Whilst important golf tournaments take place every single week on the PGA Tour, the four majors represent a different stratosphere of prestige. These are the events that every player enters and every player dreams of winning.
In many ways, we have never felt more appreciation for golf’s majors than we do now. The coronavirus pandemic, and the subsequent postponement or cancellation of some of golf’s biggest tournaments gave us a reminder of just how special they are to the global sporting calendar.
This year, we appear to be back to full normality, with the four major championships set to welcome capacity crowds once again. There will be a celebratory atmosphere, but also a real sense of determination amongst the top players to put on a real show for golf’s loyal fans.
With the first major of the year — the Masters — fast approaching, let’s take quick look at all four of this year’s big four tournaments.
The Masters
All eyes will turn to Augusta, Georgia this weekend, as the Masters gets the 2022 major season underway. Hideki Matsuyama’s victory last year was played out in front of limited crowds, but this spring will see the patrons return in full force to cheer on their favourite players. The US Masters betting looks increasingly tough to call, so it’s set to be a thrilling four days of action.
The Masters is the only major championship that takes place at the same venue every single year, and with the azaleas in full bloom at Augusta, it will provide the perfect backdrop to what promises to be a closely-fought affair.
PGA Championship
It’s now been a few years since the PGA Championship was moved from its traditional August slot to mid-May, and it’s fair to say that the tournament has developed a bit more personality as a result. Last year saw Phil Mickelson roll back the years at Kiawah Island in South Carolina, and the 2022 edition of the tournament promises plenty of thrills to match.
This year, the PGA Championship will head to the Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which has hosted the same tournament on four prior occasions, as well as the US Open three times.
The Open
One of the highlights of last year’s golf season was the return of The Open, with the UK-based major having been cancelled completely in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. But the tournament made a triumphant return, with Collin Morikawa claiming his second major title after a fine performance at a sun-baked Royal St George’s.
This year, the historic tournament heads back to St Andrews in Scotland, a course that every golfer dreams of winning a major championship at.
US Open
The four majors conclude with the US Open, which will be held at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. Last year’s tournament provided Jon Rahm with his maiden major championship title, and the mixture of joy and relief on the Spaniard’s face was clear for all to see.
The US Open is frequently one of the toughest majors to win, as it is usually held on the toughest courses the United States has to offer. It’ll be interesting to see who can tame Brookline this time around.
