Harper Lin
Golf's major championships, commonly known as the majors, are the most prestigious tournaments in golf. There are four major championships in men's professional golf: The Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. These tournaments are played annually and have a rich history, with the first major, The Open Championship, dating back to 1860. The Masters, first played in 1934, is the most recent men's major to be founded. Winning one of these tournaments can make or break a player's career, offering enormous prestige, history, and prize money.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of major tournaments | 4 |
| The Masters Tournament | Played in April, hosted by Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia; the smallest field of the majors, generally under 100 players |
| PGA Championship | Played in May, hosted by the PGA of America at various locations in the U.S.; known for its rotating venue system |
| U.S. Open | Played in June, hosted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) at various locations across America's iconic golf courses |
| The Open Championship | Colloquially known as the British Open, it is the oldest of the majors; held at various locations |
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The Masters Tournament
The tournament was first staged in 1934 as the "Augusta National Invitation Tournament", formally adopting the name "The Masters" in 1939. Amateur golf champion Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts founded the tournament. After his grand slam in 1930, Jones acquired the former indigo plantation and plant nursery with the idea of building a golf course for his retirement. He co-designed the Augusta National course with architect Alister MacKenzie, which first opened in 1933. The course has been modified many times by different architects since then.
The tournament has several traditions, including awarding a green jacket (Pantone 342C, "Augusta Green") to the champion since 1949. The Champions Dinner, inaugurated by Ben Hogan in 1952, is held on the Tuesday before each Masters and is only open to past champions and certain board members of the Augusta National Golf Club. Beginning in 1963, distinguished golfers, usually past champions, have hit an honorary tee shot on the morning of the first round to commence play.
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PGA Championship
The PGA Championship, often referred to as the US PGA Championship or USPGA outside the United States, is one of the four major championships in golf. It is an annual tournament conducted by the Professional Golfers' Association of America and is the only one of the four majors that is exclusively for professional players.
The first PGA Championship was held in October 1916 at the Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York, and was won by Jim Barnes. The tournament was initially designed as a match play format, but transitioned to stroke play in 1958. It is traditionally positioned as the final major of the season, often carrying the moniker "Glory's Last Shot". However, since 2019, the tournament has been played in May, serving as the season's second major.
The PGA Championship has a rotating venue system, showcasing some of America's finest golf courses. The state of New York has hosted the championship the most times (13), followed by Ohio (11) and Pennsylvania (9). The venues have varied from coastal challenges like Kiawah Island to historic links such as Oakland Hills. The tournament has also been held at Quail Hollow Club, considered one of the finest courses in the United States.
Winning the PGA Championship brings significant privileges and improves a player's career security. Champions are automatically invited to play in the other three majors and The Players Championship for the next five years, and they earn exemptions on the PGA Tour and membership on the DP World Tour. The PGA Championship is a prestigious event that has been graced by legends such as Walter Hagen, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods, each of whom has left an indelible mark on the rich history of the tournament.
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U.S. Open
The U.S. Open is one of the four major championships in golf, alongside the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, and The Open Championship (also known as the British Open). It is hosted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and played at various locations across the United States.
The U.S. Open has a rich history, dating back to its inception in 1895 when it was played on a nine-hole course at the Newport Country Club in Rhode Island. The tournament has since been played on 52 different golf courses across the country, showcasing the diverse landscape of American golf.
What sets the U.S. Open apart is its commitment to accessibility and meritocracy. Unlike other majors with fixed venues, the U.S. Open travels to different iconic golf courses each year, from the coastal cliffs of Pebble Beach to the historic Pinehurst No. 2. Through rigorous local and sectional qualifying rounds, the tournament is genuinely "open," offering a unique opportunity for any amateur or professional golfer to pursue glory.
The U.S. Open has been a theatre of dreams, where legends have been born and memorable moments etched into golfing history. Notable moments include Francis Ouimet's victory as a 20-year-old amateur in 1913, and Payne Stewart's triumphant putt on the 18th at Pinehurst in 1999. The tournament has also witnessed the dominance of American golfers, with the title being won mostly by players from the United States since 1911.
The U.S. Open is more than just a golf tournament; it is a celebration of the spirit of American golf, blending rich traditions, fierce challenges, and enduring legacies. It is a platform where dreams are realized, and golfers have the chance to solidify their legends in the sport.
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The Open Championship
The Open is one of the four men's major golf championships, alongside the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, and the U.S. Open. Since the PGA Championship moved to May in 2019, The Open has been the fourth and final major tournament of the year, taking place in mid-July. It is called The Open because it is theoretically "open" to all, i.e., professional and amateur golfers. In practice, the current event is a professional tournament that includes a small number of leading amateur players by invitation or qualification.
The winner of The Open Championship is named ""The Champion Golfer of the Year," a title that dates back to the first Open in 1860, and receives the Claret Jug as a trophy, first awarded in 1872. The reigning champion of the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush was American Scottie Scheffler, who won with a score of 267 (17 under par). The first Open Championship was played on October 17, 1860, at Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland, over three rounds of the twelve-hole links course.
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Women's majors
Women's golf majors, also known as LPGA majors, are the most prestigious tournaments in women's golf. There are five globally recognized LPGA majors:
- The Chevron Championship: Organized by the LPGA, this tournament was previously known as the LPGA Championship until 2014. It has since been taken over by the PGA of America and renamed the Women's PGA Championship.
- The Women's PGA Championship: This major is hosted by the PGA of America and played at various locations. It was initially designed as a match-play format but transitioned to stroke play in 1958.
- The U.S. Women's Open: Operated by the United States Golf Association, this major is known for travelling across America's iconic golf courses, offering a distinct challenge each year. It is open to any amateur or professional golfer through rigorous local and sectional qualifying rounds.
- The Women's Open: Organized by The R&A since a 2016 merger with the Ladies Golf Union.
- The Evian Championship: Operated by the Ladies European Tour, this major has seen some of the lowest scores in relation to par in women's golf. Chun In-gee set the record at 21-under-par in 2016, while Kim Hyo-joo, Lee Jeong-eun, and Leona Maguire all shot a single-round score of 61 in 2014 and 2021.
Historically, there were four women's majors, and six golfers achieved a "Career Grand Slam" by winning four different majors during this era: Pat Bradley, Juli Inkster, Annika Sörenstam, Louise Suggs, Karrie Webb, and Mickey Wright. With the addition of The Evian Championship as a fifth major, Inbee Park became the first woman to achieve a "Career Grand Slam" in the five-major era. Karrie Webb is recognized by the LPGA as its only "Super Career Grand Slam" winner, having won five events recognized as majors.
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Frequently asked questions
The majors in golf refer to the four major championships in professional golf. They are The Masters Tournament (sometimes referred to as the U.S. Masters), the PGA Championship (sometimes referred to as the U.S. PGA), the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship (commonly referred to as the British Open outside the United Kingdom).
There are four majors in men's golf and five in women's golf.
The Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship take place in April, May, June, and July, respectively.
The Masters is the only major played at the same course every year, the Augusta National Golf Club, and it invites the smallest field of the majors, generally under 100 players. The PGA Championship stands out due to its rotating venue system, showcasing various American courses. The U.S. Open is known for its rich traditions and challenging courses, while The Open Championship is the oldest of the majors, with a storied past that has seen legends like Harry Vardon, Bobby Jones, and Tiger Woods grace its greens.
