From the inaugural event in 1901, the MGA Amateur Championship was a match play tournament through 1966. When it became a stroke play event the next year, this left the MGA without a match play tournament. That changed in 1979 when the MGA Players' Championship was created and held at Interlachen Country Club. Since then, the Players' Championship has become one of the most coveted titles on the MGA schedule.

The very nature of match play makes winning the title a real challenge. The victor will have to play and win six matches over three, very long and grueling days, walking all six matches. Thus, the list of champions has the names of many outstanding, and younger, players. Scott Harris claimed the title the first year as well as three years later in 1982. Tom Lehman claimed the title in 1980 and 1981.  Other multiple winners include Steve Johnson (1988, 1989) and Terry O'Loughlin (1996, 1997).

In 2011 at Deacon's Lodge Golf Club, Ryan Peterson (Cannon Golf Club) claimed the championship, defeating Devin Holmes, the #33 seed (Rum River Hills Golf Club), 5 & 4. The event was plagued with thunderstorms on Day 1 that caused the second round matches to be completed on Day 2 before the Round of 16 could start.  Then, rain and unseasonably cool weather played havoc with the matches until the end.