Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which competitors strike balls into a succession of holes on a course with as few strokes as possible. Golf, unlike other ball sports, cannot and does not employ a uniform playing area, therefore adjusting to the various terrains found on different courses is an important component of the game. Courses normally feature 18 or 9 holes, which are sections of terrain with a cup, the hole that receives the ball. Each hole on a course has a teeing ground to begin with and a putting green with the cup. Golf is played for the lowest number of strokes by an individual (stroke play) or the lowest score on the most individual holes in a whole round (match play) by an individual or team. Stroke play is the most popular format seen at all levels, particularly at the elite level.
Professional golf:
The vast majority of professional golfers work as a club or instructional professionals ("pros") and participate only in local tournaments. A select group of professional golfers is known as "tournament pros," and they compete on international "tours" full-time. Many club and teaching professionals in the golf business begin as caddies or with a general interest in the game, working at golf courses and eventually advancing to certifications in their chosen field. These programs include those offered by independent institutions and colleges, as well as those that lead to Class A golf professional certification. Touring pros often begin as amateurs and advance to "pro" status through performance in large events that earn them prize money and/or publicity from corporate sponsors.
Men's major championships:
The four most significant men's events of the year are known as the major championships. In chronological order, they are The Masters, The U.S. Open, The Open Championship (also known as the British Open in North America), and The PGA Championship.
The top several dozen golfers from across the globe compete in these competitions. Since 1934, the Masters has been held at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. It is the only major event held on the same course every year. The US Open and PGA Championship are held on courses around the United States, whilst the Open Championship is held on courses in the United Kingdom.
Major championships for women:
There is no generally agreed-upon set of majors for women's golf. The LPGA Tour, the premier women's tour in the United States, has modified the list of majors numerous times throughout the years, with the most recent revisions coming in 2001 and 2013. The (U.S.) The LPGA tour, like the PGA Tour, used to have four majors, but now has five: the Chevron Championship (previously known as the ANA Inspiration), the Women's PGA Championship (previously known as the LPGA Championship), the U.S. Women's Open, the Women's British Open (which replaced the du Maurier Classic as a major in 2001), and The Evian Championship (added as the fifth major in 2013).
