The Majors

A look at professional golf's four prestigious major tournaments

The Masters

The Masters is the first major tournament held each year with the final round played on the second Sunday in April. It is the only major that plays on the same course, Augusta National in Georgia, every year and is also the youngest of the majors, first being held in 1934 under the name "Augusta National Invitation Tournament". It was later named "The Masters" in 1939. The club was the dream of Bobby Jones and was a collaboration between him, friend Clifford Roberts and architect Alister Mackenzie.

The par 5 15^th is one of golf's most famous holes, which most notably came under the spotlight when Gene Sarazen hit the "shot heard round the world" in 1935 when he holed out from the fairway for a double eagle. The shot helped him force a playoff and win the tournament.

Following Tiger Woods' first Masters victory in 1997, the course underwent many changes which was later coined "Tiger-proofing" and has since been followed by many other courses in the world. Many holes were lengthened and rough was added in recent years as well.

In addition to one of golf's largest purses ($7 million total purse in 2006), the winner receives the coveted Green Jacket, ceremonially awarded to the year's winner from last year's winner. When Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods repeated as winners, the jacket was put on by the chairman of Augusta National.

Past winners

U.S. Open

Operated by the USGA, the U.S. Open has gained the reputation as the most difficult of the four major tournaments with extremely long courses upwards of 7,600 yards, narrow fairways and primary rough that can grow as high as eight inches.

The course is held on a different venue each year. Popular venues include Winged Foot, Oakmont, Oakland Hills and Shinnecock Hills. In recent years, three public courses, Pinehurst No. 2, Pebble Beach Golf Links and Bethpage Black in New York have become popular venues.

The field of 156 players in the U.S. Open is open to any golfer with a handicap of 1.4 or less, amateur or professional. Qualifying is held at a regional level. There are 17 different levels of exemptions including the top 30 from the previous year's PGA Tour money list, the top 15 from the previous year's European Tour money list, and the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings as of two weeks before the tournament. There is no age limit, as 15-year old Tadd Fujikawa of Hawaii qualified in 2006. Women may also try and qualify, as Michelle Wie has recently attempted.

The first Open was held in 1895 in Rhode Island. It was a 36-hole tournament that was played in a single day. The early days of the tournament was dominated by British golfers, until 1911 when John J. McDermott became the first American-born winner. Southern hemisphere players have won the last three Opens (Els, Campbell, Olgilvy).

The U.S. Open also has a unique playoff format, where in the event of a tie, a full 18 holes is played the next day between the leaders in stroke play.

Upcoming Venues

2007: Oakmont
2008: Torry Pines, South
2009: Bethpage Black
2010: Pebble Beach
2011: Congressional

Past winners

The British Open

Known as the "Open Championship" in Europe, the British Open is the oldest of golf's majors. It began in 1860, when Prestwick Golf Club invited members from across Scotland to compete. Twelve participants showed up and Willie Park beat local favorite Old Tom Morris. There was no prize money, only the "Challenge Belt".

Today, the British Open is played on courses in the United Kingdom (although it was held once in Ireland in 1951). It is played in Scotland at least every other year, and is hosted at the Old Course in St. Andrews every five years.

The field of 156 players has 30 different exemption categories including local and international qualifying. All previous Open champions under the age of 65 are invited to compete and winners of any of the other three majors over the last five years as well.

Popular venues include the Ailsa course at Westin Turnberry in Scotland, Muirfield in Gullane, Carnoustie Championship Links in Angus, Royal Lytham, Royal Birkdale and Royal Hoylake in England. Tiger Woods has won the past two Opens in 2005 and 2006. He has also stated the Old Course at St. Andrews is his favorite course in the world, likely because of its open fairways and opportunities for long drives.

Upcoming venues

Carnoustie: 2007
Royal Birkdale: 2008
Turnberry, Ailsa: 2009
Old Course, St. Andrews: 2010
Past winners

PGA Championship

Marketed as "Glory's last shot", the PGA Championship is the last of the four majors for the year. . It was established in 1916 by the Professional Golfers Association of America to provide a tournament specifically for pro golfers at a time when they were generally not held in high esteem in a sport run largely by wealthy amateurs. To this day, you must be a professional golfer to compete and 20 spots of 156 are reserved for club professionals. The PGA Tour is now independent of the PGA of America but the championship is still operated by the PGA of America which is mainly a body for club and teaching pros.

The format was match play until 1958 and in 1963, Jack Nicklaus won the first of five PGA Championships. The winner of the tournament traditionally receives the 80-year old Wanamaker trophy. Venues are generally held on newer courses than more traditional U.S. Open venues. The tournament also has a reputation for yielding more first time major winners than the other three majors.

Past winners

Future Venues

2007: Southern Hills C.C.
2008: Oakland Hills South C.C.
2009: Hazeltine National G.C.
2010: Whistling Straits, Straits Co.
2011: Atlanta Athletic Club