The entire rhythm of the professional golf season is built around four specific tournaments: the men's major championships. For fans and players alike, these events represent the heart of the sport, and understanding their schedule is the key to following along. This guide will walk you through the schedule of the four men's majors, explaining when they happen, where they are played, and what unique challenges make each one a cornerstone of the game.
In simple terms, the four majors are the most prestigious and important tournaments in men's professional golf. They are the events every pro dreams of winning. Securing a major championship instantly elevates a player's career, cementing their legacy in the sport's history books. Winning a major comes with massive perks, including large prize money, automatic invitations to other top tournaments for years to come, and a place among golf's elite.
What sets them apart is not just the prize money but the difficulty, the pressure, and the history. Each major has its own distinct identity, venue style, and set of challenges - testing every single part of a golfer's game, from raw power and shot-making skill to tactical planning and mental fortitude. A player who manages to win all four different majors during their career achieves the "Career Grand Slam," a feat accomplished by only five golfers in the modern era: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. It is the definitive mark of a legendary, all-time great player.
For decades, the major schedule was spread out across the summer. However, in 2019, the schedule was revamped to create a more concentrated and thrilling run. Now, the four majors take place in a tight, four-month window, creating a "major season" from April to July.
The professional golf calendar is packed with tournaments, but these four stand above all others. They occur once per month, starting in the spring and concluding in the middle of summer, building momentum and excitement as the season progresses.
The first major of the year is always The Masters, a tournament unlike any other. It Signals the true start of spring for golfers everywhere.
The Masters is a tournament built on tradition. From the iconic Green Jacket awarded to the winner to the Champions Dinner held on Tuesday evening, the event is steeped in history. Augusta National itself is one of the most famous and immaculate courses on the planet. Its vibrant azaleas, towering pine trees, and deceptively slick greens make for a breathtaking stage.
Fans know legendary spots on the course by heart, like "Amen Corner," a treacherous three-hole stretch (holes 11, 12, and 13) that has both created champions and shattered dreams. Because The Masters is an invitational, it features the smallest field of any major, adding to its exclusive and prestigious feel.
When you watch The Masters on TV, pay close attention to the dramatic elevation changes. The cameras simply don't do them justice. The 10th hole plays severely downhill, while the 18th is a beast that plays straight uphill. Players must constantly adjust their club selection to account for how a ball will fly and land on these slopes. Amateurs can learn a ton by observing how the pros manage their distances here, a shot that's 150 yards on level ground might play like 135 yards downhill or 165 yards uphill. It's a masterclass in feel and precision.
Following the tradition of The Masters is the PGA Championship. Historically played in August as "Glory's Last Shot," it moved to May in 2019 to become the second major of the season.
The PGA Championship is run by the PGA of America and is known for boasting what many consider to be the strongest field in golf. It includes the world's top 100 players and, uniquely, a group of 20 club professionals who earn their spot through a national championship. This provides a wonderful opportunity for the teachers and club pros who power the game at a grassroots level to compete on the biggest stage.
The Wanamaker Trophy, awarded to the winner, is one of the largest in sports. Because the tournament visits a variety of course styles, ittends to identify a player with a complete, well-rounded game who can adapt to any challenge.
The constant change of venue at the PGA Championship highlights a skill every golfer needs: adaptability. Professionals arrive early in the week to learn the course's nuances - where the trouble is, how the greens break, and what the best angles of attack are. For your own game, try to create a simple plan before you tee off on a new course. Look at the scorecard, identify the hazards on tough holes, and decide where you can be aggressive and where you should play it safe. This preparation removes uncertainty and helps you play with more confidence.
The third major championship is our nation's championship, the U.S. Open. It has a well-deserved reputation for being golf's most demanding test.
The U.S. Open is conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA), and their philosophy is simple: identify the best player by setting up a course that challenges every aspect of their game. This means extremely narrow fairways, thick, punishing rough, and lightning-fast greens. Par is a fantastic score at a U.S. Open, and surviving the four days is as much a test of mental discipline and patience as it is physical skill.
It is a true "open" championship, meaning anyone with a low enough handicap index (amateurs included) can attempt to qualify through local and final qualifying tournaments held across the country.
The U.S. Open teaches every golfer a valuable lesson: control and course management are just as important as power. Watch how players often "take their medicine." If they hit a poor tee shot into deep rough, instead of trying a heroic, low-percentage shot to the green, they'll simply chip it back out to the fairway. This turns a potential disaster (a double or triple bogey) into a manageable bogey. Knowing your limits and playing to the fat part of the green will save you more strokes than you can imagine.
The final major of the year is also the world's oldest golf tournament: The Open Championship. In the United States, you'll often hear it called "The British Open."
The Open is golf in its purest, most traditional form. A links course is built on coastal land, a.k.a. "the links" between the sea and the farmland. The terrain is sandy, firm, and fast, with very few trees. That means players must contend with howling winds, unpredictable bounces on rumpled fairways, and deep, terrifying "pot bunkers." Winning here requires immense creativity and a command of the ground game.
The champion is named the "Champion Golfer of the Year" and is awarded the famous Claret Jug, perhaps the most coveted trophy in the game.
The Open is my favorite major to watch as a coach because it champions creativity. Players here can't just rely on high, towering shots. They must learn to control trajectory, hitting low "stinger" irons and woods that pierce through the wind. They also use the ground as their friend, bounceing the ball up onto greens instead of flying it all the way. Practice hitting lower shots on the range by playing the ball slightly back in your stance and making a shorter, more controlled follow-through. It’s an invaluable shot to have when the wind picks up on your home course.
While this article focuses on the men's majors, it's worth noting that the women's professional game (the LPGA Tour) and the senior's tour (PGA Tour Champions) also have their own set of five major championships each. These tournaments are equally prestigious and feature the best players in their respective fields battling on world-class courses.
The men's golf majors deliver a thrilling and concentrated season of high-stakes drama, following a distinct rhythm from the pristine fairways of Augusta in April to the rugged links of The Open in July. Each tournament offers a unique test, ensuring that only the most complete and resilient players are crowned champions.
Watching these tournaments is a fantastic way to learn about course strategy, but it can be hard to apply that thinking to your own round. For that reason, we created Caddie AI to serve as your personal on-course strategist. It helps you think through your shots just like a pro, offering instant advice on club selection and the smart play for any situation, whether you have a tricky lie or just aren't sure of the best target off the tee. My goal is to take the guesswork out of your game so you can stand over every shot with total confidence.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
