A new year is upon us, and with it comes the return of professional golf action across the globe. There is, of course, plenty of golf played all year round, but there tends to be a bit of a hiatus between mid-December and early January for elite players. Now, with a few events lined up in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, followed by the Farmers’ Insurance Open at the end of January, things will soon swing back into action.
But what about the Majors for 2022? Where are they being held? And when? There are no surprises for guessing where the Masters will be played, of course. But below we wanted to take a quick look at the four Majors and how they might pan out this year. Let’s dive in:
Augusta National | Credit: Pinterest
Augusta National | Credit: Pinterest
The Masters, Augusta National, Georgia 7-10th April
If you have the January blues, console yourself with the fact that The Masters is around 80 days. It will, as ever, be held at the iconic Augusta National Golf Course. Hideki Matsuyama is the current champion, and those betting on golf can get odds of around 30/1 for the Japanese player to retain the Green Jacket. Jon Rahm is the current favorite, but there will be a lot of backers for Collin Morikawa and the rejuvenated Jordan Spieth. Of course, there will be a lot of speculation over the potential participation of Tiger Woods. But if media reports are to believed, the 46-year-old will not be ready to compete at that level.
Southern Hills Country Club | Credit: Facebook
PGA Championship, Southern Hills, Oklahoma, 19-22nd May
Speaking of Tiger Woods, he was the last player to win the PGA Championship at Southern Hills. The Major returns to the venue for the first time since Woods’ win in 2007. The Par 71 course has held both the US Open and PGA Championship down the years, and it represents a tough challenge (only five players finished under par in the 2007 PGA Championship). Legendary golf course architect, Gill Hanse, oversaw a restoration of the championship course in 2019, so players should expect the unexpected with the “new” Southern Hills in 2022.
The US Open returns to Brookline | Credit: USGA
US Open, Brookline Country Club, Massachusetts, 16-19th June
There’s going to be a nice theme of historic courses in this year’s Majors (see below), so it is fitting that the US Open returns to Brookline Country Club for the first time since 1988. Thirty-four years is a long wait for one the iconic courses (Brookline was one of the five founding clubs of the USGA), but there have been a few changes since the 1980s. The course is a bit longer (250 yards) for a start, and there have been other additions to the layout. As always, it will be a fine challenge for the world’s best golfers.
St Andrews Old Course | Credit: Visit Scotland
The Open Championship, St Andrews, Scotland, 14-17th July
And to round it off, the last Major of the year will be played at the “home of golf”, St Andrews Old Course. Widely considered the world’s oldest golf course – this is contested, however – this will be the 30th time that The Open has been held at the Old Course. Zack Johnson (2015) was the last winner of The Open at this venue, and players can expect stunning views on a tough-but-fair course. Of course, the unpredictable Scottish weather can also play a role in deciding the Open champion here, but that’s all part of the drama.
