Trevor Ng
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the majors, are the most prestigious tournaments in golf. There are four major championships: The Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. These tournaments are played in that order, in April, May, June, and July. The Masters Tournament is hosted annually by the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, while the other three majors are played at various locations. The Masters also has the smallest field of the majors, with fewer than 100 players invited to participate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of men's major golf championships | 4 |
| Names of men's major golf championships | The Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, The Open Championship |
| Months in which men's major golf championships are held | April, May, June, July |
| Number of women's major golf championships | 5 |
| Names of women's major golf championships | Chevron Championship, U.S. Women's Open, KPMG Women's PGA Championship, Evian Championship, AIG Women's Open |
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What You'll Learn
The Masters Tournament
The Masters invites a smaller field of players compared to the other major championships, usually under 100 players. Former champions have a lifetime invitation to compete, along with the current champions of the major amateur championships and most of the previous year's PGA Tour winners. The tournament has several traditions, including awarding a green jacket (Pantone 342C, "Augusta Green") to the champion, who must return it to the clubhouse the following year. The Champions Dinner 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.
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PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is one of the four major golf championships, alongside The Open, the Masters, and the U.S. Open. It is the only one of the four that is exclusively for professional players. The tournament is conducted by the Professional Golfers' Association of America and is an official money event on the PGA Tour, European Tour, and Japan Golf Tour.
The PGA Championship was first held in October 1916 at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York. The winner, Jim Barnes, received $500 and a diamond-studded gold medal donated by Rodman Wanamaker. The tournament was originally a match play event in the early fall, but it has since changed to stroke play with a standard 72-hole format.
Historically, the PGA Championship was played in mid-August on the third weekend before Labor Day weekend, serving as the final men's major of the golf season. However, in 2019, the tournament date was changed to May, taking place on the weekend before Memorial Day. This move was made to avoid the high heat and humidity of the summer climate in the US, as well as to accommodate the addition of golf to the Summer Olympics.
The PGA Championship has been held at various venues, with the state of New York hosting the championship the most times (13), followed by Ohio (11) and Pennsylvania (9). The tournament has also been held at celebrated golf courses such as Baltusrol Golf Club, Medinah Country Club, and Oakland Hills Country Club. In 2025, the PGA Championship returned to the Quail Hollow Club, considered one of the finest courses in the United States.
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U.S. Open
The U.S. Open is one of the four major championships in men's golf, alongside the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, and the Open Championship. It is hosted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and is played at various locations across the U.S. The U.S. Open typically takes place in June, following the Masters Tournament in April and the PGA Championship in May.
The U.S. Open has a long history, dating back to its first edition in 1895. It has been played on a diverse range of golf courses across the country, with 52 courses hosting the tournament since its inception. These courses are spread across different regions of the U.S., including the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West.
Qualifying for the U.S. Open is a highly competitive process. There are various criteria for qualification, including performance in previous tournaments, world golf rankings, and exemptions for amateur players and certain professional winners. The tournament has a rich record of champions, with notable names like Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus achieving multiple victories.
The U.S. Open is known for its challenging course setup, often regarded as more difficult than the PGA Championship. The 2025 U.S. Open was recently held, with J.J. Spaun claiming his maiden major title in dramatic fashion. The tournament witnessed Spaun's 65-foot birdie putt, which clinched his victory and marked the longest putt of the entire championship.
The U.S. Open is a highly anticipated event in the golf world, attracting both professional and amateur players. With its rich history, prestigious status, and challenging course design, it continues to be one of the most prominent and exciting tournaments in the sport.
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The Open Championship
The first Open Championship was played on October 17, 1860, at Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland, over three rounds of a twelve-hole links course. It was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club before the venue began rotating between a select group of coastal links golf courses in the United Kingdom.
Over the years, The Open Championship has featured notable golfers and rivalries, including the Great Triumvirate of Harry Vardon, John Henry Taylor, and James Braid, who dominated the tournament between 1894 and 1914. The championship has also witnessed the rise of American-based players, with several U.S. players winning the tournament in the 1920s and 1930s, including Walter Hagen and amateur Bobby Jones.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club became the sole organiser of The Open Championship in 1920 and standardised the tournament format in 1926. Today, The Open Championship continues to be a prestigious event, attracting the world's top golfers and enthusiasts alike, solidifying its place as one of the major championships in the sport.
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The Chevron Championship
The tournament was previously known as the ANA Inspiration, following a sponsorship deal with All Nippon Airways in 2014. In 2021, a new sponsorship agreement was announced with Chevron Corporation, and the tournament was renamed The Chevron Championship. The prize fund increased to $5 million in 2022, up from $3 million the previous year.
Some of the notable winners of The Chevron Championship include Sörenstam, who successfully defended her title in 2002, and Rory McIlroy, who won the championship in 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
The golf major championships, or 'the majors', are held throughout the year, with one tournament per season. The Masters Tournament is held in April, the PGA Championship in May, the U.S. Open in June, and The Open in July.
The Masters Tournament is the first major of the year and is held in April.
The Masters Tournament is the most recent men's major championship to be founded. It was first staged in 1934 as the "Augusta National Invitation Tournament".
