Forget the hype. We’re ranking golf’s majors based on pure tingly excellence, from thrilling finishes to unforgettable moments. See where your favorites land.
Everyone’s always moaning about how fast golf’s major season just blurs by. Blink and you missed it, right? April rolls into May, May into June, June into July, and suddenly it’s August and the whole damn thing is over. Or so the story goes. Four majors and then… poof. Gone.
Well, let’s just get one thing straight. That four-and-done narrative? It’s a load of crap. It’s way too narrow. You’re missing a whole bunch of damn good golf if you think that’s all there is. For starters, there’s still one more major left, and it’s shaping up to be a ripper: the U.S. Amateur. This year it’s at Merion, and when it wraps up on August 16th, who knows, maybe it’ll snag the coveted title of “Best Major of the Year.” It’s got a puncher’s chance, but it’s going to have to really earn it to knock off this absolute barnburner of a threesome we’ve already seen. And we’re not talking about the glitz, the glamour, or who won. We’re talking about the pure, unadulterated, tingly excellence of the damn thing itself.
The Top Tier: Where the Real Magic Happened
Forget the history books for a second. Forget the famous names. Let’s cut to the chase. Here’s how the best of the best shook out so far this year:
1. U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera
Why it’s No. 1: This was pure class. The course? Historic. The winner? Nelly Korda. And her story? That’s a damn epic in itself. When you combine a legendary venue with a golfer who’s written her own incredible chapter, you get magic. Korda’s performance was a masterclass, and the drama surrounding her win was palpable. Riviera proved once again why it’s one of golf’s true cathedrals, and Korda cemented her legacy with a performance that will be talked about for years.
2. PGA Championship at Aronimink
Why it’s No. 2: Look, the usual Rory-Scheffler-Cam circus is fine, whatever. But this win? This was a welcome correction. Aaron Rai, arguably one of the most humble guys in the game, taking down a major? That’s the kind of stuff that reminds you why you love this sport. It wasn’t just about the golf; it was about the story. Rai’s quiet determination and his steady play on a tough Donald Ross design like Aronimink made for compelling viewing. It proved that sometimes, the most satisfying victories come from the most unexpected, and unassuming, sources.
3. AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham
Why it’s No. 3: Shiho Kuwaki. Remember that name. She was the last lady standing after an absolutely insane two-hole playoff. Picture this: English dusk, two golfers who couldn’t be more different duking it out. It was a brutal, dramatic finish that perfectly showcased how damn hard it is to close out a major. Kuwaki’s grit and nerve under pressure were on full display, and the sheer unpredictability of that playoff was a rollercoaster of emotions. It was a stark reminder that in golf, nothing is ever truly over until the last putt drops.
The Big Picture: It’s More Than Just Four
So that’s three majors down. But you know what? There are 13 majors this year. Thirteen. Yeah, you heard me. And it’s not just the big four you always hear about. Any year that ends in an even number, you’re looking at a baker’s dozen of major championship golf. We’ve got the ones I just rattled off, of course. But then you’ve got the tried-and-true standbys:
- The Masters
- The U.S. Open and the Open Championship
- The Senior PGA Championship and the U.S. and Senior British Opens
- The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Chevron Championship
- And the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Next year? With the Ryder Cup thrown in, we’re looking at a cool 14. Fourteen majors. It’s a lot. And yeah, this list is subjective. It’s my damn opinion. Is there a reason why the Tradition, some senior major nobody watches, isn’t on here? You bet your ass there is. My take is simple: majors give you bragging rights that last a lifetime. When a golfer wins, they’re overcome with emotion. The fans are too. If you like golf, you’re glued to that Augusta National Women’s Amateur finale. It’s one of the best days in golf, period. Have you ever watched the Tradition? If you’re related to Steve Stricker, a three-time winner, please, for the love of all that is holy, don’t answer that question.
The Rest of the Pack: Still Damn Good Golf
Alright, so we’ve crowned the top three. But that doesn’t mean the rest of them weren’t worth watching. Far from it. Here’s how the rest of the majors stacked up:
4. The Masters
The Story: Rory McIlroy snagged his second green jacket, a year after his first. Back-to-back wins after all those years of agonizing near-misses? How utterly bizarre is that? The Vibe: Did this really happen? And did Scottie Scheffler really finish just a shot out of a playoff? Will Rory ever make anything look easy? The questions linger, and the drama at Augusta National never disappoints, even with its own peculiar twists and turns.
5. U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club
The Story: Padraig Harrington. Paddy in full swing. At the very course that forged Jack Nicklaus. You know, “Jackieboy,” as his lifelong instructor Jack Grout used to call him. The Vibe: Harrington’s resurgence in the senior ranks has been a joy to watch. His passion and skill are undiminished, and seeing him compete and win at a historic venue like Scioto adds another layer of gravitas to the event. It’s a testament to his enduring talent and his love for the game.
6. Chevron Championship
The Story: Nelly Korda again. This time at Memorial Park in Houston, a public course, no less. She reclaimed her spot as the most dominant force in golf, male or female, pro or amateur. The Vibe: Korda was only 27 when she clinched her third major, and then added her fourth at Riviera. When her career is all said and done, will she be on the Mount Rushmore of women’s golf alongside legends like Mickey Wright, Kathy Whitworth, and Annika Sörenstam? The next decade will tell, but the signs are incredibly promising.
7. The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
The Story: Golf’s oldest and grandest event. Ryan Fox from New Zealand took the crown. The Vibe: The course? As magnificent as Muirfield. The winner? A bloke with a seriously fun spirit and a pace of play that’s a damn lesson to us all. Fox’s victory was a breath of fresh air, and Royal Birkdale provided the perfect, classic links test for golf’s original major.
8. Augusta National Women’s Amateur
The Story: Maria Jose Marin from Colombia. A final-round 68 with pure pixie dust all over it, including a tee shot on 12 that miraculously stayed on the bank. “A miracle,” she said, her English as good as her golf. The Vibe: The first Latin American golfer to make the cut and then win the ANWA? This victory likely ignited a million dreams across South America and beyond. It’s a powerful moment for the sport and a sign of the growing global reach of women’s golf.
9. U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
The Story: Wyndham Clark. He captured his second U.S. Open in the same improbable fashion as his first: by shooting four rounds of golf, each higher than the one before. The Vibe: All U.S. Opens are majestic. Any day at Shinnecock Hills has a certain majesty. For some reason, this particular week didn’t completely click. The course felt a bit too open, and some of the Sunday spectators were, frankly, classless boors. Clark didn’t exactly inspire a lovefest. Still, it was a U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, and that’s a lot to hang your hat on. You can find more about the history of this iconic tournament here .
10. KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine
The Story: Haeran Ryu, the Korean sensation and the LPGA’s rookie of the year in 2023. The Vibe: It’s tough to pick which American state has the deepest passion for golf, but Minnesota and Wisconsin are neck and neck. Minnesota’s hearty golf fans, with their short season and few chances to see in-state major championships, embraced Ryu like she was some kind of savior. Her win was a big deal for the local golf community.
11. Senior British Open at Gleneagles
The Story: Jerry Kelly, 59 years young, from Wisconsin, took the title. The Vibe: This win is massive. Not only does it give Kelly a spot in next year’s Open Championship at the legendary Old Course in St. Andrews, but he also becomes part of the storied Gleneagles lore. A fantastic achievement for a seasoned pro.
12. Senior PGA Championship
The Story: Stewart Cink. He won by a cool six shots at the Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida. The Vibe: Big trophy, big winner, big margin. Cink put on a dominant performance, showcasing his experience and skill on the senior circuit. It was a straightforward, impressive victory.
The Final Major: The U.S. Amateur
And then there’s the U.S. Amateur. The 36-hole stroke-play qualifier is happening August 10th and 11th at Merion and Philadelphia Country Club. We’re talking 312 players battling for just 64 spots. Then it’s a knockout – 64 to 32, 16, eight, four, two, and finally, one champion. That’s a hell of a lot of golf to go. One more major to cap off the year. It’s going to be interesting to see if it can shake things up in the rankings.
So there you have it. A brutally honest look at golf’s major championships. Some shine brighter than others, but they all bring something to the table. Now, let’s see what the rest of the season throws at us.