So you're wondering about the four golf majors? I get this question all the time from friends getting into the sport. Let me break it down plainly: these four tournaments are golf's crown jewels, the events every pro dreams of winning. Unlike regular PGA Tour stops, winning a major changes your career forever. I still remember watching Tiger Woods sink that putt at the 2019 Masters - the energy was completely different from any other tournament.
The Masters Tournament
Ah, Augusta National. Just saying the name gives me goosebumps. Held every April in Augusta, Georgia, this is the only major played at the same course year after year. That course is... well, it's something else. Those bright white bunkers against the flowering azaleas make it look like golf heaven. But don't be fooled by the beauty - Amen Corner (holes 11-13) has wrecked more Sunday leads than I can count.
What really sets the Masters apart is how exclusive it is. Getting tickets feels like winning the lottery. I tried for three years before scoring practice round passes. And the concessions? Best deal in sports - $1.50 egg salad sandwiches that haven't changed since the 1950s. But honestly, the green jacket ceremony is what gives me chills. Seeing the previous winner help the new champion into that jacket never gets old.
Key Masters Details
| Feature | Detail | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Course | Augusta National Golf Club | Same venue since 1934 creates historic continuity |
| When | First full week of April | Kicks off golf's major season annually |
| Unique Tradition | Green Jacket ceremony | Most recognizable trophy in sports |
| Ticket Access | Extremely limited lottery system | Practice rounds easier to get than tournament days |
| Recent Notable Winner | Jon Rahm (2023) | First European to win since 2017 |
Fun story: My buddy caddied there once and told me about the underground tunnels players use to move around unseen. The place has more secrets than the CIA!
PGA Championship
Don't confuse this with the PGA Tour - this is a separate beast entirely. The PGA Championship moves around to different courses each May, usually at brutally tough places like Oak Hill or Baltusrol. These setups demand perfection. I played Southern Hills a year after the 2022 PGA and still can't believe how those guys scored under par.
What fascinates me about this major is the field depth. With 156 players including club pros, it's the most democratic major. I've seen club teaching pros make the cut - talk about pressure! The Wanamaker Trophy weighs a back-breaking 27 pounds. Can you imagine lugging that thing around?
What Makes the PGA Championship Different
- Moving venue: Rotates among championship courses nationwide
- Field composition: 20 spots reserved for club professionals
- Time of year: Positioned between Masters and U.S. Open
- Recent controversies: 2020 move to August due to COVID created scheduling headaches
- 2024 location: Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky
Honestly, I think this major gets overlooked sometimes. It doesn't have the history of the Open or the prestige of the Masters, but winning here requires beating the deepest field in golf. Brooks Koepka's back-to-back wins in 2018-2019 were absolute clinics in major pressure golf.
U.S. Open
If you love seeing pros suffer, this is your major. The USGA setups are borderline sadistic. We're talking fairways narrower than airport runways and rough so thick you need a machete. I walked Pinehurst No. 2 during a U.S. Open and watched world-class players lose balls in plain sight. Brutal.
What defines the U.S. Open is its democratic qualifying process. Thousands try to qualify through local and sectional rounds. I actually tried qualifying once - shot 82 and realized I should stick to watching. The venues rotate but always punish imperfect shots. Remember Winged Foot 2020? Only six players finished under par. Six!
Viewer tip: Watch the back nine on Sunday. The USGA loves to tuck pins near impossible slopes. Last year at LACC, several contenders dumped approach shots into barrancas. Painful but compelling viewing.
| Recent U.S. Open Venue | Winning Score | Memorable Moment | Course Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles CC (2023) | -10 (Wyndham Clark) | Clark's clutch par save on 18 | Extreme (Barrancas caused 47 lost balls) |
| The Country Club (2022) | -6 (Matt Fitzpatrick) | Fitzpatrick's bunker shot on 18 | Very Severe |
| Torrey Pines (2021) | -6 (Jon Rahm) | Rahm's back-to-back birdies to finish | Brutal (Thick rough) |
The Open Championship
They call golf the "game of a lifetime," but links golf feels like a different sport entirely. The Open Championship - don't call it British Open around traditionalists - is played on coastal courses with more variables than a calculus exam. I played St Andrews in 25mph winds once and shot 94. With mulligans.
The weather dictates everything here. One minute it's sunny, next minute you're getting sideways rain. Remember when Tiger hit that 2-iron from the bunker at Hoylake? Only he could keep it under the wind like that. What I love most are the shared hotel rooms and public transport - pros live like regular fans for this one. Try picturing Rory McIlroy on a double-decker bus!
- Rotation: Courses include St Andrews, Carnoustie, Royal Liverpool
- 2024 venue: Royal Troon in Scotland
- Claret Jug: Winners drink from golf's coolest trophy
- Travel tip: Book accommodations 2+ years ahead
- Unique challenge: Pot bunkers you can't fly out of
My favorite memory? Watching Phil Mickelson's final round at Muirfield in 2013. He hit one 3-wood that curved about 40 yards in the air. Still not sure how physics allowed that. Links golf makes artists out of shotmakers.
Why These Four Golf Majors Matter More Than Others
When people ask what are the 4 golf majors, what they're really asking is why these tournaments stand apart. Here's the truth: winning any PGA Tour event is hard, but majors test different skills. The pressure multiplies exponentially.
Jack Nicklaus measured careers by majors. Tiger too. That's why Jordan Spieth cares more about his Masters win than his dozen other titles. The history weighs on every shot. I've seen players completely unravel on major back nines - it's psychological warfare.
The venues become characters themselves. Augusta's Rae's Creek, St Andrews' Road Hole, Pebble Beach's 7th green - these features decide championships. Regular tour stops don't have that aura.
Common Questions About the Four Golf Majors
Only Bobby Jones did it in 1930, but that included both amateur and professional majors. The modern "Grand Slam" (all four professional majors in same year) remains unclaimed. Tiger came closest holding all four simultaneously across 2000-2001 seasons.
Depends who you ask. Statistically, the U.S. Open has produced the highest winning scores relative to par. But players say the Open Championship requires the most adaptability. Personally, I think the Masters might be toughest mentally - everyone knows exactly where to miss and where not to.
Absolutely. Winning a major gets you 100 OWGR points versus 60-70 for regular PGA events. That's why majors can rocket players up the rankings. Look at Wyndham Clark jumping outside top 100 to top 10 after 2023 U.S. Open.
Great question. While it has the strongest field and pays huge money, it lacks the historical pedigree. The four majors we recognize today solidified their status in the 1960s. Tradition matters. Plus, what are the 4 golf majors has a nice ring that wouldn't work with five!
| Major | 2023 Winner's Purse | Total Purse | Compared to Regular PGA Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters | $3.24 million | $18 million | ≈ 2x average purse |
| PGA Championship | $3.15 million | $17.5 million | ≈ 1.9x average purse |
| U.S. Open | $3.15 million | $17.5 million | ≈ 1.9x average purse |
| The Open | $3 million | $16.5 million | ≈ 1.8x average purse |
Beyond money, major wins bring insane sponsorship bumps. Equipment companies pay huge bonuses just for majors. Jordan Spieth's net worth jumped $30M after his 2015 Masters win. Not bad for four days' work.
How Players Qualify for Golf's Major Championships
Getting into majors isn't like regular tournaments. Each has different criteria, but generally:
- Past major champions often get lifetime exemptions (especially Masters)
- Recent winners on major tours (PGA, European, etc.)
- Top 50/100 in world rankings
- Special exemptions (like Phil Mickelson's 2021 PGA invite)
- Performance in designated qualifying tournaments
The U.S. Open has the most democratic system - anyone with a 0.4 handicap or better can try qualifying. Over 9,000 entered local qualifying last year! I admire that grit.
The Calendar Factor
Ever notice how the majors space out perfectly? Masters in April signals spring. PGA in late spring. U.S. Open in June summer kickoff. Open Championship in mid-summer. This rhythm keeps golf relevant all season. Miss one, and you're playing catch-up in the FedEx Cup.
Watching the Majors: Fan Experience Tips
Having attended all four, here's my unfiltered advice:
Masters: Apply for practice round tickets. Easier to get, cheaper, and you can take photos. Wear comfy shoes - Augusta's hills are brutal. And don't bother bringing your phone - they're banned on tournament days.
U.S. Open: Follow a lesser-known group early. You'll get better views than chasing superstars. Hydrate constantly - those long walks in summer heat dehydrate you faster than you think.
PGA Championship: Study the course map. These rotating venues have tricky viewing spots. Some holes might require 15-minute walks between vantage points.
The Open: Dress in layers. I wore four shirts simultaneously at Carnoustie. Bring waterproof everything. And sample local whiskeys - helps forget when your favorite player triple-bogeys.
Major Controversies That Shook Golf
Not all majors run smoothly. Remember these?
- 2023 Masters weather: Play suspended for hours after trees fell. Freak accidents happen.
- 2019 PGA at Bethpage: Fans heckled Brooks Koepka relentlessly. Crowd control became an issue.
- 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock: Greens got so fast players couldn't stop putts. Phil famously hit moving ball.
- 2015 Open at St Andrews: Play stretched to Monday due to wind. Scheduling nightmare.
My take? The governing bodies sometimes overcorrect. After Shinnecock, next year's U.S. Open was intentionally softer. They need to find balance between tough and fair.
Final Thoughts on Golf's Big Four
When someone asks what are the 4 golf majors, I see it as an invitation to share golf's soul. These tournaments connect us to Jones, Hogan, Nicklaus, and Woods. They're where careers get defined. That moment when the winner realizes what they've done? Pure magic.
The Champions Dinner at Augusta. The Claret Jug filled with whatever the winner fancies. The USGA's sadistic setups. The PGA's blue-collar inclusion. Each major has distinct DNA. That's why we keep coming back.
Will another major join them someday? Doubtful. These four have stood the test of time for good reason. They're perfect the way they are, warts and all. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to check when the 2025 Masters ticket application opens...
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