2025 Golf Majors: A Quick Guide for Newbies
A beginners guide to the Masters, the PGA, the U.S. Open, and The Open–plus what to do if you’re just along for the ride.
By
Lynn Celek
on
March 24, 2025
It’s April! Which means it's the start of the four major golf tournaments for 2025.
This blog is for anyone fairly new to golf—a sport that takes around five hours to play and is basically a roaming tailgate for amateurs.
It's also for those lucky enough to be attending one of the tournaments.
In this blog, you’ll get:
A quick breakdown of the four big tournaments: The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open
Dates and locations – so you can orient yourself
Who to watch – so you can actually join the conversation
A little gossip (or tea/tee) – so you can start the conversation
Things to do in each city – whether you're into golf or just along for the ride
And one perfect gift idea – for the golf lover in your life
Photo by mk. s on Unsplash
The Masters
📍 Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia | 🗓️ April 10–13, 2025
If you’re aware of the location of any of the golf tournaments, it’s probably this one. The Masters has been held at Augusta National since it was first played in 1934, making this the 91st edition. The course was designed specifically for this event, and over time, it's become the most traditional and iconic of the majors.
Bonus: It’s the hardest tournament to get tickets to and typically the most expensive. But if someone has snagged a ticket for you, ya’ll can save money by eating at the club. Augusta still sells its famous pimento cheese sandwiches for $1.50.
🏌️♂️ Who to Watch
Scottie Scheffler (USA) – Defending champ going for the iconic third green jacket. (The Masters is the only tournament where winners receive a green blazer.) Despite a recent hand injury involving ravioli and a wine glass, he’s scheduled to play. Currently ranked #1 in the world.
Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) – He’s won all the other majors, but never The Masters. If he wins this year, he will complete the career Grand Slam.
Ludvig Åberg (Sweden) – Finished second last year and has been climbing fast. Keep an eye on him.
🫖 The Tee
Jordan Spieth, who won The Masters back in 2015, recently said it’s the easiest of the four majors to win. Ouch. Many took that as a jab at Rory McIlroy, who's played the tournament 16 times without a win.
🍑 Things to Do in Augusta, Georgia
Visit Phinizy Center and Nature Park
Free admission
Open daily from 7am to 8pm
1,100 acres of wetlands with 14 miles of unpaved trails
Free, downtown location
Stroll along the Savannah River
Restaurants and shops nearby
Adults $5, Seniors $4, Kids $3
Open Thurs–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 1–5pm
Great overview of the area’s past, including a whole section on golf (of course)
🎁 The Ultimate Gift for Anyone Obsessed with The Masters
Wooden Augusta National Golf Club Map
✔ Customizable title (via our Custom Map option)
✔ Choose from multiple frame and water stain colors to match their home or office
✔ Hand-assembled in Ohio
✔ Ships for free anywhere in the continental USA
PGA Championship
📍 Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina | 🗓️ May 15-18, 2025
While The Masters gets all the green-jacket glory, the PGA Championship is actually older. It teed off in 1916—nearly two decades before Augusta became golf's most exclusive clus.
Winners take home Wanamaker Trophy, a massive silver cup that's over two feet tall and weighs almost 30 pounds.
Fun fact: Despite its size, the trophy was lost in 1928 and didn't turn up again for nearly five years.
🏌️♂️ Who to Watch
Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) – Same Rory from the Masters section. He’s already won the PGA Championship twice(in 2012 and 2014) and is always a crowd favorite. A win here would not only boost his legacy—it could also earn him a chunk of the $18 million purse, with the winner typically taking home around $3 million. Not bad for a long weekend of golf.
Xander Schauffele (USA) – The defending champion, is known for his consistent performances.
Collin Morikawa (USA) – Already a two-time major winner (including the 2020 PGA Championship), he’s young, sharp, and definitely one to watch.
🫖 The Tee
LIV Golf—a newer, flashier league—is shaking up the traditional world of professional golf. It’s a direct rival to the PGA Tour (which, confusingly, is not the same as the PGA of America, who run this tournament).
The PGA Tour banned LIV players, but the PGA of America did not. So this major is one of the few chances for LIV players and PGA Tour players to go head-to-head.
Translation: There may be tension between some players.
Critics of LIV Golf note that it’s funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, raising serious ethical questions. The Saudi government has a long record of serious human rights violations.
This has led many to accuse LIV Golf of "sportswashing"—using shiny events and fat paychecks to distract from a darker reality.
🌴 Things to Do in Charlotte, North Carolina
Tickets: Adults $27, Seniors $24, Youth (4–12) $20
M-Sun 10am–5pm, Closed Tues
Interactive exhibits, real race cars, and racing simulators
Charlotte City Cart Tours (multiple companies)
60-90 minutes open-air golf cart tours
Around $40–$50 per person
Guides share quirky local history, food stops, and street art
Tickets: Starting at $39.99 online
Check website for hours of operation
Massive amusement park with roller coasters, water rides, and plenty of snacks
Short for “North Davidson”
Charlotte’s hub for street art, live music, funky galleries, and great food (including local breweries and vegan donuts)
🎁 The Perfect Gift for PGA Fans
Wooden Quail Hollow Club Map
✔ Includes engraved scorecard
✔ Customizable title (via our Custom Map option)
✔ Choose from multiple frame and water stain colors to match their home or office
✔ Hand-assembled in Ohio
✔ Ships for free anywhere in the continental USA
U.S. Open
📍 Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pennsylvania | 🗓️ June 12-15, 2025
The U.S. Open is famous for being the toughest test in golf.
Like the PGA Championship, the course changes each year. The courses are meant to test a golfer’s skill and course management. And because the courses are so brutal, a player's ability to remain calm under intense pressure is also tested.
This year’s tournament is being held at Oakmont, one of the most feared courses in the country. It’s hosted the U.S. Open more than any other course (this will be the 10th time).
If you want to see professionals sweat and swear, this is your tournament.
🏌️♂️ Who to Watch
Bryson DeChambeau (USA) – The defending champ, known for his physics-obsessed, power-focused approach to the game.
Jon Rahm (Spain) – Always a top contender in majors. He’s calm, consistent, and mentally tough.
Justin Thomas (USA) – Former PGA Champion and fan favorite.
And yes—Rory will be playing too. He's on a mission this season.
🫖 The Tee
🌇 Things to Do Near Oakmont, Pennsylvania
Downtown Pittsburgh is just a short drive away and worth exploring:
$25 general admission
Largest museum in the world dedicated to a single artist
A historic neighborhood known for open-air markets, local shops, and great food
Stroll through on foot and sample everything from pierogies to Pittsburgh-style pizza
Great spot for souvenir hunting or grabbing a craft beer
Open daily, 6:30am–12:30am
$2.50 one way for adults | $1.25 for kids (6–11)
Ride a century-old incline car to the top of Mount Washington for a stunning panoramic view of Pittsburgh and its three rivers.
🎁 A Must-Have Gift for U.S. Open Fans
Wooden Oakmont Country Club Map
✔ Includes engraved scorecard
✔ Customizable title (via our Custom Map option)
✔ Choose from multiple frame and water stain colors to match their home or office
✔ Hand-assembled in Ohio
✔ Ships for free anywhere in the continental USA
The Open Championship
📍 Royal Portrush Golf Club, County Antrim, Northern Ireland | 🗓️ July 17-20, 2025
The Open Championship—also called just “The Open”—is the oldest of the four majors and the only one played outside the U.S. It was first held in 1860.
This year it returns to Royal Portrush, perched on the stunning north coast of Northern Ireland. It last hosted The Open in 2019.
Unlike the lush, tree-lined courses of the U.S., The Open is played on links courses. This refers to a specific style of course that’s built on coastal land. They have few trees, sandy soil, rolling terrain, and LOTS OF WIND. In other words, the players are shown the course and told, “Here’s nature. Good luck.”
🏌️♂️ Who to Watch
Shane Lowry (Ireland) – Won here at Portrush in 2019 in front of an ecstatic home crowd. If there's ever a "home-field advantage" in golf, this is it.
Tommy Fleetwood (England) – A fan favorite who thrives in links-style conditions. He has yet to win a majors championship.
Jordan Spieth (USA) – Has won The Open before and always seems to play creatively when the weather turns tricky.
🫖 The Tee
☘️ Things to Do in Northern Ireland
A UNESCO World Heritage site made up of over 40,000 interlocking basalt columns
Free to visit if you hike in on your own (paid parking/visitor center access available)
Just a 20-minute drive from Portrush
One of the oldest licensed whiskey distilleries in the world
Take a guided tour, sample a dram, and bring home a bottle with your name on it
Tours around £15–£20
Dramatic ruins perched on cliffs above the sea
£6 for adults, £4.50 for kids
Great spot for photos and Game of Thrones fans (this region was used as a filming location)
Small beach town with cozy pubs, fresh seafood, and a surprisingly great surf scene
Stroll along the harbor or grab fish and chips by the water
🎁 The Ultimate Golf Gift for Open Fans
Wooden Royal Portrush Golf Map
✔ Includes engraved scorecard
✔ Customizable title (via our Custom Map option)
✔ Choose from multiple frame and water stain colors to match their home or office
✔ Hand-assembled in Ohio
✔ Ships for free anywhere in the continental USA
Why Buy From MapCuts?
Your wooden map will be stained and assembled by hand by our small but dedicated team in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Ship your map within the continental United States at no extra cost.
Each map helps plant one tree through our partnership with One Tree Planted.
