Golf's Majors

Golf’s major championships have always helped define the game’s greatest players. Recently, with all the change in men’s professional golf, the major championships are more important than ever. They are presently the thread that connects today’s major champions to all the champions that came before them. They are the the way to measure a golfers success to players in other generations. Golf’s majors consist of The Masters, the PGA Championship, the United States Open and the Open Championship. The Masters has been played at Augusta National since 1934. The PGA Championship is the championship of the PGA of America. It has been played all the way back to 1916 and is played at different courses. The United States Open Championship is the oldest of the majors in the United States as it goes back to 1895. The oldest of the majors is the Open Championship. This was previously called the British Open. This major traces its beginnings all the way back to 1860. We’ve put togther some countdown clocks to all the upcoming major golf championships. Also, we’ve included some quick need to know information on each championship.

The Masters

Course: Augusta National

Defending champion: Scottie Scheffler

Last year’s top 3 – Scottie Scheffler, Ludvig Åberg, Tommy Fleetwood

Golf course architect – Dr. Alister Mackenzie, 1932

Known for: The Green Jacket, Amateur Recognition, Wednesday Par-3 Contest, Champions dinner, Honorary Starters

 

PGA Championship

Course: Quail Hollow Golf Club

Defending champion: Xander Schauffele

Last year’s top 3 – Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland

Golf course architect – George Cobb, 1961

Known for: Wanamaker Trophy, PGA Club Pros qualify to play with the best in the game, 

United States Open Championship

oakmont us open

Course: Oakmont Country Club

Defending champion: Bryson DeChambeau

Last year’s top 3 – Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Tony Finau

Golf course architect – Henry Fownes, 1903

Known for: Open qualifying sites to all golfers, brutal rough and lightning fast greens

 

The Open Championship

Course: Royal Troon, Scotland

Defending champion: Brian Harman

Last year’s top 3 -Brian Harman, Tom Kim, Sepp Straka

Golf course architects -George Strath & Willie Fernie (original), 1888; re-designed by James Braid, 1923

Known for: being the oldest major championship, the winner getting the trophy called the Claret Jug, pot bunkers and unpredictable weather