What’s your favourite major

[Backache]

The Open is definitely the one I would least like to miss and the one I look forward to most. However the best major to watch each year will depend a bit on the conditions and how competitive and interesting it is . Unless you are invested in a particular player winning and that player wins comfortably golf tournaments tend to be most enjoyable when there are tight finishes. That could be any one major in a particular year. Last year for instance I thought the Masters was the least interesting because Scheffler was so rarely challenged, the other three were all pretty exciting though.
This year the Masters was gripping with the McIlroy roller coaster the PGA was fine at first but tailed off a bit as the challengers fell away. The US Open was fine at first though maybe a little over penal and sounded like a good finish but I was camping that weekend and couldn't see it.

The host broadcaster does make a difference and the Open usually benefits form Sky having coverage throughout which gives a better overview in my experience.

 

[KenL]

https://www.masters.com/en_US/news/articles/2025-04-07/2025-04-07_how_to_qualify_for_the_masters.html

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Presumably if one of the main reasons people rate the Masters is because it’s so recognisably and comfortably familiar, then why not have the Open Championship at Birkdale or Carnoustie every year…(I know the reasons why not, and why it moves around)

But in the eyes of some, and in the eyes of many casual sports fans, it would easily become much more familiar and recognisable as holes and pin positions are easily recognisable and remembered from years before

I think the best thing about The Open is the fact is moves around multiple courses to ensure the players get a potential different challenge each year

 

[Slab]

Yes, closed.
There are no open qualifying tournaments for either The Masters or the PGA Championship.

Just for a wee giggle though… Aren’t The Open and the US Open both open qualifying tournaments where the winner qualifies for the Masters & the PGA

 

[wjemather]

It's also clear that you don't understand what is and what isn't a Major....
The Masters is a Major..get over it.

I understand just fine. Do you understand the difference between opinions and facts?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Just for a wee giggle though… Aren’t The Open and the US Open both open qualifying tournaments where the winner qualifies for the Masters & the PGA

They are indeed , along with many other comps that people can qualify for to enable them to gain qualification into The Masters

 

[wjemather]

Just for a wee giggle though… Aren’t The Open and the US Open both open qualifying tournaments where the winner qualifies for the Masters & the PGA

If the opens were organised by The Masters & PGA as open qualifying events, then sure.

 

[Swango1980]

The Masters. Same course every year, feels like the start of the golfing season, so one I look forward to most.

Besides, I can watch most of The Masters (well, what the Augusta people allow to be televised). I can't really watch a lot of The Open, as I'm in work on Thursday/Friday, and most likely playing golf myself at the weekend.

 

[WorldHandicapSystem]

Standard type of response from you

I do apologise. What did you want?

Maybe if you had taken the time to articulate why you strongly disagree, I might have talent the time to deabate.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Would add that after The Open my next preference is the US Open

 

[Beezerk]

Master by a stretch, The Open is in the mix with the other 3 but it bores me senseless most years.

 

[simsini]

Just like others here, I put The Masters last as it is an invitational. It should not be a major.

 

[Springveldt]

https://www.masters.com/en_US/news/articles/2025-04-07/2025-04-07_how_to_qualify_for_the_masters.html

Not exactly inclusive, is it?

 

[Springveldt]

The Open then the US Open for me.

I'll watch the Masters as it's the first one of they year and golf season is just beginning but for me it's everything golf is trying not to be. It's exclusive, it's stuffy, it's completely artificial, "patrons", banning announcers for making a joke on air, throwing someone in jail for daring to grab some sand from a bunker, making everyone speed waddle like a duck to get to where they want to go, how the course deserves "reverence" etc. And that's not even taking into account the history of the place.

 

[AliMc]

The Open then the US Open for me.

I'll watch the Masters as it's the first one of they year and golf season is just beginning but for me it's everything golf is trying not to be. It's exclusive, it's stuffy, it's completely artificial, "patrons", banning announcers for making a joke on air, throwing someone in jail for daring to grab some sand from a bunker, making everyone speed waddle like a duck to get to where they want to go, how the course deserves "reverence" etc. And that's not even taking into account the history of the place.

All about individual opinions and that's what makes this a fun read but well said, you've nailed it for me

 

[Voyager EMH]

Just like others here, I put The Masters last as it is an invitational. It should not be a major.

Done that for you

Nicklaus 12
Hagen 11
Woods 10

Vardon 7
Jones 7
Hogan 7

Sarazen 6
Watson 6
Trevino 6
Player 6
.
.
.
.
(Els 4, Faldo 3, Ballesteros 3, Mickelson 3)

 

[sunshine]

The Masters for me. So what if it's an invitational, all the players I want to see get to play there. Something special about the annual curtain raiser to the season, the familiarity of the course really helps you understand who is doing well. The course itself is stunning, the risk / reward nature and difficulty of the back nine creates eagle and bogey opportunities which keeps the leaderboard interesting.

The Open in second place. Love it but sometimes the weather can spoil it as a spectacle.

 

[Depreston]

The Masters. Same course every year, feels like the start of the golfing season, so one I look forward to most.

Besides, I can watch most of The Masters (well, what the Augusta people allow to be televised). I can't really watch a lot of The Open, as I'm in work on Thursday/Friday, and most likely playing golf myself at the weekend.

Yeah you’ve hit the nail on the head for me mate

 

[Hobbit]

The Masters for me. So what if it's an invitational, all the players I want to see get to play there. Something special about the annual curtain raiser to the season, the familiarity of the course really helps you understand who is doing well. The course itself is stunning, the risk / reward nature and difficulty of the back nine creates eagle and bogey opportunities which keeps the leaderboard interesting.

The Open in second place. Love it but sometimes the weather can spoil it as a spectacle.

Agree with all the above apart from having the Open in second place. For me, they’re two very different beasts and I’d put them as equal first.

In terms of the courses from a TV perspective the elevation changes at the Masters make for better viewing. Equally, the wildness of some of the links courses used on the Open rota create a very different viewing perspective.

As Sunshine says above, all the best players get into both events. If we’re going to argue about qualification, the Open has changed its qualification criteria several times, most recently making it harder for journeymen pro’s and top amateurs to get through.

 

[The Squirrel]

I like the Masters and its familiar and beautiful course even if it is so far up itself that it can scratch its head from the inside.

I like the USOpen - and think if anything they should go even more brutal with rough and setup - the whole point is to identify golfers who can take a punch or 10 from the course and come back fighting.

I like The Open with its bunkery linksiness with all the different challenges that brings even if draw/weather does offer unwanted unfairness and it should only go to St Andrews on centenaries and the like and use the freed up years to go to some different and new courses.

The only clear thing we can all agree on is that the USPGA is pants. It’s just a random PGA Tour week that is given special status for no real reason. Replacing it with almost anything (The Players; A “world” major; even make the PGAT end of season series culminate in a major somehow) would be an upgrade on what it is now.