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: Rory McIlroy
Last year’s top 3 – Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton
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: Aronimink Golf Club, Pennsylvania
Defending champion: Scottie Sheffler
Last year’s top 3 – Scottie Sheffler, Harris English, Bryson DeChambeau
Golf course architect – Donald Ross 1928
Known for: Wanamaker Trophy, PGA Club Pros qualify to play with the best in the game
United States Open Championship
Course: Shinnecock Hills GC
Defending champion: Bryson DeChambeau
Last year’s top 3 – Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Tony Finau
Golf course architect – C.B Macdonald & Seth Raynor
Known for: Open qualifying sites to all golfers, brutal rough and lightning fast greens
The Open Championship
Course: Royal Birkdale
Defending champion: Scottie Scheffler
Last year’s top 3 -Scottie Scheffler, Harris English, Chris Gotterup
Golf course architect – Donald Steel, Tom Mackenzie 1897
Known for: being the oldest major championship, the winner getting the trophy called the Claret Jug, pot bunkers and unpredictable weather