PGA Championship 2018: Five Favourite PGA Championship Memories

We're days away from the PGA Championship (or USPGA Championship if you'd rather) and the office here at Hole19 HQ is literally buzzing with excitement.

As we get ready for the final major championship of 2018, we got to thinking about some of our favourite recent memories from bygone PGA Championships and thought we'd pull them all together in one place for your very own viewing pleasure (we're thoughtful like that!!).

So then, without further ado, here's our nostalgic walk down memory lane...

Tiger Woods (Hazeltine National 2002)

Many of us might believe Tiger's best shot ever to be the chip-in on the 16th at Augusta National back in 2005, or maybe even the 213-yard 6-iron from a fairway bunker over water at the Bell Canadian Open. If you speak to the great man himself - and Ernie Els for that matter - he will pick a memorable shot from the 2002 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National.

With the ball coming to rest close to the lip of the fairway bunker, Tiger had the audacity to take the unforgiving blade of a 3-iron and, while faced with a dodgy stance and trees within a matter of yards, stunned his playing partner by landing the ball a mere 20ft from the hole.

Rory McIlroy (Kiawah Island 2012)

Kiawah Island's first major appearance threw up a major memory for the ages when a then 23-year-old Rory McIlroy won by eight clear strokes, decimating the field with what still stands as a record score for the tournament in the stroke-play era.

This would be the first of two PGA Championship wins and looked at the time to be the first foundations of a new age of dominance for the Northern Irishman. Without a major win now since 2014, could he step up to the plate this week in Missouri?

Catch the final round highlights from the devastating 2012 win below...

JT's 'Cliffhanger' (Quail Hollow 2017)

On his way to a maiden major championship win, Justin Thomas was two shots back during his final round when faced with a mid-length putt on a hole which had been playing to its par and beyond all day.

As it trailed towards the cup JT's ball seemed determined not to take a break to the right and hung agonisingly over the edge for what seemed an eternity. Thankfully for the young Kentuckian, the ball eventually obliged and the crowd went wild!!

Phil Mickelson (Baltusrol 2005)

Back in 2005 the PGA Championship went to a Monday finish for only the third time in its history and Baltusrol played host to Phil Mickelson's second major championship.

Sealing the Wanamaker Trophy by expertly flopping to a few feet for birdie from thick rough, 'Lefty' was without a doubt the deserving champion and sent the watching crowd into raptures. At that time few would have predicted that 12 years could pass without another PGA Title - that is indeed, somehow, the case.

Catch the Mickelson flop-shot special below....

Tiger v Sergio (Medinah 1999)

In what could be seen as the first head-to-head in a career-long feud between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia, the then little-known Spaniard chased down Tiger's lead and was immediately brought to the attention of an approving global golfing public.

Heading into the back nine five shots clear, the lead quickly evaporated to a single stroke as Tiger headed into his final two holes. A stunning putt on the 17th green rescued an unlikely par and he would follow this with a rather less eventful par on the final hole to secure the first of four Wanamaker Trophies to date.

Catch a recap of the 1999 Tiger v Sergio tussle below. There's even an embrace on the 18th green which somehow just doesn't look right given their strained relationship since...

What's your favourite recent PGA Championship memory? Let us know below...

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