Miles Bennett
The men's major golf championships, often referred to as the majors, are the most prestigious tournaments in golf. There are four globally recognised major championships: The Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship (commonly referred to as the British Open outside the UK). The majors are played across five consecutive months, with the Masters taking place in April, the PGA Championship in May, the U.S. Open in June, and The Open in July. The Masters is the only major that is played at the same course every year, the Augusta National Golf Club, and it invites the smallest field of the majors, with under 100 players.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of globally recognized golf majors | 4 |
| The Masters Tournament | April |
| PGA Championship | May |
| U.S. Open | June |
| The Open Championship (British Open) | July |
| The Masters Tournament host | Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia |
| The Masters Tournament date in 2025 | April 10-13 |
| PGA Championship date in 2025 | May 15-18 |
| U.S. Open date in 2025 | June 12-15 |
| The Open Championship date in 2025 | July 17-20 |
| The Masters Tournament winner in 2025 | Rory McIlroy |
| PGA Championship winner in 2025 | Scottie Scheffler |
| U.S. Open winner in 2025 | J.J. Spaun |
| The Open Championship winner in 2025 | Scottie Scheffler |
| The Masters Tournament's field size | Generally under 100 players |
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The Masters Tournament
The tournament was first staged in 1934 as the "Augusta National Invitation Tournament", and was formally renamed in 1939. The Augusta National course first opened in 1933 and was co-designed by amateur golf champion Bobby Jones and course architect Alister MacKenzie. The idea for the course originated with Jones, who wanted to build a golf course after his retirement from the game. The land, a former indigo plantation and plant nursery, was acquired by Jones in 1930, and work began on the course in 1931.
The Masters invites a smaller field of players compared to the other majors, usually under 100 players. Former champions are invited to compete and are awarded a green jacket, which they must return to the clubhouse the following year. The Champions Dinner is held the Tuesday before each Masters and is open only to past champions and certain board members of the Augusta National Golf Club.
Some of the most notable champions of the Masters include Nicklaus, with six wins between 1963 and 1986, Tiger Woods, with five wins between 1997 and 2019, and Palmer, with four wins between 1958 and 1964. Gary Player, from South Africa, was the first non-American player to win the tournament, in 1961. The 2025 Masters Tournament was won by Rory McIlroy, adding a fourth major to his collection.
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PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is one of the four major championships in modern men's professional golf. The other three majors are the Masters Tournament, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship (commonly referred to as the British Open outside the UK). The PGA Championship is hosted by the PGA of America and played at various locations across the United States.
Historically, the PGA Championship experienced scheduling difficulties, but it began to regain prestige in the 1960s when more Americans started competing, bringing with them larger prize money. In 2017, the PGA of America announced that the tournament would be moved to late May, starting from 2019, falling between the Masters and U.S. Open. The PGA Championship is now played in May each year, with the 2025 edition taking place from May 12 to 18 at Quail Hollow Club, considered one of the finest courses in the United States.
The Masters Tournament, the first major of the season, is played in April and is hosted by the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Moving on to June, the U.S. Open is hosted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and is played at various locations across the U.S. The Open Championship, the oldest of the majors, completes the quad, and while it was once dominated by American champions, the explosion of wealth on the U.S. Tour from the 1940s onwards made it less attractive to American professionals due to the travel required.
The PGA Championship is a prestigious tournament, and winning it is considered a significant achievement in a golfer's career. In 2025, Scottie Scheffler won the PGA Championship, adding to his wins at the Masters and the Open Championship.
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U.S. Open
The U.S. Open is one of the four major golf championships, and the third to take place in the annual golf calendar, falling in June. It is hosted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and played at various locations across the country. The U.S. Open has been played on 52 different golf courses, with 22 in the Northeast, 18 in the Midwest, 6 in the South, and 6 in the West.
The tournament was first played on 4 October 1895, on a nine-hole course at the Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island. It was a 36-hole competition played in a single day. The winner was Horace Rawlins, a 21-year-old Englishman. Rawlins received $150 in cash and a $50 gold medal, and his club received the Open Championship Cup trophy, presented by the USGA.
The tournament was initially dominated by experienced British players until 1911, when John J. McDermott became the first native-born American winner. Since then, the title has been won mostly by American players. The youngest-ever champion was McDermott in 1911, at 19 years old, while the oldest was Hale Irwin in 1990, at 45 years old.
The U.S. Open typically takes place after the collegiate golf season has ended. In 2025, the 125th U.S. Open was won by J.J. Spaun, who clinched the tournament with a 65-foot birdie putt.
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The Open Championship
The Championship typically takes place in mid-to-late July, marking the final major of the golf season. The 151st Open was held in 2023 at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England, with Brian Harman claiming victory. The 152nd Open will be hosted in 2024 by the Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland, marking its 10th time hosting the tournament.
Over the years, The Open Championship has witnessed numerous memorable performances and victories. Notable champions include Rory McIlroy, who won the 143rd Open in 2014, and Zach Johnson, who triumphed in 2015. The Championship has also seen dominant performances by American golfers in the 1920s and 1930s, with names like Ben Hogan and Sam Snead etching their names in the tournament's history.
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The Ryder Cup
The 2025 Ryder Cup will be held at Bethpage Black in New York, with the Black Course at Bethpage State Park hosting the event for the first time. This course, designed by architect A.W. Tillinghast and opened in 1936, will join Oak Hill Country Club as the only New York golf courses to have hosted the Ryder Cup.
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Frequently asked questions
The golf majors are the most prestigious tournaments in golf. There are four globally recognised major championships: The Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship (commonly referred to as the British Open outside the UK).
Since 2019, the Masters Tournament has taken place in April, the PGA Championship in May, the U.S. Open in June, and The Open Championship in July.
The Masters Tournament is the only major that is played at the same course every year: Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The other majors are played at various locations in the U.S. and the UK.
The Masters invites the smallest field of the majors, generally under 100 players. Former champions have a lifetime invitation to compete.
