Trevor Ng
The first golf major of the year is The Masters Tournament, first staged in 1934. The other three majors are the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship (sometimes referred to as the British Open). The U.S. Open is notorious for being played on difficult courses and is rarely won with a score under par. The Open Championship, first contested in 1860, is the oldest professional golf tournament currently in existence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Major Championships | 4 |
| First Major Championship | The Masters Tournament |
| Date of First Major Championship | April 17-20 |
| Location of First Major Championship | Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina |
| Winner of First Major Championship | Justin Thomas |
| Second Major Championship | U.S. Open |
| Date of Second Major Championship | May 29-June 1 |
| Location of Second Major Championship | Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio |
| Winner of Second Major Championship | Scottie Scheffler |
| Third Major Championship | The Open Championship (British Open) |
| Date of Third Major Championship | June 26-29 |
| Location of Third Major Championship | Broadmoor Golf Club, Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Winner of Third Major Championship | Padraig Harrington |
| Fourth Major Championship | PGA Championship |
| Date of Fourth Major Championship | N/A |
| Location of Fourth Major Championship | N/A |
| Winner of Fourth Major Championship | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
- The Masters Tournament, first held in 1934, is the season's first major
- The PGA Championship, moved to May in 2019, is the only major inviting winners of PGA Tour events
- The U.S. Open, first played in 1895, is known for its challenging courses
- The Open Championship (British Open) is the oldest professional golf tournament, dating back to 1860
- The Western Open was once considered a major championship by many US players
The Masters Tournament, first held in 1934, is the season's first major
The Masters Tournament, the season's first major championship, is steeped in tradition and history. First staged in 1934 as the "Augusta National Invitation Tournament", it adopted its present name in 1939. It is the most recent men's major championship to be founded and is unique in that it is played at the same course every year, the Augusta National Golf Club. The Masters is more than just a tournament; it's a celebration of golf's legends and a platform for new champions. The event is filled with traditions, from the ceremonial opening tee shots to the Champions Dinner, where past winners gather and decide the menu. The Green Jacket, awarded to the winner, has become a symbol of golfing greatness.
The Masters has witnessed some iconic moments in golf's history, such as Gene Sarazen’s “Shot Heard Round the World” in 1935 and Tiger Woods’ historic win in 1997. The blooming azaleas and the stunning course add to the mystique of the tournament. The Masters is an invitational tournament, attracting the best players globally and captivating audiences with its challenging course and exciting competition.
Following The Masters in the golf calendar are three more major tournaments. The PGA Championship, first played in 1916, is unique among the majors as it invites winners of PGA Tour events from the previous year and top non-tour club professionals. The U.S. Open, with its demanding courses and strict qualification criteria, stands as a testament to American golfing prowess. It is notorious for its challenging course setups, featuring tight fairways and demanding greens, and is rarely won with a score under par.
The year's final major is The Open Championship (British Open), organised by The R&A and typically played on links-style courses in the UK. It is the oldest professional golf tournament, dating back to 1860, and is respected for maintaining the tradition of links play originating in Scotland. This major is known for its coastal courses, deep bunkers, and the rough characterised by dune grass and gorse bushes.
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The PGA Championship, moved to May in 2019, is the only major inviting winners of PGA Tour events
The PGA Championship is one of the four major golf championships, alongside The Open, the Masters, and the U.S. Open. It was established in 1916 to provide a high-profile tournament exclusively for professional golfers. The tournament was originally hosted in early fall, but the dates have varied over the years, from May to December.
In 2017, the PGA of America announced that the PGA Championship would be moved to late May, starting in 2019. This decision was influenced by the addition of golf to the Summer Olympics and the desire for cooler weather, allowing for a wider range of host courses. The PGA Championship is now the second major of the year, falling between the Masters in April and the U.S. Open in June.
The PGA Championship is unique among the four majors in several ways. It is the only one that does not explicitly invite leading amateur golfers. Amateurs can still compete, but they generally need to have won one of the other majors or a PGA Tour event while playing under a sponsor's exemption. Additionally, the PGA Championship is the only major that reserves 20 out of 156 places for club professionals who are non-tour regulars. These spots are determined by performance in the PGA Professional Championship, held in late April.
The PGA Championship is also distinct in that it invites all winners of PGA Tour events in the year preceding the tournament. This sets it apart from the other majors, which have different qualification criteria. By inviting PGA Tour winners, the PGA Championship ensures a diverse and talented field of competitors, including both established champions and rising stars. This aspect further emphasizes its status as a prestigious tournament that recognizes and celebrates the achievements of professional golfers.
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The U.S. Open, first played in 1895, is known for its challenging courses
The U.S. Open, first played in 1895, is one of the four major championships in professional golf. It is known for its challenging courses, which test golfers' skill, precision, patience, and perseverance. The United States Golf Association (USGA) meticulously designs the course each year, featuring thick roughs, narrow and tight fairways, and fast greens. These characteristics ensure that only the most well-rounded players excel.
The U.S. Open is unique among the majors as it travels across different iconic golf courses in America, offering distinct challenges and stirring up fresh excitement annually. The coastal cliffs of Pebble Beach and the historic Pinehurst No. 2 layout are notable examples of the diverse venues the tournament visits. This major championship stands as a testament to the relentless pursuit of greatness in American golf.
The tournament originated at the Newport Country Club in Rhode Island and has evolved significantly over the years. It has a rich history, witnessing the transformation of hopeful contenders into legendary champions. The U.S. Open is also known for its strict exempt qualifiers list, with about half of the 156-person field entering through open qualification events worldwide.
Unlike most regular tour events played on par-72 courses, the U.S. Open is rarely held on such a course. It is typically played at par 70 or, occasionally, par 71. Winning the U.S. Open is a significant challenge, and it is rare for a golfer to finish the tournament with a score significantly under par. The U.S. Open is renowned for its demanding nature, making it a true test of golfing ability.
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The Open Championship (British Open) is the oldest professional golf tournament, dating back to 1860
The Open Championship, sometimes referred to as the British Open, is the oldest professional golf tournament in the world. It was first contested in 1860 and has been held annually since then, with the exception of during World War I and World War II. The tournament is organised by The R&A, an offshoot of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, and is played on a links-style course, typically in the United Kingdom, particularly Scotland or England.
The Open Championship is one of the four major golf championships, along with the Masters Tournament (or U.S. Masters), the PGA Championship, and the U.S. Open. These four tournaments comprise the most prestigious events in professional golf, attracting the best players from around the world and captivating audiences with their challenging courses and exciting competition.
The Masters Tournament, first staged in 1934, is the most recent of the four majors to be founded. It is played at the same course every year, the Augusta National Golf Club, and is known for its rich history and traditions, such as the Champions Dinner and the awarding of the Green Jacket to the winner.
The PGA Championship, in contrast, is unique among the majors in that it invites winners of PGA Tour events from the previous year, as well as 20 non-tour regular club professionals. It was previously held in August but was moved to May in 2019 to avoid the high heat and humidity that had set it apart from the other majors, particularly the Open Championship, which is often played in cooler and rainier weather.
The U.S. Open, first played in 1895, is known for its demanding courses, with tight fairways, challenging greens, and a very strict qualification process. It is rarely won with a score much under par and travels to different iconic golf courses across America each year, offering a distinct challenge with each new venue.
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The Western Open was once considered a major championship by many US players
The Western Open, founded and run by the Western Golf Association, was first played in 1899 in Illinois at the Glen View Club in Golf, a northern suburb of Chicago. The tournament was held a total of 103 times over the course of 108 years until its final edition in 2006. In its early decades, it was widely regarded as one of the premier golf tournaments in the USA, along with other notables of the day like the North and South Open, the PGA Championship, and the Shawnee Open.
The Western Golf Association was, in some ways, and for some years, something of a rival to the United States Golf Association, especially in the midwestern and western sections of the country. The Western Open was almost exclusively won by immigrant golf professionals from the British Isles, most of whom gained full citizenship in the United States. The tournament's founding in 1899 actually pre-dated the start of the PGA Tour, which is generally dated from 1916, the year the PGA of America was founded.
Until the 1960s, many U.S. players such as Byron Nelson considered the Western Open and the North and South Open as two of golf's "majors". The Western Open was on its way to becoming a major championship, but it never happened. Instead, the term “major championships” came to describe the Masters, the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championship.
The Masters, the season's first major championship, is the only major played at the same course every year (Augusta National Golf Club). The U.S. Open, the second major, is notorious for being played on difficult courses that have tight fairways and challenging greens. The Open Championship, commonly referred to as the British Open, is the oldest of the majors and is typically played on a links-style course in the United Kingdom. Finally, the PGA Championship is the only one of the four majors to invite all winners of PGA Tour events in the year preceding the tournament.
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Frequently asked questions
The Masters Tournament, sometimes referred to as the U.S. Masters, is the first golf major of the year.
The first U.S. Masters was played in 1934.
The U.S. Masters is played at the Augusta National Golf Club.
The other golf majors are the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship (sometimes referred to as the British Open).
