6 reasons why the next 144 days will be the greatest period golf has ever seen

Who will be taking these home this year?

Tomorrow is the start of The Players Championship. It is also the start of what should be the greatest 144 days golf has ever seen. 

In the space of less than five months, the golf schedule includes The Players Championship, the U.S. Open, The Open, the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup and the Olympics. It’s a veritable golf feast. 

The Players Championship, 12-15 May 

Everybody loves The Players, commonly known as “golf’s unofficial fifth major”. It brings together one of the strongest fields in golf and lets them loose on TPC Sawgrass, one of the world’s greatest and most beautiful courses. It provides drama, with a water-heavy closing stretch that can turn fortunes in a matter of moments. 

U.S. Open, 16-19 June

The U.S. Open prides itself on a tough course setup that makes players work hard for par, let alone birdie. This year’s venue, Oakmont Country Club, will be no different, with greens as quick as you’ll ever see and a par-3 that will play over 300 yards. “If you win a U.S. Open at Oakmont, you can go ahead and say that you’ve conquered the hardest test in all of golf, because this is arguably the hardest course in America day to day,” says defending champion Jordan Spieth.

Check out our breakdown of why it’s going to be so tough. 

The Open Championship, 14-17 July

Enough said. 

PGA Championship, 28-31 July

Two majors in the space of two weeks? You are spoiling us. 

Olympic golf, 11-14 August

Some people say it should be an amateur event. 

Many say it should be a format other than 72-hole strokeplay. 

Lots of top players may decide to give it a miss. 

Whatever. We can’t wait. 

Ryder Cup, 30 Sept – 2 Oct

Bring it on.