Golf, a sport rich in history, precision, and unparalleled excitement, characterized by four tournaments that essentially symbolize a player’s legacy. What are the 4 Majors in Golf? The answer is the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the US Open, and the Open Championship. These events are not only golf tournaments; they are the past preserved and the ultimate testing ground for any professional athlete.
One way to rank among golf’s legends is to defeat these four challenges. These events are set apart from every other tournament in the calendar by the drama, the difficulty, and the history surrounding them. Just one major victory is capable of making a player’s career; the feat of all four, the career Grand Slam is the final goal in golf.
Majors Overview
These four tournaments are the foundation of the golf season in a competitive way, they determine the golf’s flow from spring until summer. Essentially, the four events are overseen by different entities and thus, each one has a separate kind of character from the pristine, invitation-only affair at Augusta to the tough, totally unpredictable challenge of links golf, which is far away.
Each major championship is a different kind of examination of the player’s ability, mental strength, and flexibility. To really grasp what are the 4 Majors in Golf, you should consider how they differ and are similar in terms of their places and dates.
Majors Comparison Table
These are the biggest golf tournaments graded by their timing, place, and history:
| Tournament | Month | Location | Trophy | Most Recent Winner (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | April | Augusta, Georgia, USA | Green Jacket | Scottie Scheffler |
| PGA Championship | May | Rotating U.S. Venues | Wanamaker Trophy | Xander Schauffele |
| U.S. Open | June | Rotating U.S. Venues | U.S. Open Trophy | Bryson DeChambeau |
| The Open Championship | July | Rotating U.K. Links Courses | Claret Jug | Brian Harman |
The Masters
The Masters is without question the season opener of the major golf tournaments and the only one which is played at the same venue every year: Augusta National Golf Club. This tournament is a competition to a lesser extent and more like an exclusive gathering, thus making the atmosphere unique and unparalleled in professional golf.
Key Facts & History
- Established in 1934 by amateur golfer Bobby Jones.
- Every year, the event takes place in the first week of April.
- Only those who have been invited can take part.
- The initial champion was Horton Smith (1934).
- It is consistent for Jack Nicklaus to be the one with the most wins, as he has six Masters titles
Unique Tradition
- The champion is awarded the iconic Green Jacket.
- This garment symbolizes entry into golf’s most exclusive fraternity.
- The winner may take the jacket home for one year only.
- After the first year, the jacket must remain permanently at Augusta National.
U.S. Open
The U.S. Open is known as “golf’s toughest test” and is held responsible for very few laughs. It is a harsh, draining mental battle of skills which the USGA purposely programmed in order to find out who is the one and only player of the year.
Key Facts & History
- The first time the championship was held is 1895.
- The initial winner was Horace Rawlins.
- The highest wins are by four people. The most wins is four. It is tied between Anderson, Jones, Hogan, and Nicklaus.
- Each year the golf course where the championship is to be held changes and the most historically significant places are chosen. The setup follows strict USGA rules and standards.
Unique Feature
- The primary objective is to find weaknesses, not to encourage low scoring.
- The punishing setup requires players to demonstrate elite mental fortitude to navigate the chaos.
- Classic drama often involves deep rough swallowing golf balls and ruining dreams.
- Simply playing like a Scratch Golfer is often not enough to succeed.
The Open Championship
Known around the world as simply “The Open,” this is the original major, forged in the rugged traditions of its Scottish roots, and requires a completely different style of golf than the typical American major.
Key Facts & History
- The Open is the oldest golf tournament in the world, established in 1860.
- The first winner was Willie Park Sr.
- Harry Vardon has the record for the most Open championships at six.
- The Open is always conducted as a strict links tournament, defined by coastal land, pot bunkers and windy conditions.
- Every year, it is hosted on a new venue on a strict “rota,” which includes St. Andrews (known as the “Home of Golf”).
Unique Tradition
- The champion gets the Claret Jug.
- The course asks for creativity and usage of the ground (rather than just strength).
- This style of golf pays homage to golf’s original style of play.
PGA Championship
Often considered the “major with the strongest field,” the PGA Championship is the tournament that attracts the most skilled professional golfers worldwide competing for the final major of the season.
Key Facts & History
- It was the first major organized by the PGA of America and was established in 1916.
- Jim Barnes was the first champion (1916).
- The most wins record of five is held jointly by Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen.
- The competition site rotates across traditional parkland courses throughout the U.S.
- The field uniquely includes about 20 qualifying club professionals (local teaching pros).
Unique Feature
- As one of the premier golf events in the world, The Championship regularly features the strongest field in the sport, thereby guaranteeing a difficult test for the winner.
- It is often the major where a rising star wins his first major title.
- Winning the PGA title is an indispensable piece required to achieve the career Grand Slam.
FAQs About the Majors
If you still want to understand what are the 4 Majors in Golf and their position in golf history, here is a brief response to common questions.
What is the 5th major in golf?
You hear this debate all the time, but the widely accepted “fifth major” is The Players Championship down at TPC Sawgrass. It certainly has a ridiculous prize fund and may have the broadest field in any non-major event, but the historical context or tradition that the original four have.
Which golf major is the most prestigious?
There is no definite answer when talking about prestige in golf, however, most talks are limited to these two events.
- The Open Championship is, by far, the most historically deep-rooted tournament in the sport, and this fact alone grants it a very unique and special place in the game.
- However, The Masters is specially cherished among the golf majors as it is the only one that takes place at the same golf course every year. The past and the customs of Augusta National are the elements that make the whole affair so enigmatic.
Who has the most major wins of all time?
Jack Nicklaus. The man with a record of 18 major grand slams was the one who set the standard. Tiger Woods is the one who is following with 15 and he never had really been able to go beyond Nicklaus’s total despite being very close at times. In men’s professional golf, the greatest achievement is still to break Nicklaus’s record.
What is the difference between an open and a major?
Basically, “Open” refers to a situation where any player who meets the criteria can take part in the competition (be it a professional or an amateur) is simply invited (for instance, The U.S. Open), on the other hand, Majors is a label that is only bestowed upon the 4 most historical, prestigious, and global events. It is possible to have an open tournament that is not a major.
What player was the youngest to win a major?
The Open Championship in 1868 was the major that Tom Morris Jr., then just 17 years old and full of bright promise, won and he became the youngest player of all time to achieve such a feat! In fact, players such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy made it to the first Major victory in their twenties, which is still very young by the standards of the present day.
