PGA champions

The PGA Championship is the fourth, and arguably the least prestigious, of golf’s four majors. Coming on the heels of the Masters, U.S. Open, and British Open, the last leg of the Grand Slam generally falls in the dog days of summer, often making conditions miserable for players and fans alike.

Still, winning the official championship of the Professional Golfers Association of America counts as one of the season’s big accomplishments, and it has played a major role in Tiger Woods’ pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record for major championship wins (18). Woods has claimed four PGAs among his first 14 majors.

Otherwise, the winners list is a mixed bag of big names and one-time wonders. Here it is, highlighting the last 11 (beginning with Tiger’s first), with a little bit about what they did and where they did it:

2009 — Y. E. Yang, a 37-year-old who had gone to Q-school just a year earlier, became the first Asian-born player to win a major championship, defeating Woods by three strokes at Hazeltine. Woods previously was 14-0 when leading a major at the start of the final round.

2008 — Padraig Harrington overcome Sergio Garcia on the back nine on Sunday at Oakland Hills in Michigan to add the PGA to the British Open crown he won earlier in the summer.

2007 — Tiger Woods held off Woody Austin by two strokes at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Okla., to win for the fourth time.

2006 — Tiger Woods shot all four rounds in the 60s and finished 18 under par in Medinah, Ill.

2005 – Phil Mickelson claimed his second major with a tap-in birdie on the par-5 18th hole to win at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J.

2004 — Vijay Singh won a three-way playoff with Justin Leonard and Chris DiMarco at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisc.

2003 — Shaun Micheel held off Chad Campbell at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y. for his first career victory.

2002 — Rich Beem blew past Tiger Woods on the back nine on Sunday at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.

2001 — David Toms finished with a 15-under 265 to set a major championship 72-hole record at the Atlanta Athletic Club.

2000 — Tiger Woods won as the PGA Championship returned to Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.

1999 — Tiger Woods held off 19-year-old Spaniard Sergio Garcia by one stroke at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club.

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