In golf, four tournaments stand above all others, forming a quartet of events that define careers and etch players' names into history. These are the majors, the ultimate tests of skill, mental toughness, and strategy. This guide breaks down each of these incredible events, explaining what makes them unique and what you, as a fan and player, can learn from watching the best compete on a global stage.
While the PGA Tour season is long, with dozens of tournaments, a player's legacy is most often measured by their performance in the four major championships. These are the championships that kids dream of winning. A single victory in any of them grants a player exemptions into the other majors for years, a spot in their tour's hall of fame, and a permanent place in golf lore. For players, it's about cementing a legacy. For fans, it’s about witnessing history.
The four men's major championships, in chronological order, are:
Each major offers a distinct flavor and a different challenge. One requires artistic shot-making on a pristine canvas, another brute strength and mental discipline, and another creative mastery over the elements. Let’s look at what makes each one so special.
The Masters is the first major of the year and perhaps the most famous golf tournament on the planet. Unlike the other three majors, it’s hosted at the same venue every year: the breathtakingly beautiful and exclusive Augusta National Golf Club. The club was co-founded by the legendary amateur Bobby Jones, and the tournament is an invitational, meaning it has the smallest field of the four majors, adding to its exclusive feel.
Everything about the Masters drips with tradition. The winner doesn’t receive a trophy on the 18th green, but a coveted Green Jacket. Former champions gather for the Champions Dinner on Tuesday of tournament week. Iconic landmarks like Amen Corner (holes 11, 12, and 13), Rae's Creek, and Magnolia Lane are as famous as the players who have competed there.
Augusta National is a masterclass in course management and shot-making. It’s what we call a "second-shot golf course." Finding the fairway is important, but positioning your approach shot on the correct section of the severely sloped greens is everything. A shot landing 20 feet from the pin can be perfect, while one landing 10 feet away on the wrong side can roll off the green or leave an impossible putt.
When you watch the Masters, pay attention to the shot shapes players use. You'll see them hitting sweeping right-to-left draws on holes like 10 and 13 to maximize distance and get the best angle to the green. This is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the straight shot isn't the best shot. Augusta rewards players who can command the golf ball and think a step ahead - a lesson every golfer can apply to their home course.
Run by the PGA of America, the PGA Championship historically billed itself with the tagline "Glory's Last Shot" as it was played in August. Since moving to May in 2019, it has found a new, prominent place in the schedule. What separates the PGA Championship is the strength of its field. It typically features the most top-100 ranked players in the world of any major.
The field is made up of the world's best professionals, alongside 20 club professionals who earn their spot through a qualifying tournament. This is a fantastic nod to the role of local PGA professionals - the very people who give lessons and run pro shops around the country. The winner hoists the massive Wanamaker Trophy. The tournament tends to favor modern, brawny, and difficult golf courses, like Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course or Southern Hills - venues that demand excellence in every part of the game.
Because the venues change, adaptability is huge. One year it might be a windy coastal course, and the next a long, parkland layout. The PGA Championship identifies the player with the most well-rounded game. You have to drive it long, hit your irons precisely, and scramble well. Players can't rely on just one skill.
This is a great reminder for amateur golfers: you don't grow your game by only working on your strengths. To become a better player, you need a complete game. You need to be prepared for any challenge the course throws at you. Watch how players at the PGA manage their bad shots. They don’t follow a bogey with a double. They have a plan A, B, and C, and that's what makes them consistently great.
The U.S. Open, run by the United States Golf Association (USGA), has a simple philosophy: identify the best player by presenting the sternest test of golf possible. The courses are set up to be notoriously difficult. The fairways are pinched narrow, flanked by thick, gnarly rough that can swallow a golf ball, and the greens are often baked firm and lightning-fast.
Par is a celebrated score at the U.S. Open. It's a championship defined by grinding, patience, and mental fortitude. It is a true "open" championship, with local and sectional qualifying tournaments held across the country. This means any amateur with a low enough handicap can live the dream and try to qualify to play alongside legends of the game. Tiger Woods winning in 2008 on what was essentially a broken leg is the perfect image for the U.S. Open - a triumph of pure grit.
The U.S. Open teaches us the most important lesson in scoring: the art of the smart miss. Players aren't firing at every flag. They are playing for the middle of the green, understanding that a par is a great score. They strategize to avoid making a big number, like a double or triple bogey, which can ruin a round.
For your own game, this is a game-changer. Stop trying to hit the "hero" shot from the trees. Instead of feeling you have to aim right at a pin tucked behind a bunker, play to the safe side. The U.S. Open proves that golf isn't just about how good your good shots are, but how good your bad shots are.
Simply called "The Open," this is the oldest golf tournament in the world, first played in 1860. It’s a trip back in time, contested on classic seaside links courses in Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland. Winners aren't just an "Open Champion" - they are crowned the "Champion Golfer of the Year," a title they hold for life. The prize is the iconic Claret Jug.
The Open challenges golfers in a way no other tournament does. Players must contend with firm, rolling fairways, deep pot bunkers that can lead to an unplayable lie, and most of all, the weather. Fierce winds and sudden downpours are a part of its DNA. Victory requires creativity, imagination, and a mastery of the ground game - using the contours of the land to bump-and-run shots toward the hole.
The Open celebrates the art of golf, not just the science of the swing. The winner isn't always the person with the most mechanically perfect swing. It's often the player who can control their ball flight, hit low stingers under the wind, and use their imagination around the greens. It's proof that there's more than one way to play this game.
Watch how players use different clubs for chipping, sometimes putting from 30 yards off the green because the turf is so firm. This should encourage you to experiment. Don’t automatically grab your sand wedge for every short-game shot. Could a 9-iron or a hybrid work better? The Open inspires this kind of out-of-the-box thinking.
While the four majors are the pillars of the season, a few other events carry immense weight and Prestige.
Often called "the fifth major," The Players is held every March at TPC Sawgrass. It boasts arguably the strongest field in golf all year and is played on one of the most famous and diabolical courses in the world, culminating in the iconic par-3 17th "island green."
These biennial team events bring a level of passion and pressure unlike anything in individual stroke play. The Ryder Cup pits the best American players against the best from Europe. The Presidents Cup sees the U.S. facing an International Team from the rest of the world (excluding Europe). The match-play format, vocal crowds, and national pride make for undeniable, edge-of-your-seat drama.
The four majors represent the pinnacle of professional golf. Each offers a unique chapter in the story of the golf season, challenging players with different courses, conditions, and pressures. They are the benchmarks of greatness and provide some of the most memorable and inspiring moments in all of sports.
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