Golf
Golf is played on a course of holes, each started from a teeing area and finished on a putting green, by hitting a ball with clubs in as few strokes as possible. In stroke play every stroke counts and the lowest total over all the rounds wins; in match play each hole is a separate contest and the player who wins more holes takes the match. A player may carry no more than 14 clubs.
New to golf? Start here
Which to watch first, and how long
Start with Stroke play. The way the big championships are played: one number decides it.
- Stroke play
- Every stroke over the round counts; the lowest total wins
- Match play
- Hole by hole against one opponent
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1The four men's majors (Masters, PGA Championship, US Open, The Open)The titles a golfer's career is measured by.Yearly
- 2The five women's majorsThe titles a women's career is measured by.Yearly
- 3Ryder Cup and Solheim CupEurope against the United States; the best-known team events.Every 2 years · Holder: Ryder Cup: Europe
- 4Olympic Games (golf)Back on the programme since 2016; growing in weight.Every 4 years · Holder: Men's: Scottie Scheffler · Women's: Lydia Ko
How the tournaments are graded
Men's golf has four majors: the Masters, the PGA Championship, the US Open and the Open Championship. In the world ranking a major gives its winner 100 points, the Players Championship 80, and no other event more than 80.
India
No Indian has won a men's or women's major [the majors pages].
- Men's major golf championships: No Indian winner
- Women's major golf championships: No Indian winner
- Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup: Not a part of either cup (United States against Europe)
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- IndiaGolf at the Asian Games: 4 golds, 5 silvers (latest 2026)
- South KoreaGolf at the Olympic Games: 1 gold (latest 2016); Golf at the Asian Games: 15 golds, 16 silvers, 10 bronzes (latest 2026)
- JapanGolf at the Olympic Games: 1 silver, 1 bronze (latest 2024); Golf at the Asian Games: 9 golds, 5 silvers, 6 bronzes (latest 2026)
- United StatesRyder Cup and Solheim Cup: 2 titles (latest 2021); Golf at the Olympic Games: 6 golds, 2 silvers, 4 bronzes (latest 2024)
- Chinese TaipeiGolf at the Olympic Games: 1 bronze (latest 2020); Golf at the Asian Games: 7 golds, 4 silvers, 10 bronzes (latest 2026)
- PhilippinesGolf at the Asian Games: 3 golds, 4 silvers, 8 bronzes (latest 2018)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | The R&A and the USGA, Rules of Golf, effective January 2023 |
| International federation | International Golf Federation (IGF), for the Olympic Games; the professional tours run the majors and their own events |
| In India | Indian Golf Union (IGU): recognised, on the MYAS list for 2026 |
Where and when it is played
On a course divided into five areas: the teeing area, the general area, penalty areas, bunkers and the putting green. The big events: the four men's majors and the five women's majors every year, and the Ryder Cup (men) and Solheim Cup (women), the United States against Europe, every two years.