The inaugural event was played in 1937 at
Augusta National Golf Club, with 54-year-old
Jock Hutchison winning the 54-hole event on Thursday, December 2. The second edition at Augusta was reduced to 36 holes due to rain, but had an 18-hole playoff on December 9 to decide the winner,
Fred McLeod. The next edition was moved to
Florida in January, No tournaments were held in 1943 and 1944 due to
World War II. The event returned in 1945 at the
PGA National Golf Course, where it stayed until 1962. The event moved to different courses in Florida through
2000. Due to scheduling moves, two tournaments were played in 1979 and 1984 and none in 1983, and 1985. It moved from winter to mid-April in
1990 and when it rotated to various sites in
2001, it became a late spring event, played in late May or early June. It was a 36-hole event until 1954; after four years at 54 holes, it became a 72-hole event in 1958. In the past, the event has had long spells of playing on a single host course, but currently it is played on a different course each year. In 2011, the PGA of America and Whirlpool Corporation commenced an agreement which designated the KitchenAid brand as official home appliance brand of the PGA and presenting sponsor of the Senior PGA Championship. Harbor Shores Golf Club in Benton Harbor, Michigan, was designated as the championship's home course, hosting in alternate years starting in 2012. The Championship was canceled in 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. In 2014, the Whirlpool extended their arrangement through 2018, with KitchenAid becoming the title sponsor of the event. A further extension through 2024 was agreed in 2018, which proved to be the last. ==Eligibility==