The 1990 PGA Championship was the 72nd edition of the tournament, held at Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama. Australian Wayne Grady won his only major championship, defeating Fred Couples by six strokes. The tournament was overshadowed by controversy over Shoal Creek's all-white membership policy, which sparked national debate about discrimination in golf and led to reforms in the sport's approach to inclusion.
Civil rights groups and media outlets raised concerns about Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club's all-white membership policy ahead of the PGA Championship. The club had no Black members despite being located in Birmingham, Alabama, a city with a significant African American population.
Major corporate sponsors including IBM, Toyota, Honda, and others threatened to pull their advertising from the PGA Championship telecast unless Shoal Creek addressed its exclusionary membership policies. The pressure led Shoal Creek to invite its first Black member, Birmingham businessman Louis Willie.
The 1990 PGA Championship commenced at Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club. Australian Wayne Grady opened with a strong round, positioning himself among the early leaders. The field included many of the world's top golfers competing for the final major championship of the year.
Wayne Grady continued his strong play through the second round, maintaining his position near the top of the leaderboard. The cut was established after 36 holes, narrowing the field for the weekend rounds.
Wayne Grady took control of the tournament during the third round, building a significant lead heading into the final day. His consistent play separated him from the rest of the field, putting him in prime position to win his first major championship.
Australian Wayne Grady won the 1990 PGA Championship, finishing at 12-under-par 276, six strokes ahead of runner-up Fred Couples. This was Grady's only major championship victory. The tournament was also notable for the membership controversy that led to reforms in golf's approach to diversity and inclusion.
The 1990 PGA Championship's controversy over Shoal Creek's membership policies led to lasting changes in professional golf. The PGA of America and other golf organizations implemented policies requiring host clubs to demonstrate non-discriminatory membership practices, marking a significant step toward greater inclusion in the sport.