Golf's greatest prizes

THERE the golf tournaments the professionals most want to win – the majors.

The majors are made up of The Masters, The US Open, The Open and The US PGA.

First to be played is The Masters, which is held at Augusta National every year.

This year the event – the 75th – will be held from April 7-10.

Last year’s tournament was won by Phil Mickelson. It was the third time he had won The Masters.

Following the Masters will be the US Open. The event will be staged at The US Open Championship Congressional Country Club from June 13-19.

Last year, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell was the first European golfer to win the title since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

The third major of the year is golf’s oldest tournament – The Open.

This year Royal St George’s will host The Open and the best players in the world will gather on the south coast to compete for the Claret Jug.

It will be the first time The Open has been played at St George’s since 2003 when Ben Curtis of America took the title, with Vijay Singh coming second. Tiger Woods was fourth that year.

The Open is now played at four courses in England and they are Royal Birkdale, Royal St George’s, Royal Lytham and Royal Liverpool. Luckily three of them are in the North West. The Open will be returning to this region in 2014, when it will be played at Royal Liverpool.

The last major of the year will be the US PGA and it will be held from August 8-14 at the Atlanta Athletic club at Johns Creek in Georgia.

Last year’s event was won by another European. Germany’s Martin Kaymer took the title at Whistling Straits.