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The sport of golf is once again thriving. The latest chase for the FedEx Cup has begun, thanks to the new circular season format.

One of the largest golf tournaments? What makes it so? Is it the chance at a large cash award? Is it the draw for international players to come and play? Is the event’s history or the host’s fame the only deciding factor? The short response is some of each of those options. 

As golf’s popularity has grown worldwide, so has the number of men’s and women’s professional circuits and events. Despite this, American football is still the sport’s most popular and lucrative version worldwide. Keeping this in mind, what are the world’s most prestigious golf tournaments?

Contrary to popular belief, golf is a legitimate sport with annual tournaments and titles. Knowing the major moments in this sport is also crucial, especially if you plan on making it a career.

So, let’s go deeper into what makes these events the largest of their kind.

The World’s Largest Annual Golf Tournaments

In contrast to the late-season culminations in baseball, football, and basketball, professional golf tournaments are held primarily in the spring and summer. That’s why it’s standard practice to honor any golfer who takes home the trophy at a major championship.

The Masters

Since 1934, the first full week of April has been dedicated to The Masters’ competition, an invitational golf competition held at the exclusive Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on Thursday through Sunday each year.

American golfer Bobby Jones conceived the idea for the tournament. Only a few amateurs are allowed to compete each year; the others are all professionals. 

The stunning Amen Corner, a stretch of three difficult holes (the 11th, 12th, and 13th) that play a crucial role in determining the champion, maybe Augusta National’s most well-known feature.

Every serious golf fan should try to attend this tournament for far too many reasons to list them all here.

There are greens and green complexes like you’ve never seen them before. The slope from the tee to the green at the 10th hole is so extreme that you won’t believe it. However, the approach shot on hole 15 looks like a breeze. 

The Open Championship (also known as The British Open)

The British Open is one of the four major golf competitions in the world. It’s also the longest-running title in the sport’s history.

The Open Championship is a golf competition that has been played since 1860 on courses all around England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Only the British Open, played in the third week of July, is contested outside the United States on the PGA Tour.

The Open has moved around to 14 courses over the years and is now played at 9 different seaside links courses across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The tournament is held every five years, and St. Andrews, the birthplace of golf, always hosts it. And if you’re wondering why there are 18 holes in modern golf, you can thank St. Andrews.

Strategic positioning is essential. It’s common to hit an iron off the tee, and ‘bump and run’ shots are frequently used when approaching the green. The Open is also notorious for its severe weather, typically wind and rain. If you wish to watch this tournament, you can spend 2 nights in the UK with golfholidaysdirect.com!

The United States Open

The U.S. Open is a challenging tournament that showcases the best players in the world, and it’s always held on Father’s Day weekend, which always leads to a lot of heartbreaking stories from commentators and athletes. However, the United States Golf Association (USGA), the tournament’s regulatory body, prefers that players shoot around par throughout the competition.

It’s entertaining to watch the men struggle after they’ve had a few weeks where they’re 20 under par, even if some people believe it’s unfair and others say the USGA goes too far.

Every few years, the courses for this race change, and every so often, new ones are added. The nicest part is that it is a universal tournament, so people of all abilities can participate.

No matter where the United States’ oldest sporting event is held, you should not miss it. Whether played at Merion, Pinehurst, Bethpage, Shinnecock, Oakmont, Winged Foot, or Pebble Beach, the U.S. Open is golf’s toughest competition.

If you want to see the world’s best players in action, the Open is the tournament to attend. Few golf championships have more challenging conditions than the U.S. Open, where careers are made. 

The PGA Championship

The PGA Championship is one of the four majors, and its winner receives the same perks as those of the other majors. The PGA Championship is open to players for as long as they can play.

They will have PGA Tour eligibility for the following five years and European Tour eligibility for the next seven. Professional golfers are restricted from playing in the other four major tournaments.

The PGA Championship, the year’s fourth and final men’s major, has typically been held on the third weekend of August, just before Labour Day. In 2019, the event will take place the weekend before Memorial Day in May, making it the second major of the year.

In 1958, the PGA tournament made its debut. Five times during his career, Nicklaus was crowned PGA champion. In addition to the first three majors of the year, a golfer must take home the PGA Championship to complete the career Grand Slam.

When compared to the other majors, the PGA Championship is very mild. But when the PGA Teaching Professionals who have qualified for the tournament make a run at the top and join the Tour Pros in competition, things heat up!