On This Day in Golf History: Shaun Micheel’s 2003 PGA Championship Victory
By Chris Mascaro. Originally published on Substack on August 18, 2026.
August 17, 2003 — Shaun Micheel Completes an Unforgettable Major Championship Week
On August 17, 2003, the 85th PGA Championship finished with a wonderful friend, Shaun Micheel, raising the Wanamaker Trophy at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York.
Few could have predicted that Shaun would be holding the Wanamaker Trophy.
He opened with a 1-under-par 69, putting himself in position for what would become one of golf’s great underdog major championship stories. He followed with rounds of 68 and 69 and entered Sunday tied for the lead with Chad Campbell.
Shaun’s lead bounced between 2 and 3 shots through 12 holes. Shaun bogeyed 13 and combined with a Campbell birdie, the lead was down to 1.
Shaun bounced back with a birdie on 14 and the lead was back to 3. Another bogey, birdie exchange on 15, and the lead was back down to 1.
Shaun birdied 16 to increase his lead back to 2, with 2 holes to play.
But the bogey monster raised its ugly head again on 17, and the last twosome on the course headed to the 72nd hole one stroke apart.
After a pair of good drives, then came the shot that forever defined this championship.
Standing on the 72nd hole with that one-shot lead, Shaun faced roughly 175 yards into Oak Hill’s 18th green. He pulled his magic 7-iron and produced one of the great pressure shots in major championship history.
The ball landed on the green, tracked toward the flag…and stopped just inches from the cup.
Game. Set. Major Championship. 🏆
Micheel tapped in for birdie, a final-round 70 and a 4-under-par total of 276, defeating Chad Campbell by two shots.
What makes the story even better?
Shaun arrived at Oak Hill ranked 169th in the world, making his 164th PGA Tour start. Against a field featuring 96 of the world’s Top 100 players, he walked away a major champion.
That 7-iron remains one of the most memorable closing shots in PGA Championship history.
And I’m proud to say Shaun is a wonderful friend and a 40x guest on the show.
2003 PGA Champion • Oak Hill Country Club
Shaun Micheel: 69-68-69-70 — 276 (-4). Chad Campbell: 278 (-2).
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