Golf is a weird sport. Most of the year, these guys are playing for massive checks in front of polite crowds on perfectly manicured resort courses. But four times a year, the vibe shifts. The air gets thicker. The stakes feel like life and death, or at least like permanent career immortality. If you’ve ever wondered why your golf-obsessed friends disappear for four specific weeks between April and July, it’s because of the 4 major tournaments in golf.
These aren't just "big" tournaments. They are the four pillars that define a player's legacy. Honestly, you could win thirty random PGA Tour events, but if you don't have a major, the history books treat you like a footnote.
The Masters: Why We’re Obsessed with a Green Jacket
The first full week of April belongs to Augusta National.
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It’s the only major that stays in the same place every single year. Because of that, fans know the holes by heart. We know the 12th is a terrifying par-3 over Rae’s Creek, and we know the 13th is where dreams usually go to die (or thrive). In 2026, the Masters Tournament runs from April 9–12.
The Masters is all about exclusivity. They don’t even call the fans "fans"; they’re "patrons." You can't bring a cell phone. You can't wear your hat backward. You can, however, buy a pimento cheese sandwich for about the same price as a pack of gum. It’s a strange mix of high-society elitism and weirdly affordable concessions.
Rory McIlroy enters 2026 as the defending champion, finally having snagged that elusive Green Jacket in 2025 to complete his career Grand Slam. The pressure on him to repeat will be suffocating.
The PGA Championship and the Hunt for the Wanamaker
A few weeks after the azaleas fade at Augusta, the circus moves to the PGA Championship.
For 2026, the tournament heads to Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania from May 14–17. This is the "heavyweight" major. While the Masters is about finesse and tradition, the PGA is usually about raw power and survival. The course at Aronimink, a Donald Ross masterpiece, is famous for its "masterpiece" status—Ross himself said he built it better than he even realized.
Scottie Scheffler is the man to beat here, coming in as the 2025 defending champion. What makes the PGA unique is the field. It’s the "strongest" in golf because it invites the top 100 players in the world, plus 20 PGA professionals—the guys who actually run the pro shops and give lessons at your local club. Seeing a "working man" pro make the cut and compete with the millionaires is one of the coolest stories in the sport every year.
U.S. Open: The 4 Major Tournaments in Golf Get Brutal
If the Masters is a garden party, the U.S. Open is a street fight.
The USGA (United States Golf Association) runs this one, and they have a reputation for being slightly sadistic. They want the winning score to be as close to even par as possible. They grow the rough so thick you can't see your shoes, and they make the greens as fast as a marble countertop.
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In 2026, the U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills in New York (June 18–21).
- Venue: Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Southampton, NY.
- The Vibe: High winds, massive dunes, and coastal brutality.
- Defending Champ: J.J. Spaun, who shocked the world at Oakmont in 2025.
Shinnecock is legendary for being "unfair" if the wind picks up. In 2004, the greens actually died during the final round because they were so dried out, and officials had to water them between groups. It was chaos. That’s why people watch the U.S. Open—not for the birdies, but for the "train wrecks." We want to see the best in the world look human for once.
The Open Championship: Golf’s Original Test
The season wraps up in July with The Open (never call it the British Open if you're talking to a purist).
This is the oldest of the 4 major tournaments in golf, dating back to 1860. In 2026, the 154th Open will be held at Royal Birkdale in England from July 16–19.
Links golf is a totally different sport. There are no trees. The ground is hard as a rock. You don’t hit high, towering shots; you "sting" the ball low under the wind and let it run for 100 yards on the dirt. Scottie Scheffler won this in 2025 at Royal Portrush, proving that his game travels anywhere.
The weather at Birkdale is the real star. You can have a sunny 70-degree morning and a sideways rainstorm with 40-mph winds by lunchtime. It’s the ultimate test of creativity. You’ll see guys using a putter from 50 yards off the green because the turf is so tight.
Why the "Grand Slam" is Almost Impossible
Winning all four of these in a single calendar year is the "Grand Slam." Nobody has done it in the modern era. Tiger Woods held all four at the same time (the "Tiger Slam" in 2000-2001), but doing it in one season? That's the holy grail.
The difficulty isn't just the skill; it's the mental fatigue. Each of these 4 major tournaments in golf requires a different "brain."
- Masters: Needs local knowledge and creative putting.
- PGA: Needs long drives and high ball speeds.
- U.S. Open: Needs extreme patience and "boring" golf.
- The Open: Needs low-flighted shots and an acceptance of bad bounces.
How to Watch Like a Pro
If you’re planning to follow the 2026 season, don't just look at the leaderboard. Watch the "Featured Groups" on the streaming apps. You get to see every single shot from a specific group, which gives you a much better sense of how hard the course actually is compared to the 30-second highlight clips on TV.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Set Your Calendar: Mark April 9, May 14, June 18, and July 16. These are the Thursday start dates for 2026.
- Check the Weather: For The Open at Royal Birkdale, keep a weather app set to Southport, UK. The "early-late" draw (players who tee off early Thursday and late Friday) can win or lose the tournament based on a single rain cloud.
- Follow the Amateurs: Keep an eye on the top-ranked amateurs at the U.S. Open and The Masters. Guys like Gordon Sargent or whoever is leading the World Amateur Golf Ranking often make the cut and put the pros to shame.
- Shop the Sales: Major weeks are when the big brands (TaylorMade, Callaway, Titleist) drop their limited-edition gear. If you want a specialized "Augusta" themed golf bag, you have to move fast in April.