In men’s golf, there are four tournaments that stand above all the rest when it comes to prestige. The four majors – the Open, the Masters, the US Open and the USPGA – are the ones that everyone dreams of winning. As well as writing your name into the history books, winning any of the big four also delivers huge prize money and ranking points, as well as plenty in the way of playing privileges.
Those new to golf in general, or more specifically the women’s game, may be surprised to learn that there are not four majors but five. Here we take a look at each of the biggest five tournaments the world’s best female golfers have firmly on their wish lists.
Not Quite so Simple
Before we detail the current five tournaments that make up the women’s majors, we should point out that the women’s events have changed in a way the men’s have not. In the men’s game, the Open came first and then over the years the three other big ones were simply added to the list. This is not the case in terms of women’s majors, with some events having been classified as majors but then essentially demoted, with others elevated in their stead.
Second, in the men’s game, the majors are co-sanctioned by multiple tours and so there is a single agreed list of four tournaments that everyone designates as the majors. Most crucially, there is agreement between the two biggest tours, the European and American ones, as to what the majors are.
In the women’s game, this is not the case. When we talk of five majors, we mean the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) majors. The LPGA is the biggest, most prestigious and most lucrative tour in the world and is an American organisation with headquarters in Florida. The Ladies European Tour (LET) is based in Europe, with HQ in England, although it holds events around the world.
Whilst the LPGA recognises five majors, LET only considers two to be majors (these are two of the LPGA’s five though). For this article, therefore, when we talk about “women’s” majors, we are really talking about LPGA ones. Right – housekeeping done, let’s get to the golf!
Chevron Championship
This event became a major in 1983 but was first held in 1972. It is typically the first major of the calendar year and since its inception – when it was just a 54-hole tournament – has always been a highly lucrative event. It now boasts huge prize money, with 2024 victor Nelly Korda taking home $1.2m. That prize pool has been boosted by the 2021 agreement with Chevron, which saw the US multinational take over naming rights in 2022 as part of a six-year deal.
Over the years the tournament has gone by a host of different names. Prior to its current moniker, it was the ANA Inspiration, and has also been sponsored by Kraft. Initially played at the Mission Hills Country Club, in California, in 2022 it moved to Texas to be played at The Club at Carlton Woods, designed by Jack Nicklaus.
US Women’s Open
Another tournament that is essentially a sister event to the male equivalent, the US Women’s Open was first played in 1946. It is now normally played at the end of May or the start of June at a range of courses in the States, with the future roster sorted many years in advance (Shinnecock Hills will do the honours in 2036 for the very organised folk out there!).
Yuka Saso claimed her second title in four years in 2024 – and a cool $2.4m payday – but lags behind four-time champions Betsy Rawls and Mickey Wright, both of whom were active in the 1950s and 1960s. This is the richest event in women’s golf and also holds the distinction of being the oldest major and the only one that has been designated as such since the inception of the LPGA in 1950.
Women’s PGA Championship
This event is a direct equivalent of the men’s PGA (or USPGA) Championship and was first played in 1955. Like the other US majors, it is not recognised by LET and changed its name from the LPGA Championship in 2015 when it fully partnered with the PGA of America. Since then it has been known as the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, for sponsorship reasons, and has previously gone by a range of other names.
It is played at a range of courses across America, typically in June, and in recent years has been dominated by Asian players. South Korea’s Amy Yang won $1.56m in 2024 when she became the fifth Asian golfer to claim glory in the last seven years.
The Evian Championship
Held in France, this is one of two of the big five recognised by both major tours. One of the game’s newer events, it was first played in 1994 and has been played at various times of the year but is currently settled into a July spot. It has smaller prize money than some of the other majors, with $8m in total up for grabs in 2024.
Since its inception this tournament has been played at the Evian Resort Golf Club, the name of the tournament is derived from its location in Evian-les-Bains, France, rather than a sponsorship deal with the water company. European asset management company Amundi sponsor the tournament.
The Women’s Open
Previously called the Women’s British Open, this is another LET event that is recognised by both main tours as a major. Now played in August, it is the last of the big five to take place each year and dates back to 1976. Like its male equivalent, it is played on a different course each year, with Woburn the most frequent host (nine Opens), followed by Royal Birkdale (six) and Royal Lytham & St Annes (five).
The winner in 1976 took home just £210. But in 2024, Kiwi Lydia Ko scooped a handsome $1.35m when she claimed glory at St Andrews. Like all the women’s majors this is a stroke play event and in 2024 AIG was the named sponsor.