Here are the dates and venues for 2024’s Major Championships. These golf courses will make it a special year at the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and The Open.
What happened in 2023?
In 2023, Jon Rahm saw off Brooks Koepka at Augusta National for his second major win and first green jacket before Koepka got his revenge at Oak Hill to win his third PGA Championship and fifth major.
Then at the U.S. Open, Wyndham Clark claimed his first major, seeing off Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler at Los Angeles Country Club. This was followed by Brian Harman at The Open, who dominated the field and beat the weather at Royal Liverpool for his first major title.
2024 Majors: When and where?
The Masters: April 11-14, Augusta National, Augusta, Georgia U.S. PGA Championship: May 16-19, Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, Kentucky U.S. Open: June 13-16, Pinehurst No. 2, Pinehurst, North Carolina The Open: July 18-21, Royal Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland
The Masters
Defending champion: Jon Rahm
Augusta National has wide fairways, severe slopes and fast greens complimented by towering Georgia pines, flowering magnolia trees and manicured white bunkers. It’s a stunning course – but a difficult one. It’s a par 72 that was stretched out to its longest ever distance in 2023 at 7,545 yards.
Over the last five years, the average score here has been 1.14 strokes over par, which makes it the second most difficult annual course on the PGA Tour. Amen Corner – holes 11-13 – are among the most beautiful and dramatic holes in golf. 2024 will be another year to remember at this incredible venue.
U.S. PGA Championship
Defending champion: Brooks Koepka
Last PGA champion at Valhalla: Rory McIlroy (2014)
This will be the fourth time the PGA has been held at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Valhalla. Former champions here are Mark Brooks (1996), Tiger Woods (2000) and Rory McIlroy (2014). The venue also famously hosted the 2008 Ryder Cup when Team USA won 16.5 – 11.5 over Team Europe. The course is set to play as a 7,765-yard par 72 in 2024, up from 7,488 yards in 2014.
The front nine is links-like and open, while the back nine is a more traditional tree-lined layout with narrow fairways. The picturesque dog-leg left par-5 13th is the signature hole with an island green, offering players a shot at birdie provided they can stay dry.
U.S. Open
Defending champion: Wyndham Clark
Last U.S. Open champion at Pinehurst No. 2: Martin Kaymer (2014)
The U.S. Open has built a reputation for being notoriously tough and played across testing layouts. That will continue at Pinehurst No. 2. It will be the fourth time the event has been played here. Pinehurst is now an ‘anchor’ host site with U.S. Opens in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047 also to be played here.
It’s mostly known for its testing, crowned undulating greens that can make or break a player’s championship. Payne Stewart made a memorable 18-foot par putt on the 18th in 1999 to edge out perennial runner-up Phil Mickelson. Michael Campbell also won here 2005, while Martin Kaymer achieved the feat in 2014.
The Open
Defending champion: Brian Harman
Last Open champion at Royal Troon: Henrik Stenson (2016)
Royal Troon’s Old Course was founded in 1878 and was designed in a traditional out-and-back manner. Troon begins with holes where you can make some birdies across some of the most stunning natural links land to be found at any of the Open venues. It closes with a back nine as tough as any in the world.
Troon most recently staged The Open in 2016, when Henrik Stenson edged out Phil Mickelson in an 18-hole duel for the ages. Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer are among the big names to claim the Claret Jug over this ancient links. It has hosted The Open nine times in all.
The 8th hole, Postage Stamp, is the shortest hole on the Open Championship roster and the signature hole at Royal Troon. It rivals the 12th at Augusta as the world’s most memorable par 3. Played over a gully to a tiny green surrounded by deadly pot bunkers, including the infamous Coffin Bunker, the hole is as much a test of nerve as it is of skill.
