The roars from Augusta have faded, and the first major of the year is in the books. Now, the real heart of the men's professional golf season is upon us. This guide will walk you through the remaining golf majors on the calendar, explaining what makes each one unique, why they matter so much, and how watching them can even help your own game.
We'll cover the distinct personalities of the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship, so you'll be ready for every defining moment of the golf season.
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What Are the Men's Professional Golf Majors?
Before we look at what's left, let's quickly define what we're talking about. In men's professional golf, four tournaments stand above all others. They are the ultimate test of skill, mental fortitude, and legacy. Winning a major championship cements a player's place in history. These tournaments carry the most prestige, offer the largest prize purses, and award the most Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.
The four pillars of the men's game, in order of play, are:
The Masters Tournament (April): Played every year at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. It's the only major with a permanent home, known for its pristine beauty, treacherous greens, and the iconic Green Jacket.
The PGA Championship (May): Often featuring the strongest field in golf, this major travels to different historic courses across the United States.
The U.S. Open (June): Run by the USGA, this is famous for being the toughest test in golf, set up to challenge every facet of a player's game, especially their discipline.
The Open Championship (July): The oldest golf tournament in the world, played on revered links courses in the United Kingdom. It’s a test of tradition, creativity, and dealing with the elements.
With an understanding of the big four, let's break down the majors that are still to come this season.
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Up next on the calendar is the PGA Championship, organized by the PGA of America. While celebrated traditions like The Masters and The Open often soak up the spotlight, the PGA Championship is quietly known among players as "Glory's Last Shot" historically, but its new May date now positions it as the second major of the season, a true proving ground for the world's best.
The Identity: An All-Around Test
The PGA Championship prides itself on assembling arguably the strongest field of any major. It includes the top players in the world rankings, recent winners, and, uniquely, 20 dedicated spots for the top PGA of America club professionals - the "local pros" who teach the game day in and day out. This creates a fantastic dynamic where tour superstars compete alongside the pros who run your local club.
The tournament rotates among some of America's most challenging and respected golf courses, often classic, tree-lined parkland designs that demand excellence in every part of the game. Think of venues like Southern Hills in Oklahoma, Oak Hill in New York, or Valhalla in Kentucky. These courses don't have a single "trick", instead, they demand solid driving, precise iron play, a creative short game, and clutch putting. The winner earns a lifetime exemption into the tournament and a five-year Tour status. He also receives the massive Wanamaker Trophy, one of the largest in sports.
What It Takes to Win
Winning the PGA Championship requires a complete game. You can't fake it around these courses. Players must be able to shape the ball both ways, hit high, soft approaches into firm greens, and navigate difficult around-the-green challenges. Power is always an advantage, but it's not the only factor. Past champions like Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas have shown that a combination of power, precision, and an unflappable mindset is the winning formula.
The Toughest Test in Golf: The U.S. Open in June
If the PGA Championship is a tough final exam, the U.S. Open is a brutal, four-day interrogation of a golfer's soul. Organized by the United States Golf Association (USGA), its mission is simple: to identify the best player by presenting the most rigorous test possible.
The Identity: A Test of Survival
The U.S. Open is defined by its course setup. The USGA takes extraordinary courses like Pinehurst No. 2, Pebble Beach, or Winged Foot and dials up the difficulty to the absolute maximum. You can expect:
Narrow Fairways: Landing areas are often pinched in, demanding pinpoint accuracy off the tee.
Punishing Rough: Miss the fairway, and a player might be lucky to just hack their ball back into play. The thick, graduated rough is designed to penalize inaccuracy severely.
Firm, Fast Greens: The putting surfaces are notoriously firm and slick, often described as putting on glass.
At the U.S. Open, par is not just a good score, it's a great score. A player's mental game is tested just as much as their physical skill. It's about patience, avoiding big mistakes, and accepting that bogeys will happen. Watching the pros here is a masterclass in course management. They aren’t always firing at the flag, they’re playing to the fat of the green, understanding that the goal is to avoid the big number that can derail a round.
What It Takes to Win
Winning the U.S. Open requires incredible discipline and mental fortitude. The champion is often the last player standing - someone who has shown a mastery of driving the ball straight, controlling their approaches, and having a masterful short game to save par from difficult positions. It's a tournament that rewards grinders, players who can hang tough when things aren't going their way. Think of past champions like Jon Rahm or Wyndham Clark - players with the steely resolve to handle adversity and execute under immense pressure.
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The final men's major of the year is where golf began. The Open Championship, often called the British Open by Americans, dates back to 1860 and is steeped in more history and tradition than any other tournament. The winner is not simply called the "champion", they are crowned the "Champion Golfer of the Year" - a title that signifies their mastery of golf in its purest form.
The Identity: A Battle with the Elements
The Open is played on a rotation of hallowed seaside links courses throughout the United Kingdom - courses like the Old Course at St Andrews, Royal Liverpool, or Royal Portrush. Links golf is a world away from the manicured parkland courses of the United States. It's shaped by the land and the weather.
The experience is defined by:
Hard, Bumpy Fairways: The ball can roll for miles, but players must predict and accept unpredictable bounces.
Deep Pot Bunkers: These small, deep bunkers can swallow a golf ball, and escaping often means hitting out sideways or backwards.
The Wind and Rain: The weather is the course's primary defense. A calm, sunny day can yield low scores, but when the wind howls and the rain pours, it becomes a completely different challenge.
This tournament rewards creativity and imagination more than any other. Players must hit shots they wouldn't dream of on the PGA Tour - low, stinging knock-down shots, putts from 50 yards off the green (a "Texas wedge"), and delicate chips off tight, firm turf.
What It Takes To Win
Winning The Open and hoisting the Claret Jug requires supreme adaptability. Players must control their ball's flight to keep it under the wind and possess an incredible short game. More than that, they need the right attitude. Links golf delivers bad breaks, it's part of the charm. The champion will be the one who can accept a bad bounce, move on, and stay focused on the next shot. It's less about perfection and more about resourceful problem-solving.
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You may hear commentators and players talk about "the fifth major." They're referring to THE PLAYERS Championship, held every March at TPC Sawgrass. While it isn't one of the four official majors, it’s about as close as it gets. It boasts the strongest field in golf year after year, a massive purse, and is played on the iconic and volatile Stadium Course, home to the infamous 17th island green.
Winning THE PLAYERS is a huge career accomplishment. However, a golfer's ultimate legacy is still measured by the original four. The pressure, the history, and the worldwide recognition of the four traditional majors place them in a category of their own.
Final Thoughts
From the comprehensive test of the PGA Championship to the mental grit required at the U.S. Open and the creative artistry on display at The Open, the rest of the major season offers a spectacular variety of drama and top-level golf. Each event offers a different story and challenges players in a completely unique way, making each trophy incredibly special.
Watching how the best players in the world strategize their way around these courses can be inspiring. We built Caddie AI to bring that same level of strategic thinking directly to your game. If you're ever looking at a tricky lie in the rough or feel stuck between clubs, you can get instant advice right on your phone without the guesswork. It’s about giving you the confidence to commit to every shot, making smarter decisions, and enjoying the game a whole lot more.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
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