After events were postponed, cancelled, or played out in front of fan-free fairways in 2020, we can hopefully look forward to a full major golf calendar in 2021.
Golf has certainly grown over the past year with many turning to the golf courses as a break from restricted measures across the country.
It’s certainly a slate to whet the appetite, so here are some facts and figures to look out for across the schedule.
The Masters
Augusta National will host golf’s great and good for the 85th time from 8-11 April, with Dustin Johnson looking to defend his crown. Hopefully a positive tone will be set for the year, with fans set to return to the fairways, albeit in limited numbers.
-20: Johnson’s winning score in November was a tournament record.
145: Days between 2020’s tournament closing out the major year and 2021’s starting the next.
63: That’s how old 1991 champion Ian Woosnam will be when he comes out of retirement at Augusta for a third time this year.
PGA Championship
Collin Morikawa secured victory in this competition last year, making just his second outing at a major. Kiawah Island will host the year’s second major, which has been shifted from its traditional spot to make room for the Ryder Cup.
225: Morikawa added his name to a lengthy list of 225 major winners last year – will someone make the group for the first time in 2021?
-8: Rory McIlroy’s winning score when the PGA Championship last visited Kiawah Island remains a championship record.
5: American golfers are on a five-year winning streak in the PGA Championship, with Jimmy Walker, Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka (twice) preceding Morikawa.
U.S. Open
Bryson DeChambeau’s rising star was confirmed in this competition last year as he secured his maiden major. The American, who hits his pitching wedge 160 yards (the length of an average golfers 6-iron) scientific approach is not favoured by all and attempts to stem his physical advantages will be a story to track throughout 2021.
476: In yards, the longest drive in PGA Tour history belongs to Davis Love III – can DeChambeau get close to it this year?
7,698: He’ll have the room to do so in the U.S. Open – at 7,698 yards, Torey Pines’ South Course is the longest on the PGA Tour.
2008: The U.S. Open’s last staging at Torrey Pines was Tiger Woods’ epic win in a playoff 13 years ago.
The Open Championship
Golf’s oldest competition was not played in 2020 due to concerns over coronavirus, although the tournament will go ahead in 2021, whether spectators are allowed to return as well or not.
7: Jack Nicklaus was a three-time winner of The Open, but the Golden bear had his fair share of frustration too, with a tournament-record seven runner-up finishes. Can any of the modern greats get close to his 18 major titles?
15: Royal St George’s will host the competition for the 15th time – the most of any courses in England.
30: In 1894, J.H. Taylor won the first Open at this course. His prize money was £30. This year’s winner will take home nearly £2million!