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Loading contentFour men's and five women's majors — the season-defining events run by the USGA, R&A, PGA of America, Augusta National, and LPGA. Winning one rewrites a career.
First major of the year, played every April at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. The only major played at the same venue every year. Winners receive the Green Jacket and a lifetime exemption to return. Run by Augusta National, not a tour or governing body.
The only major played on the same course every year — Augusta National.
Fourth men's major, played in May. Run by the PGA of America. Rotates among major American venues with a strong field built around the world's top 100 plus club professionals from the PGA Professional Championship.
Field includes 20 PGA club professionals from PPC qualifying.
Second men's major, played in mid-June. Run by the USGA. Rotates among the toughest setups in American golf — Pinehurst, Oakmont, Shinnecock, Pebble Beach, Winged Foot. Open qualifying gives any 0.4-handicap amateur a path into the field via local and final qualifying.
Open qualifying — any 0.4-handicap player can attempt to enter.
Third men's major, played in July on a rotating roster of links courses across Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland. The oldest major in golf, run by The R&A. Winner lifts the Claret Jug. The only major played outside the United States.
Oldest championship in golf — first played at Prestwick in 1860.
First women's major of the year, played in April at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas (moved from Mission Hills, California in 2023). Formerly the ANA Inspiration / Kraft Nabisco / Dinah Shore — the LPGA's oldest major-tier event continuing under Chevron sponsorship since 2022.
Winner's leap into Poppie's Pond is the LPGA's signature tradition.
Second women's major, played in late May / early June. Run by the USGA on a rotating roster of premier U.S. venues. Currently the largest purse in women's golf — $12M total, $2.4M to the winner. Open qualifying applies.
Largest purse in women's golf — $12M total since 2024.
Third women's major, played in June. Run jointly by the PGA of America, LPGA, and KPMG since 2015. Rotates among major U.S. venues that have hosted the men's PGA. The LPGA's deepest field — direct exemption for the top 100 LPGA money list.
Hosted by the PGA of America at men's PGA-tier venues.
Fourth women's major, played in July at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains, France. The LPGA's only major in continental Europe and the women's only major outside the U.S. and U.K. Elevated to major status in 2013; co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour.
Co-sanctioned by LPGA + LET — only women's major in continental Europe.
Fifth and final women's major, played in August on a rotating roster of links courses across the U.K. Run by The R&A. The women's equivalent of The Open Championship — links golf, often weather-defined, on venues like Muirfield, Carnoustie, and St Andrews.
Run by The R&A on the same links rotation as the men's Open.
The men's majors are The Masters (April, Augusta National), the PGA Championship (May, rotating U.S. venues), the U.S. Open (June, USGA-run rotation), and The Open Championship (July, R&A links rotation). Each is run by a different governing body — Augusta National, the PGA of America, the USGA, and the R&A respectively — which is why the four feel so distinct in setup and field philosophy. The career grand slam (winning all four) has been completed by only five players in history: Sarazen, Hogan, Player, Nicklaus, and Woods.
The women's majors run five deep, as recognized by the LPGA Tour: The Chevron Championship (April), the U.S. Women's Open (May/June), the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (June), The Amundi Evian Championship (July, France), and the AIG Women's Open (August, U.K. links). The women's slate spreads across more governing bodies and continents than the men's — Chevron (LPGA), U.S. Women's Open (USGA), KPMG (PGA of America + LPGA), Evian (LET + LPGA), AIG Women's Open (R&A) — making it the more geographically diverse major calendar in pro golf.
Players access the majors through a mix of exemption categories (world ranking, prior major wins, tour money lists) and qualifying. The U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open uniquely offer open qualifying — any player with a sufficient handicap can enter local and final qualifying for a shot at the field. The other majors run on exemption only. For context on the tours feeding the majors, see the global professional tour directory and the Q-School pathways that get pros into those tours.