The US Majors: Exploring the golf championships

There are few more prestigious honours on the golfing calendar available to players than the major championships. The United States plays host to three of the four annual tournaments. The final major on the calendar sees action in the United Kingdom, as The Open is the only event on the major schedule to take place on links courses. For those who like to wager on golf, the majors are among the most lucrative betting opportunities on the golfing calendar and are very popular with the leading US online casinos and sportsbooks. In this article, we will look at the majors held in the United States and what sets them apart from the other scheduled events. 

Masters tournament

The Masters Tournament kicks off the major calendar, with the action occurring annually on the second weekend in April. It is the only major in the United States that remains at the same course every season, with Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, one of the most famous courses in the world,  playing host to the best stars on the planet. This event was first staged in 1934, and it offers a purse of $18 million to the players involved.

The history of the Masters dates back to 1930, as the event was founded by investment banker Clifford Roberts and amateur player Bobby Jones. It was first played in 1934, and it stands out from the other events on the calendar, as it is typically open to fewer players due to being an invitational event. Several traditions also set the Masters apart from the events on the major calendar.

The most notable is that the winning player is given a green jacket, which must be returned to the clubhouse before the following edition of the event. This tradition was introduced in 1949. Another standout event is the Champions Dinner, which has been staged since 1952, with only former champions invited.

Masters champion Tiger Woods celebrates winning the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 14, 2019.

PGA Championship

The PGA Championship is the second of the four majors on the calendar, with the action taking place the weekend before Memorial Day. Unlike the Masters, the PGA Championship moves to a new course annually, which makes it more challenging for defending champions to defend their title successfully. The PGA Championship was introduced to the golfing world in 1916.  

However, it was previously played much later in the season, as it was formally the season’s final major. However, this was changed in 2019, meaning that The Open would conclude the major schedule in the United Kingdom. As part of winning the PGA Championship, players are invited to play in all other significant championships for the next five years.

Furthermore, they will be invited to participate in the PGA Championship. One of the factors that separates the PGA Championship from the other majors is that the event is only open to professional players, meaning that amateurs cannot compete. The tournament record aggregate score was set by Brooks Koepka, who landed a third win at the event in 2023 at Oak Hill.

US Open

The final major of the season to be held on American soil is the US Open, which is staged annually on the third Sunday in June, with the final round taking place on Father’s Day. Since the 2020 event, it has been the most lucrative of all the majors on the calendar, as the event now offers a $20 million purse, with the winner receiving $3.15 million.  

It was first staged in 1895, and since 1898, it has been an event over 72 holes of stroke play golf, with the winner scoring the lowest score throughout the event. Weather delays can often impact this major, unlike the other two held on American soil during the season.  

Like the PGA Championship, the US Open also moves to a new course annually to make it more challenging for players to land victory. The tournament record score is held by Rory McIlroy, who finished with an aggregate total of 268 when winning the major in 2011.

Conclusion

There are no more exciting events on the golf schedule than the majors. These events capture the imagination of not only golf fans but also other sports fans who tune in annually to watch the biggest on the calendar. However, the American majors remain the most popular commercial for those witnessing the action in North America.