From the verdant Augusta National to the sun-baked Royal Birkdale, the men's Major Championships have proved a prosperous period for golfers on the DP World Tour in 2026.
Across the four annual marquee tournaments, held over a four-month period from April through to July, three DP World Tour members claimed silverware.
It is the first time that has happened in a single season since 2011, when Charl Schwartzel, Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke won the Masters Tournament, U.S. Open and The Open respectively.
This time, 15 years on, McIlroy is joined by Aaron Rai and Ryan Fox, with the latter two hoisting the Wanamker Trophy and Claret Jug after their breakthrough Major triumphs.
McIlroy is the Master again
A year after becoming just the sixth man in golf’s modern era - which coincides with the Masters being founded in 1934 - to complete the career Grand Slam, McIlroy shot a final-day 71 to finish one stroke clear of World Number One Scottie Scheffler.
In successfully defending his Masters title, McIlroy became the first back-to-back winner of the Green Jacket since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002.
He also became just the fourth player across the tournament's 90 editions to successfully defend their title as he joined Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Woods.
McIlroy is also the only player in the men's game younger than 50 to have six or more Major wins.
Rai conquers Aronimink for rare English US PGA triumph
A month later, Rai produced a sublime final-round 65 to win the US PGA Championship and with it create history for both English and more widely European golf.
The 31-year-old of Indian/Kenyan heritage was already a DP World Tour and PGA TOUR winner but his three-stroke victory at Aronimink Golf Club saw him become just the eighth English men's Major winner since 1940 and the first at the US PGA since Jim Barnes in 1919.
Victory for Rai, who wears two gloves and continues to be coached by a pair of PGA Golf Professionals who have found their own fame through YouTube, also meant that a European won the first two Majors of the year for the first time in the modern era.
After Wyndham Clark became a two-time winner of his national championship at the U.S. Open in June, Major season came to a dramatic climax at Royal Birkdale.
Fox crowned Champion Golfer of the Year
With birdies at four of his final six holes, including decisively on the 72nd green, Fox won The 154th Open to become the second first-time Major winner of the year and the fourth in the last two years.
With victory, Fox became just the second Kiwi golfer to win golf's oldest championship after Bob Charles in 1963 at Royal Lytham & St Annes, while he became the third male Major winner from his country after Charles and Michael Campbell.
Tied 52nd after the second round, Fox carded a record-equalling eight-under-par 62 - becoming the third player that week to do so after Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns - on his way to completing the largest 36-hole comeback by position to win a men's Major in history.
Then the World Number 56, he is also the lowest-ranked Open champion since Northern Ireland's Clarke.
In 2020, Fox was profiled in the DP World Tour's originial mini-documentary series Roots.
In the episode, filmed in New Zealand, we discover more about the sporting lineage of Fox. Click below to watch.
