The four golf majors, held annually, are the Masters, The PGA Championship, The US Open and the British Open. These consist of the best golfers in the world competing for the most desired championships in the sport of golf.
Update: There is current controversy in the game of golf over who should play in the majors. There is pressure to keep the LIV golf members from competing in the prestigious events held annually. Some of the best golfers of past years have played in LIV events including Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and a handful of other high quality golfers.
Golf is an amazing sport, played by people of all ages and ability levels. Golf is enjoyed by people who score over 100 and those that play professionally. Within the golfing world there are four total golf majors that are held annually each year. All of these tournaments have mainly professionals, but there are always a handful of amateurs in each of the four majors.
The four golf majors are similar to winning the World Series or the Super Bowl. As a golf fan, we are fortunate to watch our “Super Bowl” up to four times a year.
The four golf majors are what the best golfers in the world are ultimately measured on. Even though Tiger Woods has over 80 career PGA Tour wins, everyone better knows that he has 15 golf majors, with his most recent major taking place in April of 2019 at Augusta National Golf Club. He dreamed of one day surpassing Jack Nicklaus 18 total.
Each major has its unique characteristics and something that makes it special. Below we will break down each of the four majors for you and then provide a list of golfers with the most amount of wins.
Here are the four majors:
- The Masters
- The PGA Championship
- The US Open
- The British Open
Below we will provide more information about each of the four majors in golf.
The Masters
The Masters is held annually in April at Augusta National Golf Club. It is also symbolic for many that spring has arrived in the United States. Augusta National Golf Club might be the most beautiful, well kept golf course in all the world. Having attended practice rounds in both 2017 and 2018, it is just a perfect place. Every blade of grass appears to be perfect and there is just something ultra special about Augusta National.
While it is the most difficult course to become a member at or even to get a ticket to the Masters, people love the Masters each year and the beautiful Azaleas that the course has all over the place. The weather is typically very nice and the course is even nice. It is the only major played at the same course every year. The other three majors either have a rotation of some sort or at least move to a different course every year.
The draw to the Masters is that many viewers of the tournament know each hole on the course and can remember the history of each hole. Augusta National serves as the greatest stage for a Sunday where the leaderboard is packed and one can hear the roar of the crowd.
Annually, there are minor adjustments to the course as Augusta National works to deal with the distance golfers are now hitting the ball. Most recently, the 5th hole was lengthened. The course was “Tiger Proofed” in the years following Tiger Woods domination of the course and the field in 1997. Tiger was 12 shots better than the 2nd place golfer in the 1997 Masters.
Augusta National is known for fast, undulating greens that are some of the most difficult in the world. The par 5 bring about some great drama, as most of the par 5’s are reachable in two, but carry a high risk, high reward situation. Overall, the Masters is a wonderful event that provides hope that spring is around the corner and great drama as the golfers head to the back nine on Sunday at Augusta.
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Greatest Moments in Masters History
Top Three Winners at the Masters
- Jack Nicklas – 6 Wins (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986)
- Tiger Woods – 5 Wins (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019)
- Arnold Palmer – 4 wins (1958, 1960, 1962, 1964)
The PGA Championship
While lacking the history and relevance of the other three majors, it still considered a big deal each and every year. Recently, the PGA Championship moved from its typical August date to May. There are now 4 consecutive months with a major. The tournament is hosted by the Professional Golfers Association of America, which since 1968 is separate from the PGA Tour.
So many spots in the tournaments are reserved for the members of the PGA of America thru various qualifiers that they hold. The tournaments, unlike the Masters, is not held at the same course every year. Throughout the history of the championship, it has primarily been played on the eastern part of the United States. Only 10 times as the the tournaments held won the western side of the United States.
The winner of the tournament wins the Wanamaker Trophy. The conditions of the course have been difficult in recent years, often times resembling something very close to the US Open conditions and difficulty levels.
On my bucket list is to head to Bethpage Black, which is open to the public, to play Bethpage, which has hosted a US Open, a PGA Championship and will soon host a Ryder Cup.
Most Amount of Victories at the PGA Championship
- Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagan – 5 Time Winners
Greatest Moments in PGA Championship History
The US Open
The United States Open is held annually, typically in the month of June. It too, rotates golf courses each year and often will come back to specific places every 8-10 years. The US Open in the national golf tournament in the United States and has qualifiers that anyone can enter who carries a 2.4 USGA handicap or lower.
Many of the golfers on the PGA Tour find themselves competing in the qualifiers for entry into the tournament. Lee Trevino found his fame by winning his first professional tournament, which happened to be the US Open. He was a qualifier in 1966 and earned based on his top 10 finish, earn playing rights on the PGA Tour for the remainder of the year.
The United States Golf Associated (USGA) host the annual tournament and takes great pride in creating difficult course setups and many fans enjoy watching the top players struggle to break par. Over the past so many years, the USGA has received some criticism for the course setup at the US Open. The first US Open was held in 1895. Oakmont has hosted the most amount of US Opens, with that number being 9.
I was fortunate enough to attend a US Open at Oakmont Country Club. It is an impressive course with hardly no trees on the interior which makes some very difficult wind conditions
Most Amount of Victories at the US Open
- Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus – 4 Time Winners
Greatest Moments in US Open History
The British Open
The British Open is held annually, typically in the month of July. The tournament is better known by some as simply, The Open. It is now the last of the four majors each golf season. The British Open rotates to numerous courses in the overall rotation. The Open was first played in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland.
Like the US Open, it is referred to as an “Open” because anyone, if good enough, can potentially earn a spot in the main event. The winner receives the Claret Jug. The style of golf at the British Open is typically links style that promotes playing the ball more along the ground and letting the ball roll versus the US style of the game where the ball is hit high with spin controlling the stopping point.
Traditionally, wind and firm turf make for difficult conditions and the winner must be able to control his golf ball and hit a variety of shots. The wind plays a major factor each and every year, and there is possibility for cold weather and there always seems to be some rain mixed in. The weather frequently changes quickly and often the draw of if you are playing a morning or afternoon round can have a significant impact on the scoring and impacts who wins the tournament.
Many believe The Open and the coastal links style game is the purest form of golf and demands the most of the winner of the four majors held each year. The most famous course in the rotation is St. Andrews. It is known as the oldest golf course in the world. The tournament is typically held there every 5th year, which is more frequently than any other course on the rotational. The 1st and the 18th hole create some great theatre like views on that final day of the tournament. For most golfers, a trip to St. Andrews is on the bucket list of places to play.
Update: The British Open was not played in the 2020 due to a pandemic.
Most Amount of Victories at The British Open
- Harry Vardon – 6 Time Winner
Greatest Moments in History – The Open at St. Andrews
Overview
Golf is a wonderful game, not only do we get to play the game we love, the professional tournaments held each year, highlighted by the four majors can bring about great entertainment and variety of golf courses, styles and ultimately demanding shots that the best player that week is able to pull off.
Recently, who can forget the Tiger Woods victory at Augusta in April of 2019. Or Jack Nicklaus winning the Masters.1986 Masters at age 46. Or Tom Watson competing in his 60s at the British Open in 2009. Or the the Monday finish that required more than the 18 extra holes between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate. The drama is amazing each year and there are many memories that are created. Golf is a great game for friends and family to enjoy in the beautiful outdoors.
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