You know what still doesn't get enough attention? Women's golf major championships. These tournaments represent the absolute pinnacle of the sport, yet somehow fly under the radar compared to the men's game. Having walked the ropes at both, I can tell you the intensity's just as electric when the world's best female golfers battle for these trophies. Let's break down everything that makes these events special.

What Exactly Are Women's Golf Majors?

Picture this: five tournaments each year that make or break careers. Winning one changes everything - bigger purses, sponsorship deals, your place in history. Unlike regular LPGA events, women's golf major championships have that undeniable aura. Crowds are bigger, rough is thicker (seriously, sometimes you lose balls just looking at it), and every putt feels like life or death.

Back in the 1930s, we only had three majors. Now we've got five:

• The Chevron Championship (spring, formerly ANA Inspiration)
• KPMG Women's PGA Championship (early summer)
• U.S. Women's Open (mid-summer)
• The Amundi Evian Championship (late summer in France)
• AIG Women's Open (late summer UK links course)

Honestly, the constant sponsorship name changes drive me nuts. Just last year I bought tickets to the "ANA" and showed up to "Chevron" banners. Confusing? Absolutely.

The Chevron Championship: More Than Just a Pond Jump

That pond jump at Mission Hills? Honestly overrated. The real story here is how this major tests precision. Narrow fairways framed by California desert make wayward drives disappear faster than my ball marker on the 5th green. What fascinates me about this women's golf major championship is watching players manage risk on those tempting drivable par-4s. Go for it and possibly eagle? Or lay up and potentially give up a stroke? Saw Nelly Korda make that exact choice last year - laid up smartly and won.

KPMG Women's PGA Championship: Where Careers Transform

Remember when Brooke Henderson won this at 18? Life-changing. The PGA of America runs this one, and they set up courses differently than LPGA events. Thicker rough, faster greens - it's borderline cruel. Last year at Baltusrol, players averaged +3.2 on the back nine. Brutal. But that's why winning here means so much. It's the ultimate ball-striker's test among women's golf major championships.

Qualifying for Majors: Easier Said Than Done

Think you can just sign up? Think again. The U.S. Women's Open has local qualifiers where club pros and college kids try their luck. I once followed a 16-year-old through qualifying - she shot 68 but still missed by two strokes. The heartbreak was real. Each major has its own path:

• Top 75 LPGA Money List (automatic for most)
• World Rankings Top 100 (usually gets you in)
• Past Champions (lifetime exemptions at some)
• Amateur Spots (Evian reserves 5 slots)

Here's the kicker - the Women's Open lets ANYONE with a 2.4 handicap or better enter qualifying. Saw a 52-year-old schoolteacher nearly make it last year. Almost cried when she missed the cut by one.

Where to Watch Without Losing Your Mind

Broadcast rights are messier than a buried lie in a bunker. Here's how normal humans can watch women's golf major championships without paying for everything:

• Peacock ($5.99/month) gets you early rounds
• NBC Sports App (free with cable login) for weekend coverage
• Sky Sports Golf (UK/EU coverage)
• LPGA.com (free featured group streams)

Pro tip: Set alerts for "back nine Sunday." That's when majors get crazy. Last year's Evian finish with Brooke Henderson? I missed it live because I forgot to set a reminder. Still kicking myself.

Iconic Moments That Changed Women's Golf

Some moments in women's golf major championships stick with you forever:

• 2000 U.S. Women's Open - Karrie Webb's hole-out on 18 at Pine Needles. Goosebumps.
• 2012 Kraft Nabisco - Lexi Thompson becoming youngest major winner at 19.
• 2021 AIG Women's Open - Anna Nordqvist winning in brutal Carnoustie winds. How she kept that ball in play I'll never know.

My personal favorite? Juli Inkster winning the 1999 U.S. Open while pregnant. They asked if she'd withdraw. She laughed and won by five shots. Legend.

Players Who Own the Majors

These women feast on big tournaments:

Modern players to watch? Jin Young Ko's iron game is ridiculous. And Rose Zhang - that amateur who won the Augusta National Women's Amateur? She'll dominate women's golf major championships soon. Book it.

Controversies No One Talks About

Not everything's perfect in these women's golf major championships. The Evian gets flak for its goofy September dates - always battling football season. And the purse disparities? Men's U.S. Open paid $20 million last year while women got $11 million. Progress? Sure. Enough? Nope.

Worst controversy I've seen? The 2020 AIG at Royal Troon. No fans because of COVID. Watching players sink putts to dead silence felt... wrong. Like watching fireworks with no sound.

2024 Season Outlook: What You Need to Know

This year's women's golf major championships schedule has some gems:

• U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster CC - classic Pennsylvania track with diabolical greens
• AIG Women's Open at St Andrews - first time since 2013! Expect 40mph winds
• Evian moves to July 11-14 - finally avoiding football season

Player to watch: Lilia Vu. Won two majors last year and hits it miles. But links golf at St Andrews? That'll test her. Personally hoping Lexi Thompson finally gets that second major. Been too long.

Your Women's Golf Major Championships Questions Answered

How do women's golf majors differ from men's?
Night and day. Women play shorter yardages (6,500yds vs 7,500yds), but tighter setups. Their majors emphasize precision over power. Greens are just as fast though - saw 14 on the stimpmeter at Pine Needles once. Insane.

Who has the career Grand Slam in women's golf?
Only five: Pat Bradley, Juli Inkster, Annika Sörenstam, Louise Suggs, and Karrie Webb. Inbee Park needs just the Chevron to complete hers. She came close in 2020 - finished T3.

Why does Evian count as a major?
Good question. Got promoted in 2013. Some players grumbled - "European event shouldn't be major." But the purse ($6.5M) and field quality silenced critics. Still, that alpine terrain creates weird bounces. Ball above feet constantly.

What's the hardest women's major to win?
U.S. Women's Open, hands down. Rough is grown to 4 inches. Greens roll at 13+. Last year only three players broke par all week. Saw players practicing with hybrid putters beforehand. Seriously.

How can I attend one affordably?
Thursday practice rounds. Tickets often 50% cheaper. Pro-ams (Wednesday) let you walk alongside players. Lancaster CC tickets start at $50 for Thursday. Bring comfy shoes - hills are no joke.

Why This Matters Beyond Golf

Here's the thing about women's golf major championships - they're changing perceptions. When Minjee Lee pocketed $1.8 million winning the U.S. Open, young girls noticed. Companies noticed too - Rolex now sponsors all five events. The talent? Insanely global:

• 🇺🇸 12 major winners since 2020
• 🇯🇵 3 major winners since 2020
• 🇰🇷 9 major wins since 2020
• 🇳🇿 Lydia Ko (New Zealand)
• 🇹🇭 Patty Tavatanakit (Thailand)

My niece started golf after watching Jin Young Ko win. Now she wants LPGA Tour cards for birthdays. That's the real power of these tournaments.

Could they improve? Absolutely. More prime-time coverage would help. And ditch those awkward Tuesday finish at Evian due to French TV. But the trajectory? Upward. Prize money doubled since 2018. Attendance records broken yearly. The Chevron's move from California to Houston? Disappointing, but they gained better dates.

Final thought: Next time someone mentions golf majors, ask which women's event they're watching. The blank stares tell you everything. These athletes deserve our attention. Tune into an AIG Women's Open and watch them battle 30mph winds sideways rain. Then tell me it's not elite sport.