The US PGA Championship started life as a matchplay event and evolved into what it is today the fourth and final of the season's Majors.

It was set up at a meeting of professional golfers hosted by department store magnate Rodman Wanamaker in New York in January 1916 and staged for the first time later that year.

Pro players were held in poor esteem by comparison with their wealthy amateur counterparts at the time and the new national event was seen as one way their profile could be embellished with a dash of stardust.

The first winner was English ex-pat Jim Barnes, who beat Scottish immigrant Jock Hutchison one up in the final at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York. He received the Wanamaker Trophy, which is still presented.

Prominent at that original meeting was Walter Hagen, one of the game's all-time greats who played a significant role in raising the profile of professional golfers and who will always be associated with the new tournament.

Between 1921 and 1927 Hagen, a phenomenal matchplay golfer, reached the final six times and won five. That is a record number of victories, though it was equalled by someone yet more eminent, Jack Nicklaus, beginning in 1963.

There was criticism of the PGA when its premier tournament was switched to strokeplay in 1958, bringing it into line with the other three Majors and depriving it of its unique status, but broadcasters were not among those complaining.

The US PGA lacks a certain glamour for all its status, but among those to have won more than once are some celebrated names, including Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, Gary Player, Vijay Singh and, of course, Tiger Woods.