Golf's four majors follow the same rhythm year after year: the Masters in April, the PGA Championship in May, the US Open in June and The Open Championship in July. If you want to know when the next major in golf is, you simply need to look at where you are in the calendar - the major season is concentrated in the spring and early summer, and after The Open in mid-July there is a whole year until the next Masters.
That means the major coming up next depends entirely on the month. If you are playing in March, the Masters is the first to look forward to, while a golfer in June has already seen three majors completed and only The Open left before the tour enters its quieter phase.
How to work out which major comes next
The four major tournaments are played in a fixed order every season, and it is precisely that predictability that makes them easy to plan around. The Masters always opens the major season on the second weekend of April at Augusta National. About a month later comes the PGA Championship in May, followed by the US Open in mid-June and finally The Open Championship in July.
So if you are between July and April, there is no major left to look forward to until the next spring - the longest break in the golf calendar. If you want to count backwards, it is enough to keep the order in your head: if the coming weekend falls in May, it is the PGA Championship; if it is early summer, it is the US Open; and in the middle of the holiday month, The Open shines.
For anyone who wants to follow the game on site or in front of the screen, this rhythm is worth knowing, whether you play actively yourself or mostly appreciate golf as a sport. And since major weeks often mean long days in front of the TV or on a sunny terrace, there are good reasons to dress right - a lightweight polo shirts in a technical quality keeps you cool whether you are watching or playing your own round the same day.
The four major tournaments and what sets them apart
Each major has its own character, its own course or course rotation and its own feel. It is that variety - from Augusta's blooming setting to the harsh wind of links golf - that makes the major season the highlight of the year for many golf enthusiasts.
The Masters
The Masters is the only major played on the same course every year, Augusta National in Georgia, USA. This gives the tournament an almost ritual familiarity: the same holes, the same dramatic Amen Corner and the green winner's jacket that the champion gets to put on in the clubhouse. The course is known for its fast, undulating greens and the azaleas that bloom just when the tournament is played in April. As the first major of the season, the Masters sets the tone for the entire golf year.
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship moves around between different championship courses in the USA and is played in May. The tournament has a reputation for gathering one of the strongest fields of all the majors, because it traditionally opens the door wide for working club professionals alongside the tour professionals. The courses chosen are often long and demanding, which tends to reward players with both length and precision. As the second major in order, it serves as an early gauge of who is in form.
US Open
The US Open has built its reputation on being the toughest test of them all. The courses are set up with narrow fairways, thick rough and rock-hard greens, with the aim of testing patience and precision rather than offering up low scores. Here it is not unusual for the winner to finish close to par - a sign of just how tightly the course is tuned. The tournament is played in June on rotating American courses and usually coincides with Father's Day in the USA, which has given it a special place in American golf culture.
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, often simply called The Open, is the oldest of the four and the only one played outside the USA. It is decided on classic links courses in Britain, where the coastal wind, the firm fairways and the deep bunkers shape a completely different game from the American majors. Here golf is about keeping the ball low and reading the weather and wind, and the tournament closes the major season in July. The winner lifts the Claret Jug, one of the sport's most iconic trophies.
Why precisely these four count as majors
Major status is not something assigned arbitrarily but has grown over time historically. The four tournaments have over the years gathered the highest prestige, the strongest fields and the greatest attention, and a victory in any of them carries more weight in a career than virtually any other title. Winning all four during a career is called a career grand slam and is something only a handful of players have managed.
For those interested in golf history, it is worth knowing that The Open is by far the oldest of them, with roots far back in the 1800s, while the American majors emerged later as golf established itself on the other side of the Atlantic. If you want to delve into the origins of the game and the terms that belong to the majors, there is plenty to discover, for example in our guide to golf terms in Swedish.
Following a major - on site or from home
A major week stretches over several days, usually from Thursday to Sunday, and for anyone following the game it quickly becomes long sessions. If you are playing yourself during the same period, it is important to choose garments that work both on the course and on the sofa afterwards. Airy trousers & shorts in functional material make a difference during a warm early summer day, whether you are standing on the range imitating the pros' swing or just want to sit comfortably.
If it is windy and cool as during a typical The Open weekend, it is instead a light outer garment that saves the day - golf on links courses is a reminder of how quickly the weather turns, and a windproof shell in the wardrobe means you can play your own round in any major weather. You will find a good selection among Local Rule's outerwear.
Plan your golf year around the major season
Since the majors are clustered between April and July, the period becomes a natural highlight for your own golf as well. That is when the courses are in the best condition in the northern hemisphere, the days are at their longest and the inspiration from the tour is at its greatest. Many golfers schedule their trips and their most ambitious rounds during these very months, in step with the pros competing for the season's biggest titles.
Once The Open is decided in July, the intense major season is over, and the next major - the Masters - is again almost a year away. That leaves plenty of time to fine-tune your game, replace worn equipment and review your wardrobe ahead of next spring. If you want to prepare in good time, you can see the entire range at Local Rule and find garments that carry you through the whole golf year, from the first major weekend in April to the season's last round.
