16 Most Prestigious Golf Tournaments in the World

With the Masters 2024 done and dusted, we take a look at the most prestigious golf tournaments around the world that golf enthusiasts need to know about.

When it began in 1860, the inaugural Open Championship had a modest showcase of only eight golfers and three rounds at the 12-hole Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland. But unknown to the contestants and principal organiser James Fairlie, the template for golf’s holy grail had been cast.

Over time, The Open, or British Open, came to be known as the oldest Major in golf, and more importantly triggered the need for more blue-riband tournaments for a face-off between the world’s best golfing talent.

The US Open and PGA Championship came to the fore shortly after, and the birth of the Masters Tournament in 1934 completed the quartet of golf’s Major championships.

As the sport took root worldwide, the US emerged as a hub with its conglomeration of top courses and golfing talent. Hence, it isn’t surprising that the PGA Tour features prominently when the Majors and other top tournaments like The Players Championship, often termed the fifth Major, are listed.

Here’s our compilation of the most prestigious golf tournaments around the world

1. The Players Championship

Established: 1974
Held: Annually
Course: TPC at Sawgrass Stadium Course
Prize fund: USD 25 million
Month played: March
Dates in 2024: March 14-17
Dates in 2025: March 11-16

Dubbed the unofficial fifth Major of golf, the Players Championship is in the exclusive league due to the features it has in common with the Majors — the limited field and sizeable purse. Jack Nicklaus currently holds the record for most victories in the tournament. This year’s edition saw world no. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler defending his champion title for the second year running.

2. Masters Tournament

Established: 1934
Held: Annually
Course: Augusta National Golf Club
Prize fund: USD 18 million (in 2023)
Month played: April
Dates in 2024: April 8-14 (Practice rounds from April 8-10, tournament from April 11-14)
Dates in 2025: April 7-13 (Practice rounds from April 7-9, tournament from April 10-13)

One of the four Major championships for men in professional golf, the Master Tournament, or simply The Masters, definitely ranks up there in the list of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. The year’s first Major is iconic for awarding the Green Jacket to the winners, and its exclusive, by invitation-only field. Top golfer Scottie Scheffler recently won the 2024 Masters Tournament — his second time doing so in three years.

3. PGA Championship

Established: 1916
Held: Annually
Course: Varies across the United States
Prize fund: USD 15 million (in 2023)
Month played: May
Dates in 2024: May 16-19

Among the four golf Majors for men, the PGA Championship is held annually by the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. Winners of the PGA Championship receive lifetime eligibility for the PGA Championship as well as automatic invitations to The Masters, US Open, Open Championship, and the Players Championship for the next five years.

4. US Women’s Open

Established: 1946
Held: Annually
Course: Travels across the United States
Prize fund: US$12 million
Month played: May
Dates in 2024: May 30-June 2

The US Women’s Open, organised by the United States Golf Association (USGA), is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments for women’s golf. Started in 1946, it is the oldest of the five Major tournaments held on the LPGA Tour. The U.S. Women’s Open is known for its difficult format and global field, and the substantial prize for the winner.

5. RBC Canadian Open

Established: 1904
Held: Annually
Course: Varies across Canada
Prize fund: USD 9.4 million
Month played: May/June
Dates in 2024: May 30-June 2

The PGA Tour and Golf Canada jointly organise the RBC Canadian Open, one of the longest-running tournaments on the PGA Tour. Featuring a mix of international and Canadian players, Nick Taylor finally ended Canada’s 69-year drought by winning the 2023 Canadian Open.

6. The Memorial Tournament

Established: 1976
Held: Annually
Course: Muirfield Village Golf Club
Prize fund: USD 20 million
Month played: June
Dates in 2024: June 6-9

The Memorial Tournament, created and led by Jack Nicklaus, is held every year with three primary goals, to pay tribute to those who have excelled in Golf, living and deceased; to entertain spectators with the world’s best players comPeting on one of the most difficult courses; and help raise funds for numerous charitable causes. The Memorial is one of the PGA Tour’s only five ‘invitational’ events, and from this season is one of the eight Signature events on the Tour’s reworked schedule.

7. US Open

Established: 1895
Held: Annually
Course: Venues across the United States
Prize fund: USD 20 million
Month played: June
Dates in 2024: June 13-16

The annual open national championship of golf in the United States is called the US Open. The United States Golf Association-organised tournament is held across a variety of courses, all of which are designed to make scoring extremely challenging and to emphasise precise driving. Of the four Major championships, the US Open had the biggest prize money payout as of 2023 —USD 20 million.

8. Evian Championship

Established: 1994
Held: Annually
Course: Evian Resort Golf Club
Prize fund: USD 6.5 million
Month played: July
Dates in 2024: July 11-14

One of the five Major championships for women’s golf, the Evian Championship is a professional golf tournament held in France. The worldwide fame of the picturesque Evian Resort Golf Club, as well as the course’s excellence, give this event a distinctive character. The tournament’s notable standing in women’s golf is a result of its competitive field and substantial prize money.

9. The Open Championship

Established: 1860
Held: Annually
Course: Varies across the United Kingdom
Prize fund: USD 16.5 million (in 2023)
Month played: July
Dates in 2024: July 18-21

One of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world, the Open Championship is often referred as The Open or British Open, and is at the centre of the debate on whether it or The Masters is golf’s greatest Major. The championship, which is hosted on renowned links courses across the United Kingdom, is organised by the R&A. Up for grabs is the famed Claret Jug, which is awarded to the winner.

10. Tour Championship

Established: 1987
Held: Annually
Course: East Lake Golf Club
Month played: August/September
Dates in 2024: August 29-September 1

Organised by the PGA Tour, the Tour Championship is the final event of the FedExCup Playoffs. A new format has been adopted starting in 2019, ensuring that the winner will also be the FedEx Cup champion. Only the top 30 players on the PGA Tour order of merit progress to the season finale at the East Lake Golf Club, where one player gets named FedExCup champion and wins the USD 18 million bonus.

11. Solheim Cup

Established: 1990
Held: Every 2 years
Course: Varies between the United States and Europe
Prize fund: None
Month played: September
Dates in 2024: September 10-15

The Solheim Cup is a biennial golf tournament for professional women golfers that pits teams from the United States against those from Europe. The competition follows a Ryder Cup-style team match-play format. Noted for its iconic cut-glass Irish Waterford Crystal trophy, the tournament has played a significant role in boosting women’s golf and encouraging a healthy rivalry between the two teams.

12. BMW PGA Championship

Established: 1955
Held: Annually
Course: Wentworth Club
Prize fund: USD 9 million
Month played: September
Dates in 2024: September 17-22

Regarded one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world, the BMW PGA Championship holds a pride of place on the DP World Tour calendar and is held at the acclaimed Wentworth Club in Surrey, England. The event is celebrated for its historical significance and competitive field. Previous winners include some of golf’s biggest names, including Arnold Palmer, Nick Faldo, and Colin Montgomerie.

13. Presidents Cup

Established: 1994
Held: Every 2 years (alternating with the Ryder Cup)
Course: Varies between the United States and non-European courses
Prize fund: None
Month played: September
Dates in 2024: September 24-29

The PGA Tour hosts the biennial Presidents Cup, a tournament that features teams from outside Europe and the United States. The format, which is akin to the Ryder Cup, fosters a sense of global friendship and sportsmanship. The tournament was intended to provide foreign golfers who are not from Europe with an opportunity to compete in a team event.

14. Walker Cup

Established: 1922
Held: Every 2 years
Course: Travels between the United Kingdom & Ireland, and United States
Month played: September
Dates in 2025: September 6-7

The United States, Great Britain & Ireland comPete in this prestigious amateur Golf tournament every two years. The USGA and R&A are the organisers of the comPetition, which features emerging Golfers from both sides of the Atlantic and is structured around a team match-play format.

15. Ryder Cup

Established: 1927
Held: Every 2 years (alternating with the Presidents Cup)
Course: Varies between the United States and Europe
Prize fund: None
Month played: late September, early October
Dates in 2025: September 26-28

The PGA of America and DP World Tour (European Tour) jointly organise the Ryder Cup, a biannual tournament between teams from the United States and Europe. It all started with a friendly game in 1926, which motivated English businessman Samuel Ryder to contribute a trophy. The tournament, which spans three days, is known for its fierce competition and sportsmanship.

16. Australian PGA Championship

Established: 1929
Held: Annually
Course: Travels across Australia
Prize fund: AUD 2 million
Month played: November
Dates in 2024: November 21-24

The Australian PGA Championship is the flagship tournament of the PGA of Australia, and is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia. The competition has a rich history, featuring great international and regional golfers. Golf’s popularity and growth in Australia have been substantially boosted by this tournament.

(Main image: The Open Championship/ Facebook; Featured image: The Players Championship/ Instagram)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which is the most prestigious golf tournament?

The Masters, which is hosted annually at the Augusta National Golf Club, has established itself as the most prestigious golf tournament in the world.

Which is the most valuable golf tournament?

The Players Championship features the most official prize money at stake. With a US$25 million purse, the event has the largest payout of the 2024 season.

Which are the five Majors in men’s golf?

The Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and The Players Championship (unofficial).

Which are the four Major golf tournaments for men?

There are four globally recognised Major championships that include The Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship.

Which is the toughest golf tournament?

The US Open is regarded the world’s hardest golf tournament.

Who is the World No 1 in men’s professional golf?

American professional Scottie Scheffler is the current world number one in golf.