You're probably here because you heard golf commentators buzzing about "majors" and wondered what makes these tournaments so special. I remember scratching my head years ago when a golf buddy mentioned the "Grand Slam" – I pictured tennis until he explained it meant winning all four majors. That confusion is exactly why we're breaking this down today.
Let's cut to the chase: What are the four majors in golf? They're The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship (often called the British Open). But that's just the tip of the iceberg. If you want to understand why players obsess over these events, how they differ, and why winning one changes a golfer's life forever, you're in the right place.
The Masters Tournament: Springtime in Augusta
Every April, golf fans worldwide plant themselves in front of TVs for the Masters at Augusta National. Founded by Bobby Jones in 1934, this Georgia gem oozes tradition. Remember when Tiger Woods won in 2019 after his comeback? The roar shook pine trees across the state. What makes it unique:
Course: Augusta National Golf Club (Augusta, Georgia)
Founder: Bobby Jones & Clifford Roberts
First Played: 1934
Founder: Bobby Jones & Clifford Roberts
First Played: 1934
Iconic Features: Green Jacket, Amen Corner, Pimento Cheese Sandwiches ($1.50!)
2024 Dates: April 11-14
2024 Dates: April 11-14
The course itself is a character – Rae's Creek swallowing balls at #12, those impossibly fast greens, and azaleas blooming everywhere. They say the club spends over $1 million annually just on flowers. Crazy, right?
Augusta's Recent Champions
| Year | Winner | Score | Winning Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Jon Rahm | -12 | 4 strokes |
| 2022 | Scottie Scheffler | -10 | 3 strokes |
| 2021 | Hideki Matsuyama | -10 | 1 stroke |
Augusta's exclusiveness bugs some folks. Getting tickets? Near-impossible unless you know a member. Watching practice rounds costs $100+ if you find resale tickets. But man, seeing Amen Corner in person? Worth every penny.
PGA Championship: The Pros' Showdown
Moving to May, the PGA Championship often gets unfairly labeled the "lesser" major. Don't believe it. Run by the PGA of America (not the PGA Tour – confusing, I know), it features the deepest field. Think of it as golf's all-star game with 156 players.
✓ Rotates courses yearly (2024 at Valhalla, 2025 at Quail Hollow)
✓ Only major with club professionals in the field (20 spots)
✓ Known for toughest course setups after U.S. Open
✓ Only major with club professionals in the field (20 spots)
✓ Known for toughest course setups after U.S. Open
I attended the 2022 event at Southern Hills. The heat was brutal – caddies carried cooling towels like survival gear. Saw Justin Thomas claw back from 7 shots down on Sunday. That Wanamaker Trophy weighs 27 pounds! No wonder winners struggle to lift it.
PGA Championship Course Rotation (Upcoming)
| Year | Course | Location | Notable Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Valhalla Golf Club | Louisville, KY | Hosted Tiger's 2000 playoff win |
| 2025 | Quail Hollow Club | Charlotte, NC | "Green Mile" closing holes |
| 2026 | Aronimink Golf Club | Newtown Square, PA | Donald Ross design |
The PGA's identity crisis is real though. Is it for club pros? Elite players? Both? The mix creates weird moments – like when Michael Block, a teaching pro, dunked a hole-in-one at Oak Hill in 2023. Crowd went berserk!
U.S. Open: Golf's Brutal Examination
June brings carnage. The USGA proudly admits they aim to identify the "toughest" champion. How? Narrow fairways, ankle-deep rough, and greens slicker than ice. Winged Foot in 2020 saw Bryson DeChambeau as the only player under par. Everyone else got mauled.
Key things fans care about:
- Qualifying: Anyone with a 0.4 handicap index can try ("Open" means it)
- Ticket Prices: Practice rounds ~$75-$125, Tournament rounds $150-$250+
- Scoring: Par is the goal; winners often finish over par
My most vivid U.S. Open memory? 2004 at Shinnecock Hills. They lost control of the greens – putts rolling off into fairways. Sergio García shot 66 Thursday, then 84 Friday. Absolute chaos.
Most Brutal U.S. Open Setups
| Year | Course | Winning Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Oakmont | +5 | Rough so thick players lost balls in fairway |
| 1974 | Winged Foot | +7 | "The Massacre at Winged Foot" |
| 1951 | Oakland Hills | +7 | Ben Hogan said: "I'm glad I brought this course to its knees" |
Honestly? Sometimes the USGA crosses the line. When Brooks Koepka called setups "juvenile" in 2019, I nodded along. But when players conquer these monsters? Pure theater.
The Open Championship: Where Golf Was Born
Pack your rain gear. July means The Open Championship on Scotland or England's coasts. Oldest of the majors (since 1860), it's played on links courses – think windswept dunes, pot bunkers, and weather changing every 5 minutes.
Personal Experience: I followed Rory McIlroy at St Andrews in 2015. On hole #11, a sideways rainstorm blew in. Umbrellas flipped inside out like cheap tents. Rory three-putted from 8 feet – the wind literally blew his ball off-line. That's Open golf. You battle elements as much as competitors.
What makes The Open different:
- Courses: Rotates among 10 historic venues (St Andrews, Carnoustie, etc.)
- Travel: Flights to Scotland run $700-$1200 from NYC. Lodging? Book 2+ years early or camp.
- TV Viewing: Waking up at 4 AM EST to watch live is a ritual for US fans.
Legendary Open Championship Venues
| Course | Location | Hosted Opens | Signature Hole |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Andrews (Old) | Scotland | 30 times | Road Hole (#17) |
| Royal Birkdale | England | 10 times | Par-3 12th (Dunes backdrop) |
| Carnoustie | Scotland | 8 times | Closing holes ("Carnasty") |
Jet lag aside, nothing beats watching sunset over the Old Course. Though I'll never understand haggis...
Head-to-Head: Comparing the Four Majors
Still wondering how these giants stack up? This table breaks it down:
| Major | Typical Date | Course Style | Winning Prize (2023) | Unique Perk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | April | Parkland (Augusta) | $3.24 million | Lifetime Invitations |
| PGA Championship | May | Various (Parkland) | $3.15 million | Club Pros Compete |
| U.S. Open | June | Varied (Brutal Setup) | $3.15 million | Open Qualifying |
| The Open | July | Links | $3.00 million | Claret Jug Trophy |
Quick Take: Want drama? U.S. Open. History? The Open. Pageantry? Masters. Underrated battles? PGA Championship. Each answers the question "what are the four majors in golf?" uniquely.
The Grand Slam Quest: Golf's Holy Grail
Winning one major is career-defining. Winning all four in a career? Only 5 players did it: Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen. Doing it in one calendar year? Never happened. Why?
- Skill Diversity: Masters favors shot-shapers; U.S. Open demands accuracy; The Open requires wind play
- Mental Toll: Jordan Spieth admitted after losing the 2016 Masters: "Majors drain you for months"
- Calendar Spread: April to July leaves little recovery time between events
Tiger came closest in 2000-2001 – holding all four simultaneously ("Tiger Slam"). I watched his 2000 U.S. Open win at Pebble Beach. He lapped the field by 15 shots! Insane dominance nobody's matched.
So next time someone asks "what are the four majors in golf?" – you'll know they're not just tournaments. They're career-makers.
Beyond the Basics: Your Major Championship FAQ
Q: Has any player won all four majors in one year?
A: Nope. Bobby Jones won the pre-modern "Grand Slam" in 1930, but today's four-major version remains unconquered calendar-year.
Q: Which major has the highest TV ratings?
A: The Masters dominates. 2023 final round drew 12.06 million viewers – nearly double the U.S. Open's 6.3 million.
Q: Do players earn money for making the cut?
A: Absolutely. Even last place at 2023 Masters earned $43,200. Miss the cut? You get nothing but a flight home.
Q: How do courses get selected?
A: Masters: Always Augusta. U.S. Open/USGA, The Open/R&A pick historic courses years in advance. PGA Championship rotates top US courses.
Q: Why isn't The Players Championship a major?
A: Despite its "fifth major" nickname, it lacks the history (started 1974 vs The Open's 1860). Tradition matters here.
Why These Four Events Define Golf Greatness
Let's be real: winning the John Deere Classic doesn't change your legacy. But capture a major? Instant immortality. When Phil Mickelson finally won the 2004 Masters after 46 tries, he wept. I did too watching it.
The pressure's different. At regular tournaments, players chat with fans. At majors? Stoic focus. Security lines triple. Media scrums form. That weight crushes some – remember Greg Norman's Masters collapses?
For fans, attending requires strategy:
- Masters: Apply for tickets via lottery (odds < 1%) or pay $2,000+ on secondary markets
- U.S. Open: General admission tickets usually available but pricey ($200+/day)
- The Open: Walk-up tickets often sold, but premier courses sell out fast
Can't attend? Watching highlights online helps, but nothing beats live tension. I streamed the 2023 PGA Championship on my phone during a flight delay. Worth the data overage!
Career Major Winners (Top 5)
| Player | Masters | PGA Champ | U.S. Open | The Open | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Nicklaus | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 18 |
| Tiger Woods | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 15 |
| Walter Hagen | 0 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 11 |
Seeing Jack's 18 majors might never be topped. Modern fields are deeper. Equipment narrowed skill gaps. That's why when folks ask what are the four majors in golf, I add: "They're where legends separate from mortals."
So grab your calendar. Mark April through July. Golf's major season is a rollercoaster you won't want to miss.