Carolinas Section and the entire state of North Carolina is always first class. The PGA Championship set corporate hospitality sales records in 2017, and organizers expect this year will be even better, backed by the strongest field in men’s golf. As we all know, history comes alive at the PGA Championship and annually it produces dramatic finishes and notable champions, including 2024 Champion Xander Schauffele, who captured the Wanamaker Trophy at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.
This month, Xander will lead a field of world-class golfers who will compete alongside the Corebridge Financial Team, our most accomplished playing PGA Club Professionals who earn spots as Top 20 finishers in the PGA Professional Championship. The opportunity to play alongside the best field in golf, in the only all-professional field among golf’s majors, will provide these PGA of America Members a memory of a lifetime.
They will represent the PGA of America at the highest level, and I encourage you to follow their journey. They are our peers, who also happen to be the best players in the Association and consistently maintain competitive form while balancing their day jobs. We should all be proud to watch these elite PGA of America Members tee it up on the world stage.
Since 1916, the Wanamaker Trophy has been hoisted by legends of the game, many who have captured the title multiple times, including Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen (five each), Tiger Woods (four) and Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka (two each), plus others. As the only major championship for professionals by professionals, the PGA Championship inspires the golfer in all of us by showcasing the PGA of America Golf Professionals who are the backbone of the game.
One of the highlights for the PGA of America is having the PGA Championship broadcast across a multimedia platform, including CBS Sports, ESPN, and ESPN+, as well as Golf Channel coverage, allowing us to deliver a breadth of compelling messages and storylines to 164 countries and territories reaching more than a half-billion households.
Through this global broadcast, we can share stories and promote the exceptional work of PGA of America Professionals who are utilizing the game to make a meaningful impact in their communities. This incredible audience reach enables us to elevate our marketing efforts in promoting the game and business of golf.
To make this championship better each year, it takes a passionate and dedicated team both on-site at Quail Hollow and back at our home in Frisco. I want to thank the PGA of America Championships Department, the Carolinas Section, the PGA staff at Quail Hollow and the additional PGA staff and volunteers who make the PGA Championship special.
I also want to recognize those involved in the PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup on Monday of PGA Championship Week. I look forward to seeing our PGA HOPE Veteran teams from around the nation, announcing them on the first tee, and giving out fist bumps and hugs.
Enjoy the 107th PGA Championship and let’s wish this year’s field – including our Corebridge Financial Team – the best of luck. I hope to see you at the PGA Championship. If so, please don’t hesitate to come up and introduce yourself. I would love to meet and talk with you. Thanks and God bless!
Sincerely,