A primer on the men's major golf championships

Winning at least one major championship is what professional – and aspiring pros – golfers dream of and work hard for. Every year, golfers have four opportunities to win one. And during these events, fans are treated to thrilling four-day competitions. 

Image source: golficity.com

Here is a closer look at the four majors: 

The Masters: The Masters Tournament is the first major of the year, played in the first week of April and the only major to be held at the same location (Augusta National Golf Club). It is considered by many as the finest golf tournament in the sport’s history, even though it is the last among the majors to be established. It also fields the lowest number of participants among all the majors. 

U.S. Open: The United States Open Championship is staged in the third of week of June, with the last day of competition falling on Father’s Day, as long as there is no weather delay. It has been played in a variety of courses, as a matter of fact, 52 different golf courses across 19 states have hosted the tournament. 

The Open Championship: The British Open, or just The Open, is the only major outside the U.S. and the oldest among the four, having been established in 1860. There is only about a month’s difference between the U.S. Open and The Open, as the tournament is held during the week that contains the third Friday of July. 

PGA Championship: Since all four majors were established, the PGA Championship has been the last to be played as it is held in mid-August. A major change is coming, however, as starting in 2019, the tournament would be moved to the third weekend of May. It is played in even more sites than the U.S. Open; so far, the tournament has been hosted by 73 different golf clubs or courses. 

Image source: thegolfnewsnet.com

Hello, my name is Robert Mims , and golf is my passion. I love writing about the sport, which you can read more on my future blog -- CPA (Come Play After.) Know more about me here.