<P> In 1894, with 41 golf courses operating in the United States, two unofficial national championships for amateur golfers were organized . One was held at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island, and the other at St. Andrew's Golf Club in New York . In addition, and at the same time as the amateur event, St. Andrew's conducted an Open championship for professional golfers . None of the championships was officially sanctioned by a governing body for American golf, causing considerable controversy among players and organizers . Later in 1894 this led to the formation of the United States Golf Association (USGA), which became the first formal golf organization in the country . After the formation of the USGA, golf quickly became a sport of national popularity and importance . </P> <P> In February 1916 the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) was established in New York City . One month earlier, the wealthy department store owner Rodman Wanamaker hosted a luncheon with the leading golf professionals of the day at the Wykagyl Country Club in nearby New Rochelle . The attendees prepared the agenda for the formal organization of the PGA; consequently, golf historians have dubbed Wykagyl "The Cradle of the PGA ." The new organization's first president was Robert White, one of Wykagyl's best - known golf professionals . </P> <P> The first PGA Championship was held in October 1916 at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York . The winner, Jim Barnes, received $500 and a diamond - studded gold medal donated by Rodman Wanamaker . The 2016 winner, Jimmy Walker, earned $1.8 million . The champion is also awarded a replica of the Wanamaker Trophy, which was also donated by Wanamaker, to keep for one year, and a smaller - sized keeper replica Wanamaker Trophy . </P> <P> Initially a match play event, the PGA Championship was originally played in early fall but varied from May to December . Following World War II, the championship was mostly played in late May or late June, then moved to early July in 1953 and a few weeks later in 1954, with the finals played on Tuesday . As a match play event (with a stroke play qualifier), it was not uncommon for the finalists to play over 200 holes in seven days . The 1957 event lost money, and at the PGA meetings in November it was changed to stroke play, starting in 1958, with the standard 72 - hole format of 18 holes per day for four days, Thursday to Sunday . Network television broadcasters, preferring a large group of well - known contenders on the final day, pressured the PGA of America to make the format change . </P>

Does the winner of the pga championship get to keep the trophy
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