Golf terms
Golf is a club-and-ball sport where players hit a ball into a series of holes on a course, using as few strokes as possible. It's one of the few major sports where the lowest score wins.
How it works
A standard round has 18 holes, played in order. Each hole has a tee box where you start, a fairway, hazards like sand bunkers and water, and a green with the hole (the "cup").
Each hole has a par, the number of strokes an expert player is expected to need (usually 3, 4, or 5). Beating par is a "birdie" (one under) or "eagle" (two under). One over is a "bogey".
Players carry up to 14 clubs, including drivers for long distance, irons for mid-range shots, wedges for short and high shots, and a putter for the green.
The winner is whoever completes the round in the fewest total strokes.
Common formats
Stroke play: total strokes across the round, the format used in most professional tournaments.
Match play: you win individual holes against an opponent, and whoever wins the most holes wins the match.
Notable events
The four "majors" are the Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship.
Team events include the Ryder Cup (Europe vs. USA) and the Olympics, where golf has been played since 2016.
Why people like it
Golf rewards precision, patience, and mental control more than raw power. It's also played by all ages and skill levels thanks to the handicap system, which lets weaker and stronger players compete fairly.
Golf: Records, Injuries and the Calendar
World records
Scoring
Lowest official round: 55, by Rhein Gibson in 2012, recognised by Guinness. He made 12 birdies and two eagles on a par 71 in Oklahoma.
Wikipedia
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Lowest competitive round: Homero Blancas shot 55 in 1962, though on a 5,002-yard par 70.
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Lowest round in a men’s major: 62, by Branden Grace at the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale. Others have since matched it.
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Lowest round in a women’s major: 60, by Ryu Hae-ran at the 2026 Evian Championship.
Wikipedia
Sub-60 rounds on tour: Bryson DeChambeau shot 58 at LIV Golf Greenbrier in 2023. Others, including Joaquín Niemann and Sebastián Muñoz, have shot 59 on LIV.
Wikipedia
Streaks and power
Consecutive PGA Tour wins: Byron Nelson won 11 straight in 1945. Tiger Woods’ best run was seven straight across 2006 and 2007.
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Biggest major margin: Tiger Woods won the US Open by 15 shots (2000, Pebble Beach).
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Longest drive in competition: Mike Austin’s 515-yard drive at a US National Seniors event in Las Vegas.
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Most Masters wins: Jack Nicklaus with six. Tiger Woods set the youngest champion (21) and lowest 72-hole score (270) in 1997.
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Most majors: Nicklaus holds 18 (from memory), the figure Woods chased with 15.
Quirky records: The lowest 18-hole score using one club is a 70 with a 6-iron in 1987, and Silvo Sabba held 27 golf balls in one hand. Kelechi Ezihie played golf non-stop for 36 hours.
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Injuries
Golf looks gentle, but the rotational swing and the repetition make injuries common.
Prevalence: In a study of 526 professionals, 66% had been injured during their careers and 31% in the past year.
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Where: Lower back (44%) and wrist (44%) were most often hurt, followed by elbow, neck and shoulder. Men were 2.5 times more likely than women to have a lower back injury.
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Amateurs differ: Elbow problems were most common, followed by back and shoulder. Over 90% of golf injuries came from overuse.
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eorthopod
Wrists: About two-thirds of wrist injuries are on the lead side.
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Carrying your bag: Golfers who carry their own bags are more likely to have shoulder, lower back and ankle injuries.
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Famous cases: Tiger Woods’ injuries include an Achilles tendon injury and surgery for a pinched nerve in his back.
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Prevention: Good swing mechanics, limiting marathon range sessions, and golf-specific strength work for the core, back, shoulders, hips and wrists.
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If you’re dealing with pain yourself, see a physio or doctor rather than relying on general information.
Golf calendar
Rest of 2026 (as of today, 26 October)
Abu Dhabi Championship: November 5–8, a Rolex Series play-off event.
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DP World Tour Championship: November 12–15 at Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, where the season champion will be crowned.
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2027 men’s majors (2026 champions from Sky Sports)
Sky Sports
The Masters: April 8–11, Augusta National. 2026 champion: Rory McIlroy.
PGA Championship: May 20–23, PGA Frisco, Texas. 2026 champion: Aaron Rai.
US Open: June 17–20, Pebble Beach. 2026 champion: Wyndham Clark.
The Open: July 15–18 at the Old Course, St Andrews. Ryan Fox is the defending champion.
thegolfnewsnet
2027 women’s majors: US Women’s Open, June 3–6 at Inverness Club, and KPMG Women’s PGA, June 24–27 at Congressional. The other majors (Chevron, Evian, AIG Women’s Open) have dates I didn’t verify.
Sky Sports
Team events
Ryder Cup: September 17–19, 2027 at Adare Manor, Ireland, with Europe as defending champions. General admission sold out on 29 June 2026, twelve times oversubscribed.
Sky Sports
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DP World Tour: In 2027, the BMW PGA Championship moves to September 23–26 at Wentworth, and the Team Cup returns as the first event of the year.
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Dates occasionally shift, so check the official tour sites before booking travel.

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