Aug 10, 1989 CE
First Round Play
The opening round saw players navigating the challenging Kemper Lakes layout, with water hazards and thick rough testing the field of the year's final major.
Chronological Storyline (7 Milestones)
Aug 10, 1989 CE
Tournament Opens at Kemper Lakes
The 71st PGA Championship began at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Long Grove, Illinois, marking the first time the public course hosted a major championship.
Aug 11, 1989 CE
36-Hole Cut
After two rounds, the cut was made to narrow the field for the weekend, with only the top players and ties advancing to the final 36 holes.
Aug 12, 1989 CE
Moving Day at Kemper Lakes
The third round reshuffled the leaderboard as players jockeyed for position heading into the final round, with several contenders within striking distance.
Aug 13, 1989 CE
Sluman's Historic Final Round
Jeff Sluman fired a final-round 65, one of the lowest closing rounds in PGA Championship history, to charge from behind and seize the lead at Kemper Lakes.
By Matt Muskovac - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4833323
Aug 13, 1989 CE
Sluman Captures First Major
Jeff Sluman won his first and only major championship, finishing two strokes clear of the field to claim the Wanamaker Trophy at the 71st PGA Championship.
By Matt Muskovac - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4833323
Aug 13, 1989 CE
Public Course Hosts Major
Kemper Lakes Golf Club became one of the few public-access courses to host a major championship, providing a memorable setting for Jeff Sluman's breakthrough victory.