The Four Golf Majors Explained
Ask any golfer what matters most in the sport and the answer is usually the same: major championships. Here is what the four men's majors are, how they differ and why players are measured by them.
What is a major?
A major is one of the four biggest tournaments in professional golf each year. They carry the most prestige, the strongest fields, the most ranking points and the longest-lasting place in the history books. A player's career is usually summed up by how many majors they have won, which is why "majors" is one of the clues in our Guess the Pro Golfer game.
The Masters
The Masters is played every April at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. It is the only major held at the same course every year, and it first took place in 1934. The winner receives the famous green jacket. Augusta is known for fast, sloping greens, the azaleas that bloom in spring and the stretch of holes known as Amen Corner. Because the field is invitation-only, it is smaller than the other majors.
The PGA Championship
Run by the PGA of America, the PGA Championship is played in May at a different course each year, usually in the United States. The winner is presented with the Wanamaker Trophy. It is known for having one of the deepest fields in golf, with all of the top-ranked players plus a group of club professionals who qualify through a national championship.
The U.S. Open
The U.S. Open is organised by the USGA and played in June. It is famous for being the toughest test in golf: narrow fairways, thick rough and firm, fast greens mean that a score close to par is often good enough to win. It was first played in 1895 and travels to a different course each year.
The Open Championship
Often called "The Open" or the "British Open", this is the oldest major, first played in 1860. It is organised by the R&A and held in July on a rota of links courses in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland. The winner holds the Claret Jug. Wind, rain and bouncing, unpredictable ground make links golf very different from the parkland courses used for most of the year.
| Major | When | Where | Trophy |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | April | Augusta National, Georgia | Green jacket |
| PGA Championship | May | Rotates (mostly USA) | Wanamaker Trophy |
| U.S. Open | June | Rotates (USA) | U.S. Open Trophy |
| The Open | July | Rotates (UK links) | Claret Jug |
Who has won the most?
Jack Nicklaus holds the men's record with 18 major championships, spread across a career of more than two decades. Tiger Woods is next with 15. Walter Hagen won 11, and Ben Hogan and Gary Player each won 9. Arnold Palmer won 7.
The career Grand Slam
Winning all four majors during a career is called the career Grand Slam, and only a small group of players have done it: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, joined by Rory McIlroy when he won the 2025 Masters. Because it is so rare, completing the set is treated as one of the great achievements in the sport.
Why majors matter for guessing games
When you play a golf guessing game, the majors number is one of the strongest clues. A player with 0 majors is probably a modern tour regular or a rising star, a player with 1–3 is a proven winner, and anything higher usually points to a legend. Combined with country, tour and age, it narrows the field quickly.
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