The four majors are the highlights of the golfing calendar and with the turn of the year, it won’t be long before the start of the first tournament. From dates to venues and information about what you can expect to see at each major, here is a guide to the four golf majors of 2015.
The Masters
Venue: Augusta National GC, Augusta, Georgia
Date: April 9-12
The 79th Masters is the first of the four majors each year and unlike any of the other majors, The Masters is held at the same course every year – the beautiful Augusta National. Since 1949, the winner is handed a green jacket and Bubba Watson will be hoping to defend his title after his three stroke win last year. The big-hitting American also won the tournament in 2012 with Adam Scott claiming victory in 2013. You have to go back to Nick Faldo in 1996 for the last time a British player won green jacket.
Augusta has been the home to many spectacular moments which have gone down in golfing folklore. The best places to sit are by the bank on the 12th hole. There you can see the approach shots from the 11th, 12th and tee shots for the 13th. Between the 2nd and 7th greens is also an incredible spot.
Buy your ticket to The Masters here
US Open Championship
Venue: Chambers Bay, Washington
Date: June 18-21
Chambers Bay plays host to the US Open for the first time and the relatively new course which opened in June 2007, boasts spectacular views and challenging holes fit to test the very best golfers. Situated on the edge of the coast, towering dunes, rolling fairways and coastal winds means anything can happen and it can’t be missed.
Martin Kaymer will head into the 115th US Open as the defending champion but 2013 winner Justin Rose will also put up a fight to regain the trophy amongst the 156 field of players.
Buy your ticket to the US Open here
The Open Championship
Venue: Old Course St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Date: July 16-19
The Open is the oldest of the four majors in golf and is the only one to be held outside of the US. St Andrews, one of the oldest courses in the world, is host to the 144th Open for the first time in five years where Louis Oosthuizen pipped Lee Westwood to the Claret Jug.
St Andrews is truly unique and worth a visit if you have never been before. Seven greens are shared by two holes each and everyone who plays the 18th hole walks over the 700-year-old Swilcan Bridge. The famous 17th hole, called the Road Hole, is one of the most famous in the world with amazing features.
The defending champion is Rory McIlroy after he shot an impressive -17 at Royal Liverpool last year.
[frame_center src=”https://www.yourgolftravel.com/19th-hole/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/St-Andrews.jpg” width=”600″ height=”400″]St Andrews[/frame_center]The PGA Championship
Venue: Whistling Straits, Kohler
Date: August 13-16
The final major of the year is the 97th PGA Championship and will be held at Whistling Straits for the third time in its history. The PGA Championship is the most lucrative of all majors and McIlroy will once again be looking to win his third title in four years when the tournament starts in August. The last time it was held at Whistling Straits, Martin Kaymer emerged victorious.
The Straits course replicates the ancient seaside links courses of the UK and is nestled along a stretch of Lake Michigan designed to trouble the best golfers with rolling greens, dunes and high winds.
[frame_center src=”https://www.yourgolftravel.com/19th-hole/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/whistling-straits-1.jpg” width=”592″ height=”396″]Whistling Straits[/frame_center]
