Pop quiz for any golf fan: how many major championships are there in men’s professional golf? If you answered five, you’re in good company, but you're also pointing to one of the most common debates in the sport. While there are officially four men's majors, a fifth tournament has earned such a prestigious reputation that it's universally considered an honorary member of this elite group. This article breaks down everything you need to know about golf's four official majors and the famed fifth major, including what makes each one unique and what you, as a player, can learn from watching the pros take them on.
Let's clear this up right from the start. Officially, the four majors in men's professional golf are The Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. These four tournaments are independently recognized by the main professional tours and carry the most weight in a player's career. Winning just one can define a career, winning multiple writes you into the history books.
So, where does the "five majors" idea come from? It comes from The Players Championship. Run by the PGA Tour, it's designed to be their flagship event, bringing together arguably the strongest field of any golf tournament all year on one of the most famous courses. With a massive purse and a legendary test of golf, it has all the hallmarks of a major, which is why fans, players, and media often refer to it as the "fifth major."
The annual major season runs from April to July, creating a thrilling four-month stretch for golf fans. Each event presents a completely different challenge, and a truly great player must be versatile enough to handle them all. Here's a look at each one in chronological order.
The Masters is a tradition unlike any other. It’s the official start to the golf season for many fans, marked by the blooming azaleas and towering pines of Augusta National. The field is the smallest of the majors, consisting of past champions, recent major winners, and the top-ranked players in the world. This exclusivity creates an intimate, almost dreamlike atmosphere. The course itself is a masterpiece of strategic design, with dramatic elevation changes, frighteningly fast and sloped greens, and the famous stretch of holes from 11 to 13 known as "Amen Corner." Winning here requires impeccable iron play, a magical short game, and nerves of absolute steel.
The biggest lesson from Augusta National is course management. You'll see pros aim their tee shots to specific sides of the fairway not just to avoid trouble, but to set up the best angle for their approach shot. They play to zones on the greens, prioritizing being below the hole to avoid horrifying downhill putts. For your game, stop just aiming for the flagstick. Ask yourself: Where is the absolute worst place I can miss this green? Then, play away from it. Good strategy saves more shots than a perfect swing.
Moved from August to May in 2019, the PGA Championship is now the second major of the year. It's known for consistently assembling the strongest field in golf, boasting the highest number of top-100 ranked players in the world. Unlike the curated fields of the other majors, the PGA includes 20 spots reserved for PGA club professionals - the teaching pros who give lessons at your local course - a great tradition that honors the "Professional Golfers' Association." The courses are typically set up to be tough but fair, rewarding excellent long-iron play and aggressive, yet smart, shot-making. It’s a pure test of all-around skill.
The PGA Championship demands a full skill set. What we can take away is the importance of having a "stock shot." When the pressure is on, players rarely try to hit a super fancy, high-risk shot. They go back to the one they practiced the most and trust the most, even if it's not the most aggressive play. Whether it's a slight fade with your driver or a go-to chip shot around the greens, develop a reliable shot you can hit without thinking. It will be your best friend when the nerves kick in.
The U.S. Open prides itself on being "golf's toughest test." The organization that runs it, the USGA, sets up courses to punish anything less than perfect golf. Expect narrow fairways, ridiculously thick and punishing rough, and ultra-firm greens that repel all but the most precise shots. The motto is "par is a good score," and it’s not uncommon to see the world's best players struggle to break 80. Mental toughness is just as important as physical ability here. You have to be able to accept bogeys, recover from bad shots instantly, and stay patient for four straight days.
The primary lesson of the U.S. Open is learning how to love the middle of the fairway. Pros willingly take less-lofted clubs off the tee just to guarantee they avoid the punishing rough. The second lesson is damage control. When a player finds themselves in deep trouble, their first thought isn't a hero shot - it's "what's the easiest way back to the fairway?" Get out of trouble with your first shot. Taking your medicine, advancing the ball back into play, and trying to save your par (or bogey) is how you avoid the big, card-wrecking numbers.
Referred to as "The Open" or the "British Open" (in the U.S.), this is the oldest golf tournament in the world. It’s played on links-style courses - coastal, treeless landscapes with firm, fast-running fairways and deep, menacing sand traps called "pot bunkers." The greatest challenge, however, is often the weather. Strong winds and sudden downpours can change the entire tournament in a matter of minutes. Winning The Open requires creativity, imagination, and a mastery of the low, penetrating "stinger" shot that can fly under the wind. It’s a completely different brand of golf than what's seen on the American tour most weeks.
The Open teaches us that there is more than one way to get the ball to the hole. With the firm turf, players often use the ground as their friend, playing bump-and-run shots from 50 yards out instead of high, lofted pitches. When it’s your turn to play in windy conditions, think "less air time is better." Tee the ball lower with your driver. Take an extra club for approach shots and swing smoother. Instead of a high sand wedge, try chipping with a 7-iron. Using the ground skillfully is a shot-saver.
The Players holds a special place in golf. Created by the PGA Tour to be their premier event for their own players, it offers the biggest purse in golf and a field strength that is second to none. The venue, TPC Sawgrass, was built to test every facet of a player's game and to provide thrilling drama for spectators. It culminates in one of the most famous holes in golf: the par-3 17th, with its terrifying "island green." There's no bailout, no room for error - just a small green surrounded by water, where fortunes are made and lost a year after year.
TPC Sawgrass is all about playing to specific targets, and no hole showcases this better than the 17th. The hole is only 137 yards - a simple wedge for a pro - but it causes absolute panic. The lesson is that the score on a hole is determined long before you swing. It’s determined by your decision-making and commitment. When facing a nerve-wracking shot, pick a small, specific target (not just "the green"), take a few confident practice swings, and commit to your choice of club and swing. Indecision is your worst enemy.
From the pine-scented traditions of The Masters to the windswept links of The Open, golf's majors are the moments that define a player’s legacy. Each tournament presents a unique test of skill, mentality, and strategy, and understanding their differences is one of the true joys of being a golf fan. While there may only be four official championships, The Players has rightfully earned its status as the thrilling "fifth major."
Watching the pros navigate these tough courses is a yearly masterclass in strategy, but making those same smart decisions on your own course can be difficult. That's why we created Caddie AI. Our app acts as your personal caddie and coach, helping you with everything from picking the right club for a tricky lie to formulating a smart hole strategy on the tee box. When you're facing a potential U.S. Open-like hazard or a nerve-wracking approach to a green, you'll have an expert opinion right in your pocket, empowering you to play with more confidence and make better decisions under pressure.
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