What are the Four Major Tournaments in Golf?

Golf has four major tournaments that represent the pinnacle of achievement in the sport. These prestigious annual events attract the world's best players and offer the largest purses, highest levels of competition, and greatest glory for victory.

The Four Major Golf Tournaments

The four major tournaments in professional golf are:

1. The Masters Tournament
2. The PGA Championship
3. The U.S. Open
4. The Open Championship (British Open)

Each of these events has its own unique history, traditions, and challenges that set it apart from regular tour events.

Prestigious Non-Major Tournaments

While the four major tournaments are the most prestigious events in golf, there are other high-profile tournaments that are sometimes mistaken for majors. Two notable examples are:

1. The Players Championship: Often referred to as the "unofficial fifth major," The Players Championship is a highly regarded tournament on the PGA Tour. However, it is not officially recognized as one of the four majors despite its prestige and challenging course.
2. The FedEx Cup: This is a season-long competition on the PGA Tour, culminating in a series of playoff events. While it offers a substantial prize purse and is highly competitive, it is not considered a major tournament.

It's important to note that the concept of "major" tournaments is largely driven by historical significance, media perception, and tradition, rather than being officially designated by a governing body.

Details of Each Major Tournament

The Masters

• Held in early April
• Organized by and hosted at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, USA, making it the only major played at same course every year
• Known for the green jacket award
• Fewest golfers of any major (less than 100)

The Masters is often considered the most prestigious of the four majors due to its rich traditions and the mystique surrounding Augusta National Golf Club. The course's immaculate condition and challenging layout make it a true test of golf.

The PGA Championship

• Typically held in May
• Organized by the Professional Golfers' Association of America at various locations in the United States
• Known for challenging course setups with long par-four holes and tricky approaches
• Includes 20 club pros and 136 other qualifiers

The PGA Championship is known for its strong field of competitors and demanding course setups. It often favors long hitters and precise iron players.

The U.S. Open

• Usually contested in mid-June, often ending on Father's Day Sunday
• Conducted by United States Golf Association (USGA) at different courses throughout the United States
• Known for difficult playing conditions and rigorous qualifying process
• 156 golfers participate

The U.S. Open is renowned for its challenging course setups, with narrow fairways, thick rough, and fast greens. It's often considered the toughest test in golf, living up to its slogan: "Golf's Ultimate Test."

The Open Championship (British Open)

• Generally held in mid-July
• Conducted by The R&A (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland), at various historic links courses in the United Kingdom
• Known for its links-style courses and unpredictable weather
• 156 golfers participate

The Open Championship is the oldest of the four majors and the only one played outside the United States. Its links courses present unique challenges to players.

Importance of Major Tournaments

Winning a major championship is often considered the pinnacle of a golfer's career. These victories carry more weight than regular tour events that can cement a player's place in golf history and significantly impact world rankings.

Prize Money for 2024 Majors

• U.S. Open: $21.5 million (winner: $4.3 million)
• The Masters: $20 million (winner: $3.6 million)
• PGA Championship: $18.5 million (winner: $3.33 million)
• The Open Championship: $17 million (winner: $3.1 million)

For comparison, an average PGA event has a purse of $10-11M. The elevated prize money in the major tournaments reflects the prestige and importance of these events in the golfing world.

History of Major Tournaments

• The Open Championship: oldest, first played in 1860
• The US Open was first played in 1895
• The PGA Championship was first played in 1916
• The Masters: youngest, established in 1934
• Historical growth: 1970s purses under $250,000, now in tens of millions
• The current lineup has been considered the four majors since about 1960

The concept of the four majors has evolved over time, with the current lineup becoming established in the 1960s. The growth in prize money reflects golf's increasing popularity and commercialization.

The Grand Slam in Golf

Winning all four majors in a single year is called a “Grand Slam” and is considered the ultimate achievement in golf. Only Bobby Jones has ever pulled it off with a different set of major tournaments in 1930, and it has never been done in the modern era. Tiger Woods won four consecutive majors from 2000-2001, making him the closest of any modern golfer. His feat is sometimes referred to as the “Tiger Slam”.

While a true Grand Slam is extremely rare, several golfers have achieved a “Career Grand Slam” by winning each of the four majors at least once during their career. As of 2024, only 5 golfers have completed the Career Grand Slam:

• Gene Sarazen
• Ben Hogan
• Gary Player
• Jack Nicklaus
• Tiger Woods

This accomplishment is considered one of the greatest achievements in professional golf, demonstrating a player's skill and consistency across different courses and conditions over time.

Major Golf Tournaments Outside Men’s Professional Golf

While the “Four Majors” traditionally refers to men's professional golf, it's important to note that there are also prestigious major championships in women's golf and senior men's golf.

The five major championships in women's professional golf are:

1. The Chevron Championship
2. The Women's PGA Championship
3. The U.S. Women's Open
4. The Women's British Open
5. The Evian Championship

The five major championships for senior men's golf (50 years and older) are:

1. The Tradition
2. Senior PGA Championship
3. U.S. Senior Open
4. Senior Players Championship
5. Senior Open Championship