Golf is a sport featuring four major championships that are typically regarded as the most significant competitions in professional golf. Winning a major is the pinnacle of professional golf, immortalized in history and delivering enormous status and financial rewards.
Watching the majors is an excellent way to learn about golf history because these events frequently feature the top players competing at the highest level.
The most golf majors won are the legendaries, Jack Nicklaus with an impressive 18 victories, and Tiger Woods closely following Nicklaus with 15 major wins.
The 4 majors in golf are the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and the Open Championship.
Masters Tournament
One of four golf majors The Masters' Tournament, steeped in tradition and most popular for its iconic green jacket, transcends the realm of mere golf tournaments.
Tiger Woods holds the event scoring record with a total score of 270 (18 under par) in 1997. With six wins, Jack Nicklaus owns the record for most Masters triumphs.
Timing and Format
Timing: The Masters is normally held in early April every year, signaling the start of the golf season for many enthusiasts.
Field Size: In comparison to other major championships, the tournament features a very small field, and participants are largely invited based on their success in prior major tournaments, PGA Tour events, and foreign competitions.
Qualification and Invitations
Masters Invitations: Previous winners, top finishers in major championships and certain PGA Tour events, as well as international players, are invited to The Masters.
Amateur Tradition: The Masters has a long tradition of permitting elite amateur golfers to compete alongside professional players.
Prize Money
The Masters had a record-breaking total purse of $18 million in 2023. This sum has significantly risen in recent years, thanks to the tournament's growing popularity and sponsorship arrangements.
The champion receives a sizable share of the prize money, taking home $3.24 million in 2023. This large prize money cements the Masters as one of the most lucrative tournaments in golf.
The remaining $14.76 million is divided among the remaining competitors, with the compensation reducing depending on their final rank.
Venue
The Masters Tournament is held at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, USA. Since the tournament's start in 1934, this gorgeous and demanding course has served as the sole venue.
Past Winners
- 2018 Patrick Reed
- 2019 Tiger Woods
- 2020 Dustin Johnson
- 2021 Hideki Matsuyama
- 2022 Scottie Scheffler
- 2023 Jon Rahm
Most Wins: Jack Nicklaus (6)
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is one of the four majors in golf, but it has a unique twist: it does not have a permanent home course. This itinerant attitude manifests itself in a competition brimming with variety and surprising difficulties.
It was founded in 1916 and initially cycled among public courses, democratizing the experience. Today, it travels to famous private and resort courses around the United States, exhibiting the country's unique golfing settings.
Timing
The PGA Championship is usually held in May, after the Masters in April and before the US Open in June. The competition lasts four days, beginning on Thursday and ending on Sunday.
Format
The PGA tour majors utilize the classic stroke play format, with the winner being the person with the lowest total score after 72 holes.
Following the second round, the bottom half of the field and ties are eliminated from the competition. To determine the champion, the rest of the participants participate in the last two rounds.
Qualification and Invitation
- Former PGA Champions
- Winners of the last 5 U.S. Opens
- Winners of the last 5 Masters
- Winners of the last 5 Open Championships
- Winners of the last 3 The Players Championships
- Top three on the Official World Golf Ranking International Federation Ranking List
- The current Senior PGA Champion
- The low fifteen scorers and ties in the previous PGA Championship
- The twenty-low scorers in the last PGA Professional Championship
- The seventy leaders in the PGA Championship points list
- Any tournament winner co-sponsored or approved by the PGA Tour since the earlier PGA Championship
- The PGA of America reserves the right to invite extra players not included in the categories listed above
Prize Money
The overall purse reached a record-breaking $17.5 million in 2023, a substantial increase from prior years. This upward trend in payments is projected to continue, securing the PGA Championship as one of golf's most financially rewarded majors.
The champion receives a sizable share of the prize money, taking home $3.15 million in 2023. This large prize emphasizes the PGA competition's position as a major competition and encourages players to compete at their best.
Venue
The PGA Championship is unique in that it is a major without a permanent home. Instead, it takes players on a tour through America's different golfing landscapes, exhibiting magnificent courses and new challenges each year.
Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, will provide a stunning setting for the prestigious event in 2024.
Past Winners
- 2023 Brooks Koepka
- 2022 Justin Thomas
- 2021 Phil Mickelson
- 2020 Collin Morikawa
- 2019 - Brooks Koepka
Most Wins: Jack Nicklaus, Walter Hagen (5)
U.S. Open
The US Open, golf's most difficult test, stands in stark contrast to the lush fairways and benign greens of other major championships. It's a competition where thick rough, lightning-fast greens and unpredictable bounces necessitate exquisite precision and a never-say-die attitude.
The U.S. Open, founded in 1895, is the oldest major championship, steeped in tradition and noted for its unforgiving layouts.
Timing and Format
The US Open is usually held in mid-June, after the Masters in April and before the PGA Championship in May. It lasts a week, beginning on Monday and ending on Sunday.
After 72 holes (four rounds), players compete to have the lowest overall score. Every stroke counts, putting a premium on accuracy and regularity.
A cut eliminates nearly half of the participants after the first two rounds. Only those who exceed or match a predefined score progress to the final two rounds, increasing the pressure and competition.
If there is a tie for first place after 72 holes, a playoff will be held to determine the winner. It's currently a two-hole aggregate playoff, followed by sudden death if the scores are still tied.
Qualification and Invitation
- Qualifiers: Local and regional tournaments for amateurs and some pros. Top finishers secure the coveted spots
- Exemptions: Past champions, recent major winners, top amateurs, as well as certain pros automatically in
- Invitations: A few extra places are awarded based on current form as well as playing record
Prize Money
The overall prize money reached a record-breaking $65,000,020 in 2023, reflecting the tournament's dedication to rewarding performance and attracting the top players in the globe.
The player who completes the course and wins the coveted title receives a whopping $3,000,000.
Venue
The US Open, unlike some other major events, does not have a single permanent venue. Instead, it rotates across renowned American golf courses, providing a new challenge and showing the diversity of American golf.
Here is an update on the upcoming venues:
- 2024: Pinehurst No. 2 (North Carolina)
- 2025: Torrey Pines (California)
- 2026: Winged Foot (New York)
Past Winners
- 2023 Wyndham Clark
- 2022 Matt Fitzpatrick
- 2021 Jon Rahm
- 2020 Bryson DeChambeau
- 2019 Gary Woodland
- 2018 Brooks Koepka
Most Wins: Jack Nicklaus, Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan (4)
The Open Championship
The Open Championship one of four majors in golf, often referred to as "The Open" or the "British Open," is a true legend in the golfing world. Its history, prestige, and unique challenges make it a must-watch event for any golf fan.
It was founded in 1860, and it is the oldest major championship in golf, boasting over 160 years of tradition and iconic moments.
Timing and Format
The Open typically takes place the week before the third Friday in July, making it an annual summer highlight. It unfolds over four days, starting on a Monday and concluding on Sunday.
The Open is a 72-hole stroke play tournament. The player with the lowest total score after four rounds wins the coveted Claret Jug trophy.
Qualification and Invitation
- Qualifiers: Local and regional tournaments for pros and top amateurs. Win your way in!
- Exemptions: last champions, recent major stars, and top pros are automatically invited
- Invitations: A few extra places are awarded based on current form and player appeal
Prize Money
In 2023, the total prize money reached a record-breaking £16.5 million. The player who completes the course and wins the coveted Claret Jug receives a whopping £3 million.
Every position on the final leaderboard receives a considerable dividend, ensuring that all players are fairly compensated. The runner-up receives £1.7 million, highlighting the tournament's financial clout.
Past Winners
- 2023 Brian Harman
- 2022 Cameron Smith
- 2021 Collin Morikawa
- 2019 Shane Lowry
- 2018 Francesco Molinari
Most Wins: Harry Vardon (6)
