The Four Major Golf Tournaments Every Fan Should Know

The Four Major Golf Tournaments Every Fan Should Know

by | May 29, 2025 | Golf Events, Golf History

Why the Four Major Golf Tournaments Matter in Professional Golf

In the world of professional golf, a major golf tournament isn’t just another event on the calendar. These championships represent the ultimate test of skill, consistency, and mental toughness. Winning even one of the four major golf tournaments is enough to cement a legacy.

These aren’t just tournaments; they’re milestones that define the careers of the best players and inspire generations of fans. The golf majors have long stood as a symbol of excellence in a sport where precision and patience reign.

At Deer Creek Golf Club, we know that watching the four majors, each with its own flavor and history, pushes both players and fans to sharpen their game. Our South Florida country club offers the instruction, facilities, and atmosphere that encourage every golfer to chase their next great round, and possibly into the major golf tournaments!

 

What Are the Four Big Golf Tournaments in the World?

The four major championships that shape the competitive landscape are:

a golf trophy

  • The Masters Tournament
  • The PGA Championship
  • The U.S. Open
  • The Open Championship, also known as the British Open

These four tournaments are spaced across the golf calendar from April to July. They challenge players with distinct formats, environments, and traditions. While many events matter in golf, these are the ones that truly stand above the rest.

A quick clarification: The Open Championship and the British Open are one and the same; it’s called “The Open” internationally and “British Open” in the U.S.

Each of these golf majors brings together the finest talent to compete for history, not just hardware.

Inside the 4 Major Golf Championships That Define the Sport

 

The Masters Golf Tournament – Tradition at Augusta National Golf Club

The Masters Tournament is held every April at the famed Augusta National Golf Club, a course co-founded by legendary amateur Bobby Jones. Known for its immaculate fairways, blooming azaleas, and the treacherous “Amen Corner,” it’s one of the most revered events in all of sports.

Champions of this golf major don the coveted green jacket, a symbol of triumph reserved for tournament winners. The jacket stays on-site at Augusta, except for one year when the reigning champ may take it home.

Jack Nicklaus holds the record with six Masters wins. Tiger Woods’ emotional victory in 2019 gave him his fifth green jacket; his skill is a reason why the fans see this tournament mattering so deeply.

Will someone break Jack’s record in the next era? One of these four tournaments always keeps us guessing.

 

PGA Championship – a Power Test on the PGA Tour

The PGA Championship is operated by the PGA of America and stands out for its rotating selection of elite U.S. venues. It’s often referred to as the final major of the year, though its slot recently moved to May.

The winner is awarded the historic Wanamaker Trophy, a piece of silverware almost as heavy as the legacy it carries. Originally introduced in 1916, it has come to symbolize perseverance and precision.

Recent winners have included young power players and seasoned pros alike. As a leading PGA Tour event, the PGA Championship consistently attracts the best golf talent in the world.

Whether it’s your second major or your first, this is where contenders prove they belong.

 

US Open Golf Tournament – The Ultimate Test of Precision

Organized by the United States Golf Association (USGA), the US Open is often called the toughest of the four golf majors. Its setups are notoriously challenging, featuring thick rough, slick greens, and narrow fairways.

Winners of the US Open golf tournament receive the USGA’s iconic silver trophy and a place among the toughest competitors in golf history. While other events reward birdies, this one rewards patience and par saves.

Since its inception in 1895, American golfers have won more titles than any other nation. For many, it’s the third major of the year, and arguably the most grueling.

Who will weather four rounds under pressure next? One of the major tournaments in golf will soon reveal it.

 

The British Open Championship – Links Golf and Royal Tradition

The Open Championship, or British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world. First played in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland, it’s run by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and played on iconic links courses across the UK.

The winner earns the title of Champion Golfer of the Year and hoists the historic Claret Jug, a trophy steeped in tradition. Unlike American majors, the Open tests adaptability with wild weather and tricky ground conditions.

This open championship and the PGA might differ in setting, but both define greatness. And as the oldest of the four, The Open connects players to the sport’s roots.

Since 2022, a newer format known as LIV Golf has emerged featuring 54-hole events, team scoring, and a global slate of players. Though not yet considered a major, it’s one of the up-and-coming tournaments in professional golf worth watching. Could the majors expand to five someday? Time will tell.

 

Your Game Starts Here: Play, Learn, or Host at Deer Creek

a golf hole with a flag, trophy, and golf clubs spread around

You don’t need to qualify for the major golf tournaments to enjoy iconic golf. At Deer Creek Golf Club, we provide a championship-style experience for golfers at every level.

Looking to improve? Our private instruction and golf lessons are tailored for beginners, weekend warriors, and aspiring pros alike. Our goal is to give you tips to improve your golf game at home and on the course. Planning a corporate event or community outing? We’ll help you host a golf tournament with style and simplicity.

Or maybe you’re just ready to play. Our flexible tee time booking system makes it easy to get on the course, no membership required! These major championships may seem far away, but your journey toward improvement starts right here in South Florida.

 

Ready to Make Golf History of Your Own?

Whether you’re dreaming of championships or just chasing your best round yet, Deer Creek Golf Club is here to help. From expert instruction to tournament planning and open tee times, we make every visit memorable. If you’re ready for the major golf tournaments or not, we’d be happy to have you play on the course regardless!

Call us today to book your next round, sign up for lessons, or explore what’s new. And if you’re passionate about the game, be sure to read our blog for insights, stories, and more.

 
Related Readings:

Adam Sandler’s 25th Anniversary Tribute to Happy Gilmore

Cringeworthy Stories About Cheating in Golf 

The Best Golf TV Shows to Watch  

The History Behind the British Open

The History Behind the British Open

by | Jul 16, 2021 | Deer Creek Golf Club, Fun Golf Facts, Golf Events, Golf History, Golf News, Golfing, News and Press

The History Behind the British Open

Golf is a game of tradition. As a landmark South Florida country club, we are aficionados of golf history. We believe that we should pass on our knowledge of golf traditions and tournament traditions to the next generation. The British Open, also known simply as the Open, has a long and storied past. As the 2021 Open winds down, we thought it would be interesting to look at the history behind the British Open.

When Did the First British Open Take Place?

The 2021 British Open marks its 149th edition of the tournament. As a result, you may think that because 2021 minus 149 is 1872, that would mean that the first British Open took place in 1872; however, this is not the case. The first Open was played on October 17, 1860. While the tournament is a yearly occurrence, complications in history have caused the competition not to be played in some years. Understandably, coronavirus caused the cancelation of the 2020 Open, but this was not the only cancelation of the event. 

The first cancelation of the tournament occurred in 1871. A golfer named Tom Morris won the three previous Opens, and as a result, was given the ceremonial trophy at the time, the Challenge Belt. Until Tom Morris’ third victory, the belt was returned by the previous victor, to be competed for again. In 1870, they decided to award Tom Morris full possession of the belt, meaning there was no trophy to compete for in 1871. 

Other cancellations were more obvious, with the tournament not being held from 1915-1919 and 1940-1945 due to World War I and World War II. 

 

The History of the Claret Jug

As the Challenge Belt became the personable property of Tom Morris, the tournament needed a new prize. The Claret Jug, or the winner’s trophy, was created in 1872; however, this award was not finished by the end of the 1872 Open, which Tom Morris also won. As a result, Morris was instead presented with an engraved medal. This new tradition of a medal was adopted and has been used since the 1872 tournament. Like the Challenge Belt, the Claret Jug must be returned by the winner and competed for at the next tournament. 

 

When Was the First Claret Jug Awarded?

The first Claret Jug was awarded in 1873 to then-winner Tom Kidd. The original Claret Jug was retired and placed in a museum. 

 

The History of the Current Claret Jug

The current Claret Jug was first awarded and presented at the 1928 Open to Walter Hagen. The trophy is still returned by the winner, who receives an engraved medal and replica to keep. 

 

Today’s British Open

As the tournament comes to a close, we welcome the sight of a new custodian of the Claret Jug. The tournament concludes tomorrow July 18, 2021, at Royal Saint George’s Golf Course, where a new champion will most likely be crowned. 

While we’re not fortunate or talented enough to play the British Open, we do have the luck to play at our esteemed South Florida Golf Course regularly. Contact us today to play at our beautiful course, or view our membership page for more information. 

 

Related Readings:

History of Golf in South Florida

20 Surprising Facts About Golf

Winner of U.S. Women’s Open 2019: Jeonguen Lee6

Winner of U.S. Women’s Open 2019: Jeonguen Lee6

by | Jun 4, 2019 | Golf Events, Golfing, PGA

This past Sunday at the Country Club of Charleston, South Carolina, professional South Korean golfer Jeongeun Lee6 won the 74th annual U.S. Women’s Open and the purse of $1 million – the largest cash prize of the Women’s Open in history. Lee6 – who turned 23 last week – has pursued golf as an amateur since the age of 4 years old, after her father became paralyzed in a vehicular accident after falling asleep behind the wheel.

“By looking at my family situation back then, I thought about wanting to play golf because I wanted to support my family no matter what,” Lee6 said through a translator. “I told my family that I wanted to play on the LPGA Tour for a long time. I want to thank my family, who are in Korea watching me on TV and supporting me all the time. I couldn’t imagine it without you guys, with all your support.” [1]

And, in case you’re wondering, Lee6’s name isn’t a typo – she’s the sixth professional golfer named Jeongeun Lee in KLPGA history. In regard to her surname, her fan club in South Korea is called “Lucky 6.”

During Sunday’s  U.S. Women’s Golf Open 2019, Lee6 shot a 1-under 70, experiencing some turbulent moments after starting on a three-stroke lead with three to play to hold off third-round co-leader, Celine Boutier. Lee6 was in the lead by three after a birdie on the par-5 15th, however, received bogeys on the 16th and 18th, giving Boutier a chance over the last two holes.

In the end, Lee6 finished at 6-under 278 to win the U.S. Women’s Open purse of $1 million. The tears streamed down her face upon realizing her victory has made the tournament’s history.

Our staff of golf enthusiasts looks forward to more victory’s from Jeongeun Lee6 in the future to come. Stay up to date with our South Florida golf course for more golf news, tips, and more!

 

Sources

[1] The Guardian – Jeongeun Lee6 turned to pro golf ‘to support my family no matter what’

 

How to Host a Corporate Event and Get Business

How to Host a Corporate Event and Get Business

by | Jun 28, 2018 | Banquet Room, Corporate Events, Engagement, Golf Events, Private Events, South Florida golf course

There’s nothing more rewarding than a successful event.

This is especially true when applied to corporate events; businesses are grown, customers are satisfied, and relationships are forged. In addition to providing businesses and customers with a pleasant time to build relationships with each other, corporate events are also a great way to gain more business.

Deer Creek, South Florida country club, has some advice to make your next corporate event one for the books.

Determine Your Audience

To attract viable business for your company, tailor your event to your crowd. Figure out what kinds of clients would be most likely to attend an event for your service. An event at one of the golf clubs in Florida, like Deer Creek, would appeal more to golfers and would be perfect for a company selling golf merchandise. With this, you can craft your party, gala, or gathering with a specific audience in mind.

Choose the Day & the Time

Whether your event is at one of the golf clubs in Florida or at a local coffee shop, schedule your event on the slow hour of a slow day. This way, you will be gaining more business during that time, while not detracting from the business procured on busier days and hours.

With this, you should also keep your audience in mind. If you’re hosting a corporate event for your boating company at a South Florida country club, figure out a day and time in which more boaters would be more likely to come. For instance, a Saturday morning may not be a great choice, since your clients may be out sailing.

Provide Contact Information & Follow-Up

Make sure that you don’t leave your guests hanging. Establish some form of contact and exchanging of information, so that either parties can follow-up in the future. Otherwise, the event would have been a waste for your business.

While there’s much more to hosting an effective corporate event, at Deer Creek Golf Club, we hope that these tips and hints help you craft an event that will profit not only your business but your customers, as well.

Thoughts, Feelings and Predictions for the US Open 2018 | Deer Creek

Thoughts, Feelings and Predictions for the US Open 2018 | Deer Creek

by | May 8, 2018 | Deer Creek Golf Club, Golf Events, Golf History, Golf News

Thoughts, Feelings and Predictions for the US Open 2018 | Deer Creek

The US Open 2018 is just around the corner, and it’s one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world, so naturally we have to weigh in on the spectacle.

This year, the tournament will take place at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Tuckahoe, NY. To this day, the US Open has never been held on a South Florida golf course and that’s likely because June is a hot month for golf in Florida.

Our Thoughts (And Prayers for the US Open 2018)

What are we hoping for this year? We are hoping that Tiger Woods gives a compelling performance, not for the sport, but just for himself. It would be great to see Tiger back in the “swing” of things. The man has been so plagued by controversy and negative attention in the past decade. We would love to see him doing well again.

Soccer World Cup Viewers?

The US Open 2018 begins on June 14, the same day as the Soccer World Cup, and that could affect viewership. There are, of course, a number of die-hard golf fans who will be watching, but casual viewers might instead turn to the spectacle of the opening game of soccer this year.

US Open 2017 Winner – Brooks Koepka

It has already been a year since Brooks Koepka won the US Open 2017. Koepka took first place at Erin Hills, arguably one of the most challenging US Open tournament courses in recent memory. Since then, he has managed to remain in the PGA Tour top 10, at 9th place. But he hasn’t registered as well in most other tournaments.

Right now, Koepka’s odds of winning are holding steady at 40/1. Not great odds for a former champion. No lists register him as a favorite for this year’s tournament.