Valentines Day is almost here and the Masters is just around the corner (or at least we’d all like to pretend it is). Pretty soon the 2014 PGA Tour will be in full swing and while there’s nothing we can do to speed up the passage of time over the next couple of months, we can channel our excitement into some discussion about the upcoming major venues.
The Masters – Augusta National – April 10th – 13th — The Masters is without a doubt the greatest event in the history of golf. For 80 years, Augusta National has held the famed event and every year it seems to get more and more captivating.
Though there tends to be clutter at the top of the leaderboard in this event every year, the cream always seems to rise to the top. Augusta National requires patience, precision and the ability to work the ball in both directions. Look for the usual players at the top of the leaderboard this year. Guys like Tiger, Phil and Rory will likely all be in the conversation come Saturday and Sunday.
The U.S. Open – Pinehurst No.2 – June 12th – 15th – Pinehurst No.2 is widely regarded as one of the greatest golf courses ever built. It’s held the Ryder Cup, The PGA Championship, and this year it will play host to its third US Open (it will also be holding the Women’s US Open immediately following the men’s).
Pinehurst has a rich history when it comes to professional golf. The last two US Opens have produced winning scores of 1-under (Payne Stewart) and even par (Michael Campbell) and this year will likely be no different. Phil Mickelson famously lost to Stewart here in 1999 and it will be interesting to see if he can finally notch the one major that’s caused him so many heartbreaks in the past.
The Open Championship – Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) – July 17th – 20th – Like Pinehurst, Royal Liverpool is no stranger to major championship play and this year it will host its 12th British Open. The first was played in 1897 and the list of players that have come out on top at this venue include the likes of Walter Hagan, Bobby Jones and Tiger Woods.
Historically, The Open Championship has produced the most diverse group of victors. The outcome is always dependent on the weather and European players that grew up playing in rainy windy conditions always seem to have an advantage. With that said, the tournament always seems to be up for grabs. In 2009, a 60-year-old Tom Watson was a four-foot putt away from taking home the Claret Jug and just last year Phil Mickelson had one of the greatest final rounds in major championship history and took home the hardware.
The PGA Championship – Valhalla Golf Club – August 7th – 10th – Jack Nickalus laid out Valhalla Golf Club in 1986 and this year it will host its third PGA Championship. Tiger won at this venue in 2000 and he’s likely chomping at the bit to get another shot at a course he’s had major success on.