The 1997 PGA Championship was the 79th edition of the tournament, held at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. Davis Love III won his first and only major championship, finishing at 11-under-par 269, five strokes ahead of runner-up Justin Leonard. The victory was emotionally significant for Love, whose father, renowned golf instructor Davis Love Jr., had died in a 1988 plane crash.
Davis Love III opened the 79th PGA Championship with a 4-under-par 66 at Winged Foot Golf Club's West Course, taking a share of the first-round lead. The round positioned Love as an early frontrunner in his quest for a first major title.
Davis Love III shot a second consecutive 66 to reach 8-under-par at the halfway point, extending his lead over the field. His consistent play through 36 holes established him as the dominant figure of the tournament.
Davis Love III carded a 1-over-par 71 in the third round, while Justin Leonard surged with a 69 to close within striking distance. Love maintained the 54-hole lead but his margin narrowed as Leonard positioned himself for a Sunday charge.
Following his victory, Davis Love III emotionally dedicated the win to his father, Davis Love Jr., a renowned golf instructor who died in a 1988 plane crash. The win at Winged Foot carried deep personal significance for Love, who had long pursued a major title in his father's memory.
Davis Love III closed with a 4-under-par 66 in the final round to win the PGA Championship at 11-under-par 269, five strokes ahead of Justin Leonard. The victory marked Love's first major championship after years of being labeled one of the best players without a major title.
Justin Leonard, who had won the Open Championship just weeks prior, finished in second place at 6-under-par 274. Despite a strong tournament, Leonard could not overcome Love's dominant final-round performance.
The West Course at Winged Foot Golf Club, one of golf's most storied and demanding venues, hosted the PGA Championship for the first time since 1984. The course's thick rough and small greens tested the world's best players throughout the week.
Tiger Woods, who had won the Masters earlier in 1997 for his first major title, competed in his first PGA Championship as a professional. Woods finished tied for 29th, well off the lead, as Love III dominated the field at Winged Foot.
