Kansas' Surprising Connections to the PGA Championship and Wanamaker Trophy
As the world's top golfers compete in the PGA Championship in the Philadelphia area, the event highlights unexpected historical ties to Topeka, Kansas. The prestigious Wanamaker Trophy, awarded to the winner, is named after Rodman Wanamaker, who hosted the 1916 luncheon that established the Professional Golfers Association of America. Interestingly, local landmarks in Topeka, including Wanamaker Elementary School and Wanamaker Road, are named after Rodman’s father, John Wanamaker, the first U.S. Postmaster General. This historical connection links the capital city of Kansas to the heritage of one of golf's major championships. Furthermore, the contemporary link continues with Gary Woodland, a golfer from Shawnee Heights, Kansas, competing in this year's tournament. Woodland, aged 41, recently secured his first PGA Tour victory in seven years by winning the Texas Children’s Houston Open earlier in 2026. His participation adds a current local dimension to the historic ties between Kansas and the PGA Championship, bridging past legacy with present-day competition on the national stage.
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