PGA of America to launch photo collection from archives

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Tapping into the vast image archives of the PGA Historical Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla., The PGA of America will unveil the new PGA Championship Photo Collection on PGA.com on Monday, Aug. 10. Golf collectors will be able to own their own copies of one dozen images of classic figures and moments from the PGA Championship, dating all the way back to 1916, when Jim Barnes captured the Inaugural PGA Championship at Siwanoy C.C. in Bronxville, N.Y.

From Walter Hagen to Gene Sarazen to golf's big three in the 1940s and 1950s -- Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead -- golf enthusiasts can purchase a grand piece of PGA Championship history. The historic photos may be purchased framed or unframed on one of golf's most popular Web sites, which averages over 32 million page views monthly.

"The PGA of America is excited to open the doors of our archives for fans of golf to own treasured keepsakes of some of the all-time great PGA Champions," said PGA President Jim Remy. "These timeless snapshots of historical figures and images that capture the drama of one of golf's storied majors -- the PGA Championship -- will be an impressive focal point of any golf aficionado's collection."

To order a PGA Championship Photo Collection item, be sure to visit the Shop area on www.pga.com beginning Monday, Aug. 10. Among the 12 dramatic moments that define the PGA Championship Photo Collection:

• Gene Sarazen capturing the 1922 PGA Championship at Oakmont (Pa.) C.C.

• Ben Hogan winning the 1946 and 1948 PGA Championships.

• Sam Snead buying a War Bond shortly after securing the 1942 PGA Championship in Atlantic City, N.J. Snead would report to duty in the U.S. Navy the very next day. A second image shows him shaking hands with U.S. Army Corp. Jim Turnesa after beating Turnesa in the match-play finals.

• Walter Hagen, "The Haig," won five PGA Championships in the 1920s, including four straight from 1924-1927.

• Byron Nelson, who would win the 1945 PGA Championship in Dayton Ohio as part of "The Streak," entertaining veterans that year; and two additional images of Nelson that pay tribute to his 1940 PGA Championship match-play triumph over Sam Snead.

• Tommy Armour, the "Silver Scot," earning the PGA Championship in 1930 in Flushing, N.Y.

• Two images of Barnes, including one of him teeing off in the finals of the Inaugural PGA Championship in 1916, when he beat runner-up Jock Hutchison.

Over the years, many of golf's greatest names have captured the PGA Championship, including Hagen and Jack Nicklaus, who share the record with five titles each. Four-time PGA Champion Tiger Woods returns this year after sitting out 2008 because of reconstructive knee surgery. The 91st PGA Championship is set for Aug. 13-16 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.

Padraig Harrington of Ireland is the reigning PGA Champion, becoming the first European in 78 years to hoist the coveted Wanamaker Trophy, last year at Oakland Hills Country Club outside of Detroit.

The PGA Historical Center, a part of PGA Village -- which is also the home of the PGA Golf Club and the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance -- is open to the public, and admission is free. Museum hours have been extended to Thursdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Christmas Eve; and daily from Dec. 26-Easter. Researchers may access the facility during off-hours by appointment. For more information on the PGA Historical Center, call 800-800-GOLF (4653) or visit www.pgavillage.com/stlucie.