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Valhalla Golf Club opened the same year Jack Nicklaus won his last Masters, making the club relatively young compared to many of the classic golf courses. But in its relatively short history, the club has hosted three memorable PGA Championships and one legendary Ryder Cup. Get ready to gallop through history.
1996 PGA Championship: Kenny Perry goes cold
Is it better to warm up or stay warm? Kentucky’s Kenny Perry went -11 to take the lead in the clubhouse Sunday afternoon, but then made a curious and fateful decision. Instead of going to the range to stay warm for a potential playoff, Perry joined the broadcast booth for about 20 minutes to watch the final groups come in. Steve Elkington, Tommy Tolles and Vijay Singh failed in their attempts to match Perry, but Mark Brooks birdied the final hole to finish at -11. Perry was pushed from the booth back to the par-5 18th hole, and his tee shot landed quickly in the rough left. Brooks, still hot, got to the green in two and birdied the hole, and Perry couldn’t even get to the green with his fourth shot. It was the first of two heartbreaking major losses for Perry in the playoffs.
2000 PGA Championship: Tiger points the way
The majors’ next stop in Valhalla was in the Prime Tiger Era, and Woods added to his already growing legend. Woods, the defending champion, and Bob May battled to make the playoffs and, well… you know what happened. Woods created a career highlight moment when he chased a 25-foot putt into the cup on the first playoff hole, aiming all the way. He was the beneficiary of a fortuitous (and, to some, suspicious) bounce on the 18th. And when it was over, Woods had won his second PGA, and his fifth major, by a single stroke — his third major in a calendar year. He would close out the Tiger Slam at next year’s Masters.
Ryder Cup 2008: dizzying
Coming into the 2008 Ryder Cup, the United States had not won the biennial showdown against Europe in this millennium. But Paul Azinger brought new life and new ideas to the American team, and the result was total dominance across the board. From Anthony Kim’s individual dominance over Sergio Garcia to Boo Weekley’s driving gallop, this was a complete and total victory for the United States.
2014 PGA Championship: Duel in the Dark
The last time Valhalla hosted the PGA Golf Championship was in the Rory McIlroy era. After a victory in the Open Championship, McIlroy took control of the lead on Friday, lost it early on Sunday and then battled in near-total darkness to cap off the victory. Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler, playing in the pair ahead of McIlroy, actually waved him onto the green at the 18th, and McIlroy managed to par the hole to win by a single stroke. That win marked McIlroy’s fourth major… and 10 years later, he’s still stuck at four.
With its dramatic final hole and a stacked field, there’s a good chance the 2024 PGA Championship will end in dramatic fashion. This year’s version has a high standard to live up to.