How was the original PGA Championship format different from the modern tournament format?

The original format of the PGA Championship differed significantly from the modern tournament. When the event was launched in 1916, it was contested as a 36-hole elimination match-play tournament rather than the 72-hole stroke-play competition used today.1

In match play, competitors play hole-by-hole, with the winner determined by who leads by more holes than remain to be played. Conversely, the modern stroke play format requires players to compete against the entire field, with the winner being the individual who completes the stipulated rounds in the fewest total strokes. The PGA Championship officially transitioned to the 72-hole stroke-play format in 1958. This shift was part of a broader trend in professional golf, as stroke play became preferred for televised events because it allows broadcasters to easily track the leaders competing against one another until the tournament's conclusion.21