Ranking the prestige of the four men’s major golf championships can be subjective, but there’s a generally accepted hierarchy based on history, tradition, venue exclusivity, and perceived difficulty.
We’ll go through them below.
Here’s a common ranking:
The Masters Tournament / The Open Championship (Tie or Debatable #1 & #2)
The Masters
Held annually at the exclusive Augusta National Golf Club since 1934, The Masters is renowned for its unique traditions (like the Green Jacket), stunningly beautiful course, and its status as the first major played each year.
Its fixed venue allows fans and players to develop a deep familiarity with the course, adding to the drama.
Many consider it the most prestigious due to its aura and exclusivity.
The Open Championship (often called the British Open)
As the oldest golf tournament in the world (dating back to 1860), The Open holds immense historical significance.
It’s played on a rotation of classic links courses primarily in Scotland and England, offering a unique style of play often dictated by the weather.
Being named “Champion Golfer of the Year” holds special weight, and many players, especially those from outside the US, regard it as the ultimate prize in golf.
U.S. Open (#3)
Organized by the United States Golf Association (USGA) since 1895, the U.S. Open is known for being golf’s toughest test.
The USGA typically sets up courses with challenging conditions – narrow fairways, thick rough, and fast greens – to test every aspect of a player’s game.
Winning the national championship of the United States carries significant weight.
Historically, Jack Nicklaus considered the U.S. Open the most important major to win.
PGA Championship (#4)
Organized by the PGA of America since 1916, the PGA Championship often boasts one of the strongest fields based on world rankings.
It rotates among various prominent courses across the United States.
While winning the PGA Championship grants significant career benefits (like exemptions into other majors), it’s generally viewed as the least prestigious of the four majors, lacking the historical depth of The Open, the unique venue of The Masters, or the specific difficulty identity of the U.S. Open.
It’s sometimes referred to as “Glory’s Last Shot” as it was historically the final major of the season (though it now takes place in May).
In Summary
- Tier 1: The Masters and The Open Championship are widely seen as the top two, with strong arguments for either being number one depending on individual priorities (tradition/exclusivity vs. history/global significance).
- Tier 2: The U.S. Open is firmly established as the third most prestigious major, respected for its difficulty.
- Tier 3: The PGA Championship, while still a major career achievement, is generally ranked fourth in prestige.
