Majors
The majors are the four most important tournaments in professional men's golf.
The four majors form the sporting summit of golf: the Masters Tournament in Augusta, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open and the Open Championship, often simply called the "British Open". Whoever wins one of these tournaments belongs to the greats of the sport. Whoever wins all four over the course of a career has completed the Career Grand Slam — a very small group of players. In women's golf there is also its own series of major tournaments. For prize money and the world ranking the majors carry the highest weight.
For you as a golfer the majors are above all a masterclass. An example: you watch the Open Championship and see how professionals keep the ball low in the wind, playing with little loft and choosing the punch instead of the high shot. These are exactly the decisions you can transfer to your own round. The strategic play on demanding holes is instructive too: professionals often aim away from the flag towards the safe side of the green, instead of attacking every flag.
A widespread misconception: the majors are not a series with an overall ranking. Each tournament stands on its own; there is no major trophy for the best player across all four. And the term is often used inflationarily — only the four tournaments named above officially count. Anyone who marks the dates in the calendar can use the broadcasts deliberately as teaching material.
FAQ
Which four tournaments count as the majors?
They are the Masters Tournament in Augusta, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open and the Open Championship, often simply called the British Open. Only these four tournaments officially count, even if the term is often used inflationarily. In women's golf there is its own series of major tournaments.
Is there an overall ranking across all four majors?
No, the majors are not a series with a shared ranking; each tournament stands on its own. There is no trophy for the best player across all four tournaments in a year. The Career Grand Slam is considered a special achievement: whoever wins all four majors over the course of a career belongs to a very small group.
What can I learn as an amateur from watching the majors?
The majors are a masterclass: you see how professionals keep the ball low in the wind and choose the punch instead of the high shot. The course management is instructive too, for example when the flag is not attacked and the safe side of the green is targeted instead. These are exactly the decisions you can transfer to your own round.