The five longest courses in major championship history and the players who won them

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Phil Mickelson becoming the oldest major champion in the game’s history was not the only record broken during the 2021 PGA Championship.

Of course, Phil Mickelson rolled back the years to win at Kiawah Island. His sixth major victory came just weeks before his 51st birthday. It had also been nearly eight years since his previous major triumph.

What made Mickelson’s victory all the more remarkable was the fact that the 2021 PGA Championship was played on the longest major course of all time. The Ocean Course measured at 7,876 yards.

As noted by Golf Monthly, it is the only time a major has been played on a course measuring at over 7,800 yards.

With that in mind, here is a look at the five longest major courses in history.

5. 2012 PGA Championship (7,676 yards)

Venue: Kiawah Island Ocean Course

Winner: Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy won his first two major titles by eight shots, with the second victory coming at Kiawah Island at the PGA Championship.

McIlroy made things look largely easy in South Carolina. However, even the Northern Irishman struggled in the particularly windy conditions on Friday, posting a 75. The average score for the day was above 78, while those who reached the halfway stage at six over par made the cut.

4. 2021 US Open (7,685 yards)

Venue: Torrey Pines South

Winner: Jon Rahm

Perhaps surprisingly, it was Russell Henley who shared the lead with Louis Oosthuizen after the first round. And Henley was joined at the top by Richard Bland at the halfway stage.

Ultimately however, it was Jon Rahm who secured his first major title after a superb 67 in the final round.

In fact, no one managed to post a lower score across any of the four rounds in San Diego.

3. 2015 US Open (7,695 yards)

Venue: Chambers Bay

Winner: Jordan Spieth

The 2015 US Open secured quite the place in golfing folklore. Gary Player labelled Chambers Bay the worst major championship venue he had ever seen. The greens came in for a lot of criticism.

Interestingly, five under par was the leading score after each of the first two rounds, as well as the winning score. Dustin Johnson three-putted from 12 feet on the final hole to ensure that Jordan Spieth followed his Masters victory earlier in the year with his second major title.

2. 2017 US Open (7,741 yards)

Venue: Erin Hills

Winner: Brooks Koepka

Despite becoming the longest major championship course of all time, the 2017 US Open saw Brooks Koepka tie the record for the lowest score in the event’s history.

Koepka shot 67 on Sunday in Wisconsin to win by four on 16 under par.

It would prove to be the first of five major titles for the 35-year-old.

1. 2021 PGA Championship (7,876 yards)

Venue: Kiawah Island South Course

Winner: Phil Mickelson

Mickelson only broke 70 once all week at Kiawah Island. Nevertheless, he still managed to beat Koepka and Oosthuizen by two shots.

In true Mickelson fashion, he only made seven pars during his final round. He also made six bogeys and five birdies.