Most people would be quick to say that hockey is the most popular sport in Canada, but there is a good argument to be made that golf is, in fact, the true national sport of the Great White North. Approximately 5.7 million Canadians golf regularly, more than any other sport in the country, with nearly 2,500 golf courses dotting the Canadian landscape. Passion for golfing is especially strong among young Canadians, who make up the largest percentage of visitors to golf courses.

Passion for the sport aside, many diehard golfers would say that you are not a true aficionado of the sport unless you attend professional golf tournaments in person. Seeing true masters of the sport duking it out on the fairways of the most pristine and beautiful golf courses in the world is an experience that cannot be replicated on a TV screen but must be relished as it happens on the green. The following tournaments represent the best must-see golf tournaments in the world for those interested in spending their vacation time reveling on the links.

The Masters

Visitors to the Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia are in for the time of their lives as they immerse themselves in the history of the legendary course and tournament. First held in 1934, the Masters Tournament is steeped in tradition. Perhaps the most famous event of each year’s tournament is the awarding of the famed green jacket to the champion, a tradition begun in 1949 that has since become an iconic part of golfing history. While making it to the Masters is a cause for celebration in its own right, course designers at Augusta National are quick to challenge even the most seasoned professional by regularly tinkering with the course, ensuring that spectators are in for a fair amount of drama at each tournament.

Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Laidback West Coast vibes and the chance to mingle with A-list celebrities await attendees of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am Tournament. Unlike other golf tournaments, the Pebble Beach Pro-Am Tournament is split into three courses: Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Monterrey Peninsula Country Club Shore Course. While each of the three courses has its own distinct flair and flavor, all have breathtaking views of the Pacific and some of the most challenging shots in all of golf. Pebble Beach Golf Links has developed a particularly strong reputation for amazing spectator experiences. While some might be content to chill out in the grandstands, walking the course gives you the opportunity to bear witness to exciting moments in golf history as you enjoy the beautiful vistas of Stillwater Cove.

U.S. Open

Legendary and austere, the U.S. Open is the crucible for professional golfers. Since its inception in 1895, the U.S. Open has been able to make or break careers and is considered by far the biggest challenge on the PGA Tour. Like many golf tournaments, the U.S. Open moves each year, with favored venues including Bethpage, Pebble Beach, and Shinnecock. While the venue might change, the challenge presented to players remains constant. Golfers must complete a grueling 72-hole course over four days. Organizers with the USGA design each hole to be a challenge for competitors, forcing them to hone their scoring abilities while under intense pressure. Just as spectators are rewarded with witnessing professional golfers at their best, so too are champions awarded with the largest cash prize on the PGA Tour.

PGA Championship

Great golf awaits those privileged souls lucky enough to attend the PGA Championship, one of the most important stops on the PGA Tour. The PGA Championship has the distinction of only being open to professional golfers, excluding amateurs from the event. Similar to the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship also moves to different venues each year, with organizers generally favoring golf clubs on the East Coast. One of the most exciting aspects of the PGA Championship is the tournament’s playoff format. At the end of the tournament, if any golfers are tied, they proceed to a three-hole playoff. In this sudden death round, the golfer who is able to achieve the best aggregate score is crowned the winner of the championship. The 2022 tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma ended in such a sudden death match as golfer Justin Thomas scored the final hole to a rip-roaring applause from spectators.

British Open

The roots of golf’s enduring popularity can be traced to the British Open, the oldest golf tournament in the world. Held at a variety of venues throughout the United Kingdom, the British Open has been a staple of the sport since 1860. One of the most interesting aspects of attending the British Open is being able to immerse yourself in the history of golf. Although venues change, the importance of each location to the sport remains constant. The Old Course at St. Andrews, for example, is regarded as the site where the rules of golf were developed 500 years ago. In addition to fantastic history, the venues chosen are some of the most beautiful spots in Europe. Verdant fields and craggy outcroppings dot the landscape of most venues, while ferocious winds and dynamic weather patterns make for constantly changing play conditions.

PGA Championship of Canada

Canada’s own national golf tourney has seen an increase in attention in recent years due to rising interest in the sport among athletic-minded Canucks. The PGA Championship of Canada is one of the oldest golf tournaments in the Great White North, held at a series of different venues since 1912. Throughout the years, the PGA Championship of Canada has attracted some of the best golfers in the world, including Arnold Palmer and Lanny Wadkins. Although smaller than major golf tournaments like the Masters and U.S. Open, the PGA Championship of Canada has the distinction of allowing fans of the game to get on the links and check out some of the major up-and-coming talent in the sport. Many golfers who competed at the PGA Championship of Canada have gone on to play in major events of the sport, including the Olympics.

Did we leave your favorite tournament off our list? Tell us about it in the comments below!