What Are the 4 Golf Majors? Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open & The Open

Quick Answer: What are the 4 majors in golf? They are the most prestigious tournaments in men’s professional golf, played in this order every year:

1. The Masters Tournament (April)
2. PGA Championship (May)
3. U.S. Open (June)
4. The Open Championship, also called the British Open (July)

Golf, a sport rich in history, precision, and unparalleled excitement, is defined by these four major golf tournaments that essentially symbolize a player’s legacy. 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 can make a player’s career, and winning all four, known as the career Grand Slam, is the final goal in golf.

Golf Majors Overview: What Is a Major in Golf?

A major is one of the four men’s major golf championships, the biggest and most historic events in professional golf. These four golf championships are the foundation of the golf season and set its flow from spring until summer, always in the same order, starting at Augusta in April and ending with The Open in July. Each event is overseen by a different organization, so each one has its own character, from the pristine, invitation-only affair at Augusta to the tough, totally unpredictable challenge of links golf across the Atlantic.

Each major championship is a different test of a player’s ability, mental strength, and adaptability. A major win also brings 100 world ranking points and a five-year exemption into the other majors, which is why players build their whole season around them. To really understand the 4 majors in golf, it helps to compare their dates, venues, and traditions side by side.

Are the 4 Majors PGA Tour Events?

This is where a lot of people get mixed up. You will often hear them called the “PGA majors” or the “four PGA Tour majors,” but the PGA Tour does not run any of them. The majors count as official events on the PGA Tour schedule, so Tour members earn FedEx Cup points and official money, but each tournament belongs to its own organization. Even the PGA Championship is run by the PGA of America, the association of club and teaching professionals, which is separate from the PGA Tour.

4 Golf Major Championships Comparison Table

These are the biggest golf tournaments compared by their timing, place, and history:

The Masters (April)

The Masters is without question the season opener of the major golf tournaments and the only one played at the same venue every year: Augusta National Golf Club. It feels less like a competition and more like an exclusive gathering, which gives it an atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else in professional golf.

Key Facts & History

• Established in 1934 by amateur golfer Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts.
• Every year, the event takes place in the second week of April.
• Only those who have been invited can take part.
• The initial champion was Horton Smith (1934).
• Jack Nicklaus holds the record for the most wins with six Masters titles.
• Rory McIlroy is the most recent champion, defending his title in 2026 to become the fourth player ever to win back-to-back green jackets, joining Nicklaus, Faldo, and Woods.

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.
• Each year, the defending champion hosts the Champions Dinner for past winners and chooses the menu.

Also Check Out: What is Masters Playoff Format: Sudden Death Rule Explained

PGA Championship (May)

Played every May, the PGA Championship is the second major of the season and is often called the major with the strongest field. It used to be the final major of the year, played in August, until the PGA of America moved it to May in 2019.

Key Facts & History

• It was established in 1916 and is organized by the PGA of America.
• Jim Barnes was the first champion (1916).
• The most wins record of five is held jointly by Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen.
• It began as a match play event and switched to stroke play in 1958.
• The competition site rotates across traditional parkland courses throughout the U.S.
• It is the only major with no amateurs in the field. Instead, it includes about 20 qualifying club professionals (local teaching pros).
• The most recent champion is Aaron Rai, who won his first major title at Aronimink Golf Club in May 2026, becoming the first English winner of the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes in 1919.

Unique Feature

• As one of the premier golf events in the world, the PGA Championship regularly features the strongest field in the sport, which guarantees a difficult test for the winner.
• The winner lifts the Wanamaker Trophy, named after Rodman Wanamaker, the businessman who helped found the PGA of America.
• 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.

U.S. Open (June)

The U.S. Open is known as “golf’s toughest test,” and it rarely gives players an easy day. The USGA deliberately sets up the course to be as demanding as possible, turning it into a draining mental battle that finds out who can handle pressure best over four rounds.

Key Facts & History

• The championship was first held in 1895.
• The initial winner was Horace Rawlins.
• The final round is usually scheduled to finish on Father’s Day.
• The record for the most wins is four, shared by Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus.
• The host course changes every year, and the USGA picks from the most historically significant courses in the country. The setup follows strict USGA rules and standards.
• The most recent champion is Wyndham Clark, who won wire-to-wire at Shinnecock Hills in June 2026 for his second U.S. Open title, three years after his first in 2023.

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.

Also Check Out: What is the U.S. Open Playoff Format in Men’s Golf?

The Open Championship (July)

Known around the world as simply “The Open,” and often called the British Open in the U.S., this is the original major championship. It was 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 of the four majors, first played in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland.
• 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”).
• The most recent champion is Ryan Fox, who claimed his first career major at Royal Birkdale in July 2026 with a birdie on the 72nd hole, becoming only the third New Zealander to win a men’s major.

Unique Tradition

• The champion gets the Claret Jug, officially called the Golf Champion Trophy. Before it existed, winners received a red leather Challenge Belt.
• The winner is announced as the “Champion Golfer of the Year.”
• The course asks for creativity and use of the ground (rather than just strength).
• This style of golf pays homage to golf’s original style of play.

Curious about golf’s all-time greats? Dive into our guide of Golfers with Most Major Championship Wins for complete rankings and legendary stats that’ll blow your mind!

FAQs About Four Golf Championships

If you still have questions about golf’s 4 majors and their place in golf history, here are brief answers to the most common ones.

Who won each golf major in 2026?

Rory McIlroy won the 2026 Masters, defending his title to become the fourth player ever to go back-to-back at Augusta. Aaron Rai won the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink for his first major title. Wyndham Clark won the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills for his second U.S. Open win. Ryan Fox won the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale for his first career major.

How many majors are there in golf?

There are four majors in men’s professional golf. Women’s golf has five majors, and senior men’s golf has five of its own, so if you see “5 golf majors” mentioned, it usually refers to one of those or to the Players Championship debate below.

What is the 5th major in golf?

You’ll hear this debate constantly among golf fans, and the most widely accepted answer is The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. It boasts a purse and field strength that rival and sometimes exceed the actual majors, plus a slate of players who treat it with major-level seriousness. What it lacks is history: no amount of prize money replicates 90+ years of tradition overnight. Some fans occasionally nominate the Ryder Cup or even the Olympics for the “unofficial fifth major” title, but neither carries the individual stroke-play pedigree that ties the Players Championship to the other four. Officially, though, only four majors are recognized, and this one stays a fan debate, not a rulebook fact.

Is the British Open the same as The Open?

Yes. The Open Championship and the British Open are the same tournament. Its official name is The Open Championship, and it is run by The R&A. “British Open” is simply the name many American fans use to tell it apart from the U.S. Open, which is a separate major run by the USGA.

Which golf major is the most prestigious?

There is no definite answer when talking about prestige in golf, but most debates come down to these two events.

• The Open Championship is, by far, the most historically deep-rooted tournament in the sport, and that alone gives it a very special place in the game.
• However, The Masters is especially cherished among the golf majors because it is the only one played at the same golf course every year. The history and customs of Augusta National are what make the whole event feel so mysterious.

What is the difference between an Open and a major?

An “Open” is a tournament that any player who meets the entry criteria can try to qualify for, whether they are a professional or an amateur. The U.S. Open is a good example. A “major,” on the other hand, is a label given only to the four most historic, prestigious, and global events in golf. So it is possible to have an open tournament that is not a major.