The current condensed schedule of golf's four major championships—the Masters, US PGA Championship, US Open, and The Open—is drawing criticism from top players who see room for improvement. Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy have both voiced support for extending the major season, which currently spans just 14 weeks from April to July.
Rahm advocates for an international major
Jon Rahm, a two-time major winner, suggested that golf would benefit from a major championship outside the United States and Europe. “I think it would be good for golf,” Rahm said. “If you could have more golf elsewhere, I think it would be fine. As a major, you need to have that commercial value as well. I understand it. I wouldn’t know the logistics of that.”
Rahm highlighted potential host regions: “It would be interesting to see a major happen in other parts of the world, in other continents. Golf being a global game and as big as it is, it’s something that could be explored for sure. From what I’ve seen the last few years, having a major in Australia could be very successful. Having two in Europe would also be good fun. The same in Asia.”
McIlroy wants a spread-out schedule
Rory McIlroy echoed the sentiment, calling for a longer gap between majors. “I’d like to see the major season spread out a little bit longer,” McIlroy said. “The Masters is always going to have the buildup but I think then PGA into US Open, US Open into here, it just seems like it’s very, very quick.”
McIlroy acknowledged the benefits for players on hot streaks but emphasised the broader impact: “From a player perspective, if you get on a bit of a run, it’s nice to be playing well and go from one straight into the next. But for the sport as a whole and for the general interest in the game, I can see the positives in that major season being stretched out a little bit longer.”
Current major schedule and its drawbacks
The current major calendar begins with the Masters in April, followed by the US PGA Championship in May, the US Open in June, and The Open in July. After The Open, there is an eight-and-a-half-month gap before the next major. This feast-or-famine pattern contrasts with other sports like the NFL, which regularly plays international games.
The Open is the only major held outside the United States. Planned future stops include Portmarnock in the Republic of Ireland, but many classic UK Open courses remain overlooked due to commercial considerations.
Governance challenges hinder change
McIlroy expressed frustration with golf's complex governance, which makes schedule changes difficult. “No, I’m done with that,” he said when asked if he had raised the issue with officials. “It’s a very complex jigsaw. Being a part of it [player committees] for a while, there’s a lot of different constituents in the game, a lot of different governing bodies and opinions. My opinion isn’t going to change anything.”
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler also weighed in, noting the condensed season: “The season for us is getting quicker and quicker. The season is getting more condensed and things are happening a lot faster. It goes by pretty quickly. I felt like we were at the US Open a couple of weeks ago.”
Impact of the PGA Tour playoff system
The shift of the US PGA Championship from August to May, partly due to golf's Olympic reintroduction and the PGA Tour's end-of-season playoffs, has compressed the major season. The DP World Tour also holds a playoff series and a marquee event at Wentworth in September. Players are reluctant to focus on a post-major drop-off, as it could diminish their achievements later in the year.
As golf battles for audience attention, the truncated major run benefits players on hot streaks but leaves many wanting more. Whether the sport's governing bodies will heed the calls of its biggest stars remains uncertain.
