Golf’s majors are the sport’s four most prestigious men’s tournaments: the Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open and The Open Championship, played each year from April to July. Winning a major is the defining achievement of a professional golf career, and players are often judged by how many they have won. Jack Nicklaus holds the men’s record with 18 majors, followed by Tiger Woods with 15. The women’s game has five majors: the Chevron Championship, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the U.S. Women’s Open, the Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s Open. Winning all four men’s majors over a career is known as the career Grand Slam.
The four men’s majors
| Major | Usual month | Organizer | First played | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | April | Augusta National Golf Club | 1934 | Always at Augusta National in Georgia; winner receives the green jacket |
| PGA Championship | May | PGA of America | 1916 | Rotating venues; moved from August to May in 2019 |
| U.S. Open | June | USGA | 1895 | Known for demanding course setups |
| The Open Championship | July | The R&A | 1860 | Oldest major; played on links courses in the UK; winner receives the Claret Jug |
The Masters
The Masters is the only men’s major played at the same course every year, Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. It was founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts and first played in 1934. The tournament is known for its immaculate conditions, azaleas, traditions such as the green jacket and the Champions Dinner, and famous stretches of holes like Amen Corner. The field is smaller than other majors and is made up largely of invited past champions, leading players and top amateurs.
The PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is run by the PGA of America, the organization representing club professionals in the United States. It was first played in 1916 and was a match play event until 1958, when it switched to stroke play. The championship rotates among well-known American courses and traditionally includes a group of club professionals in the field. Since 2019, it has been played in May, making it the second major of the year.
The U.S. Open
The U.S. Open, run by the USGA, was first played in 1895. It has a reputation for being the toughest test in golf, with narrow fairways, thick rough and firm, fast greens. The championship is open to professionals and amateurs who qualify, and thousands of golfers enter local and final qualifying each year for a chance to play. Winning scores are often close to par.
The Open Championship
The Open, often called the British Open outside the UK, is the oldest of the majors, first played in 1860 at Prestwick in Scotland. It is organized by The R&A and is always played on links courses, which are coastal layouts with firm ground, deep pot bunkers and unpredictable wind. The venues rotate among a set of historic courses, including the Old Course at St Andrews. The winner receives the Claret Jug and the title of Champion Golfer of the Year.
The women’s majors
| Major | Notes |
|---|---|
| The Chevron Championship | Formerly known as the ANA Inspiration and other sponsor names; long associated with the winner’s leap into the water |
| KPMG Women’s PGA Championship | Run with the PGA of America; rotating venues |
| U.S. Women’s Open | Run by the USGA; the oldest current women’s major |
| The Evian Championship | Played in France; recognized as a major since 2013 |
| AIG Women’s Open | Played in the UK, often on links courses |
Sponsor names for some women’s majors have changed over time and may change again. Patty Berg holds the record for most women’s major titles with 15.
Major records and milestones
| Record | Holder |
|---|---|
| Most men’s majors | Jack Nicklaus, 18 |
| Second most men’s majors | Tiger Woods, 15 |
| Most women’s majors | Patty Berg, 15 |
| Most Masters titles | Jack Nicklaus, 6 |
| Most Open Championship titles | Harry Vardon, 6 |
The Grand Slam
Winning all four modern men’s majors in a career is called the career Grand Slam. Only a small group of players have achieved it: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and, with his 2025 Masters win, Rory McIlroy. Winning all four in a single calendar year has never been done in the modern era. Tiger Woods came closest by holding all four titles at once after winning four in a row across 2000 and 2001, a run often called the Tiger Slam. In 1930, Bobby Jones won the four biggest events of his time, which then included the U.S. and British Amateur championships.
How players qualify for majors
Each major has its own qualification criteria. Common routes include being a past champion, ranking high in the Official World Golf Ranking, finishing near the top of recent majors, winning certain tour events, or winning leading amateur championships. The U.S. Open and The Open also offer qualifying tournaments, which allow club professionals and amateurs to earn a place in the field by playing well in local and regional events. The Masters, as an invitational, has a smaller field and relies mostly on exemption categories. The PGA Championship reserves spots for club professionals who qualify through the PGA of America’s own championship.
Senior majors and amateur championships
Beyond the main men’s and women’s majors, senior professional golf has its own set of major championships, including the Senior PGA Championship, the U.S. Senior Open and the Senior Open Championship. Amateur golf also has prestigious events, such as the U.S. Amateur and The Amateur Championship, whose winners often earn invitations to play in men’s majors. These events give fans more opportunities to follow top-level competition and help young players make their way onto the biggest stages.
How major courses are set up
Major championship courses are often prepared to play harder than they would for regular events. Organizers may narrow the fairways, grow thicker rough, firm up the greens and use challenging hole locations. The aim is to test every part of a player’s game, from driving accuracy to short-game touch and patience under pressure. That is why winning scores at majors, especially the U.S. Open, can be much higher relative to par than at typical tour events.
How to follow the majors
- Learn the schedule: the Masters in April, the PGA Championship in May, the U.S. Open in June and The Open in July.
- Check the venues each year, since three of the four rotate.
- Watch the cut after the second round, when the field is reduced for the weekend.
- Follow leaderboards through official tournament websites and apps.
- Learn the traditions, such as the green jacket and the Claret Jug, to appreciate each event’s history.
Why majors matter
Majors carry more weight than regular tour events because they bring together the strongest fields, the most demanding course setups and the longest histories. They also come with significant rewards, such as multi-year exemptions into other events and tours. For fans, majors offer the best chance to see the world’s top players compete under the greatest pressure, and many of golf’s most memorable moments have come in these four weeks each year.
Common misconceptions
- The Masters is the oldest major. The Open, first played in 1860, is the oldest.
- All majors rotate venues. The Masters is always at Augusta National.
- The Players Championship is a major. It is a prestigious event but not an official major.
- The PGA Championship is always in August. It moved to May in 2019.
Frequently asked questions
What are the four men’s majors in golf?
The Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open and The Open Championship.
Who has won the most majors in golf?
Jack Nicklaus holds the men’s record with 18, and Patty Berg holds the women’s record with 15.
What is the career Grand Slam?
It means winning all four men’s majors at least once during a career.
