You’ve probably seen the green jackets, the silver jugs, and the grown men crying on the 18th green. Golf is a weird sport, honestly. For most of the year, players grind out weekly tournaments that, while lucrative, don't really move the needle for their legacy. But four times a year, everything changes. The air gets thicker. The crowds get louder. These are the "Majors."
If you're wondering what are the four major tournaments in golf, you aren't just asking for a list of names. You're asking about the soul of the sport. These events—The Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship—are the only ones that truly matter when history books are written.
Winning one of these makes you a legend. Winning all four in a career? That's the Career Grand Slam, a feat so rare only five men have ever done it.
The Masters: A Private Party in Georgia
Every April, the golf world hyper-focuses on a former fruit nursery in Augusta, Georgia.
The Masters is the first major of the year. It’s the only one played at the same course every single time: Augusta National Golf Club. Because of that, fans know the holes by heart. We know the blooming azaleas, the pine straw, and the terrifying "Amen Corner," which is basically where dreams go to die on Sunday afternoon.
Bobby Jones, the greatest amateur to ever live, started this thing back in 1934. He wanted a private invitational for his friends. Now, it’s the hardest ticket in sports. You can't just buy them; you have to win a lottery or know a guy who knows a guy.
Why the Green Jacket?
The winner doesn't just get a massive check. They get a green sports coat. It’s kind of a weird tradition that started in 1937 so members could be easily identified by guests who needed directions. Since 1949, the champion gets one too.
Fun fact: You only get to keep the jacket for one year. After that, it has to stay at the club in a locker. If you want to wear it, you have to go back to Augusta.
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The PGA Championship: The Professional’s Test
In May, things shift to the PGA Championship.
For a long time, people treated this like the "red-headed stepchild" of the majors. It used to be held in August, often in brutal heat, and it struggled for an identity. But since moving to May in 2019, it’s found its groove.
This tournament is run by the PGA of America, not the PGA Tour. That’s a key distinction. It’s the "professionals' championship," meaning the field is loaded with the best players in the world plus 20 "club pros"—the guys who actually teach lessons and run pro shops for a living.
The Wanamaker Trophy
The prize here is the Wanamaker Trophy. It is massive. Seriously, it weighs about 27 pounds. Legend has it that Walter Hagen, a flamboyant pro from the 1920s, once "lost" the trophy for a couple of years after a night of partying. He eventually admitted he’d paid a taxi driver to take it back to his hotel, but it never arrived. It turned up in a crate in 1930.
In 2026, the PGA Championship is heading to Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania. It’s a classic Donald Ross design. Expect long, grueling holes and greens that make you want to throw your putter into a pond.
The U.S. Open: Survival of the Fittest
If The Masters is a celebration of spring, the U.S. Open is a car crash in slow motion.
The USGA (United States Golf Association) runs this event every June, and their goal is basically to embarrass the best golfers on earth. They grow the rough so deep you can't see your shoes. They make the greens as hard as a parking lot.
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They call it the "toughest test in golf." Most years, the winning score is right around even par. If a guy shoots 10-under, the USGA feels like they failed.
Anyone can play (Sorta)
What's cool about the U.S. Open is that it is truly "open." If you have a handicap of 1.4 or lower, you can sign up for local qualifying. Every year, a few "nobodies"—amateurs, mini-tour grinders, and high school kids—actually make it into the field.
In June 2026, the tournament returns to Shinnecock Hills on Long Island. This place is brutal. The wind off the Atlantic can turn a good shot into a disaster in seconds. It’s golf's version of the Hunger Games.
The Open Championship: Where it All Started
Usually called the "British Open" by Americans, but if you're in the UK, it’s just The Open.
This is the oldest one. It started in 1860 at Prestwick in Scotland. While the other three majors are played on manicured American-style courses, The Open is played on "links" land. Think sand dunes, no trees, and weather that can change from sunny to a sideways rainstorm in five minutes.
It’s the final major of the year, held in July.
The Claret Jug
The winner is crowned the "Champion Golfer of the Year" and takes home the Claret Jug. It’s perhaps the most iconic trophy in the sport.
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The 2026 edition is set for Royal Birkdale in England. Birkdale is widely considered one of the fairest links courses, but "fair" is relative when you’re hitting out of a pot bunker that’s six feet deep.
The Major Misconceptions
People often ask, "What about The Players Championship?"
Technically, it’s not a major. It has the biggest purse and the best field, but it lacks the history. It’s often called the "Fifth Major," but until the governing bodies change the rules, it’s just a very big, very expensive regular tournament.
Another thing: Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus are the benchmarks here. Jack has 18 majors. Tiger has 15. Every other player is just trying to get into the conversation.
What to Watch For
If you're just getting into golf, keep an eye on the "Grand Slam" pursuit. As of 2026, Rory McIlroy is still chasing a Masters win to complete his set. Jordan Spieth is still looking for a PGA Championship.
The pressure of a major is different. You'll see guys who normally make every putt suddenly start shaking. It’s pure drama.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans:
- Check the Calendar: Mark your calendar for the second week of April, May, June, and July. That's when the magic happens.
- Watch the Early Waves: In the U.S. Open and The Open, the morning weather can be vastly different from the afternoon. A player’s entire tournament can be decided by a tee time.
- Follow the Amateurs: Keep an eye on the amateurs in the U.S. Open and The Masters. Seeing a college kid outplay a millionaire pro is one of the best parts of major season.
Golf is a long, slow game, but the majors are anything but boring. They are the four pillars that keep the sport standing. Whether it's the tradition of Augusta or the wind-swept dunes of Royal Birkdale, these four weeks are the only ones that truly define a golfer’s career.