What Is a Golf Major?

When someone mentions the majors in golf, they’re referring to the four most prestigious tournaments in the men's professional game. These events are the sport's ultimate test, the championships that define careers, create legends, and are cherished by golfers and fans around the globe. This guide breaks down exactly what a golf major is, what makes each one unique, and why they hold such a special place in the game.

What Makes a Tournament a "Major"?

Unlike a regular stop on the PGA Tour, the four majors are a cut above. While there isn't one official governing body that dictates the list, these four tournaments are universally accepted as the pinnacle of golf for a few clear reasons:

• History and Prestige: Three of the four have been played for over a century. They carry a weight and tradition that no other event can match. Winning one puts a player’s name on a trophy alongside the greatest players who have ever lived.
• The Toughest Fields: Qualification criteria are extremely strict. This brings together the absolute best players from around the world, making a major victory an incredible feat of topping an elite field.
• Challenging Courses: Majors are held on some of the world's most famous and difficult courses. The venues are intentionally set up to challenge every single aspect of a player's game, from driving accuracy to delicate touch around the greens.
• Career-Defining Victories: A golfer's legacy is often judged by the number of majors they’ve won. A player with one major title is seen in a completely different light than a player with 15 regular tour wins. Jack Nicklaus's 18 major championships and Tiger Woods's 15 are the benchmarks for greatness.

Think of them like the Super Bowl in American football or the Grand Slams in tennis - they are the events that everyone, from die-hard fans to casual observers, tunes in to watch.

The Four Men's Major Championships: A Deeper Look

Each major has its own character, its own traditions, and its own unique set of challenges. They are held in the same order every year, creating a narrative that stretches from the first bloom of spring to the height of summer.

The Masters Tournament (April)

The first major of the year is an invitation-only event that feels different from any other.

• The Venue: Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. This is the only major played on the same course every year. This repetition builds an incredible intimacy between the players, the fans, and the course itself. Viewers at home come to know every hole, especially the famous three-hole stretch of 11, 12, and 13 known as "Amen Corner."
• The Vibe: Known for its incredible beauty - perfectly manicured fairways, blooming azaleas, and towering pines - The Masters is steeped in tradition. There are no commercials on the broadcast, no fans running, and cell phones are strictly forbidden. The ultimate prize isn't just a trophy, it’s the iconic Green Jacket, presented by the previous year's champion.
• What It Takes to Win: Augusta National is a "second-shot" golf course. This means precision with your approach shots is paramount. The greens are lightning fast and have severe slopes, so players must place their ball in the right spots to have a chance at birdie. It tests a player’s strategy and course knowledge more than almost any other venue. Players who rely on feel and creativity, especially around the greens, often do well here.

PGA Championship (May)

Often considered the major for the players, the PGA Championship consistently boasts the strongest field in golf.

• The Venue: Hosted at a different premier course across the United States each year. It has visited iconic locations like Oak Hill, Southern Hills, and Kiawah Island's Ocean Course. The setups are always demanding but fair.
• The Vibe: Organized by the PGA of America, this major includes 20 spots for PGA club professionals - the coaches and Bproa who give lessons at local courses around the country. This creates wonderful underdog stories and connects the event back to the grassroots of the game. It’s known for being a pure test of all-around golf skill.
• What It Takes to Win: The PGA Championship doesn't favor one particular style of play. To win, a player needs to have every facet of their game firing on all cylinders. Tbyy must drive the ball long and straight, hit precise iron shots into tough greens, and manage their game with tactical intelligence. Any major weakness in a player’s game is likely to be exposed.

U.S. Open (June)

The U.S. Open, run by the United States Golf Association (USGA), has a fearsome and well-earned reputation.

• The Venue: Played at a rotation of classic American courses like Pebble Beach, Shinnecock Hills, and Pinehurst No. 2. The USGA is famous for its course setups.
• The Vibe: Simply put, the U.S. Open is known as the "toughest test in golf." The USGA sets up courses with narrow fairways, thick, punishing rough, and greens that are so firm and fast they can seem unfair. The goal is to identify the best player, and often, par is an outstanding score. It's a championship of pure survival.
• What It Takes to Win: Mental fortitude is just as important as physical skill. Players must have incredible patience, surgical accuracy with their driver, and the mental toughness to accept bogeys and move on without letting frustration derail their round. It’s a relentless grind where scrambling for par feels like a victory. More than any other major, the U.S. Open is a battle of attrition.

The Open Championship (July)

The Open - or British Open, as it’s often called in the States - is the oldest golf tournament in the world.

• The Venue: Played over a historic rotation of seaside "links" courses in Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland, such as St. Andrews, Royal Liverpool, and Royal Portrush. Links golf is a completely different style of play.
• The Vibe: As the oldest major, it has a timeless feel. The weather - especially the wind and rain - is almost always a major factor. The iconic prize is the Claret Jug trophy, which the winner gets to keep for a year.
• What It takes to Win: The Open demands creativity and imagination. The firm, fast fairways and unpredictable bounces of links golf mean players can’t just fly the ball to the green. They must control the trajectory of their shots, hitting low, piercing stingers to stay under the wind. Using the ground as your friend, playing bump-and-run shots, and navigating deep pot bunkers are essential skills. It’s less about perfect-looking swings and more about gritty, adaptable shot-making.

What About the Other Tours?

While the four men's tournaments get the most attention, it's important to know that the LPGA Tour (women's professional golf) and the PGA Tour Champions (for players over 50) have their own sets of majors. The LPGA has five major championships that showcase the incredible talent in the women's game:

• The Chevron Championship
• The U.S. Women's Open
• The KPMG Women's PGA Championship
• The Amundi Evian Championship
• AIG Women's Open

These events carry the same career-defining importance for female professionals as their male counterparts.

How to Watch and Enjoy the Majors Like a Coach

The next time you tune in to watch a major, try looking beyond just the score. Here are a few tips to appreciate the incredible skill on display:

• Pay Attention to Misses: Pros are exceptionally good at not just hitting good shots, but at "missing" in the right places. At the U.S. Open, you’ll see players aim away from pins to make sure they leave themselves an uphill putt. At The Open, they’ll play away from bunkers that mean a certain bogey. This is thinking one or two shots ahead.
• Listen to the Caddie Talk: When the broadcast picks up player-caddie conversations, it’s a free lesson in course management. They’re discussing wind, yardage to cover a bunker, and where the best spots are to land the ball.
• Watch the Short Game: The creativity around the greens at places like Augusta National or on a links course is amazing. Watch how players use different shots - a low bump-and-run, a high fluffy flop shot, or a putt from off the green - to navigate the unique challenges.

Final Thoughts.

The four men's major championships represent the gold standard of professional golf, each offering a distinct and demanding challenge that solidifies a player's place in history. From the strategic precision required at Augusta to the raw survival skills needed at the U.S. Open, these are the weeks when good players become greats.

Understanding the unique strategies demanded by each major provides a deeper appreciation for the game. While you might not be playing at Pinehurst this weekend, you still face your own strategic decisions on the course. We built Caddie AI to serve as your own personal golf expert, there to help you think through club selections, hole strategies, and how to play those tricky lies. It’s like having a caddie in your pocket, giving you the confidence to make smarter decisions and shoot lower scores.