The main tournaments in golf are the four majors: The US Masters, the US open, the Open and the USPGA, which run in that order throughout the year every year. The masters is played at augusta in Georgia each year whilst the other remaining majors change venue each year. However the open, the oldest of the four majors, is usually played at a links course which is one usually near the sea which plays differently to inland courses. The US open is renowned as the toughest of the four majors to win and is a great test of the game, both physically and mentally. The courses selected for the US open are especially tough with long rough and very quick greens being the hallmarks. The USPGA is most probably the least valued of all the majors though that is not to detract from its importance.
Aside from the four majors the TPC(tournament players championship) at sawgrass is often called the fifth major because of its tough course(including the famous 17th) and always competitive fields due to it usually being the nearest event before the first major at augusta. Other famous courses include pebble beach in california where strong winds make for treacherous golf and the plantation course in Kaplua, Hawaii.
The matchplay tournaments also hold great prestige with the world matchplay championships occuring each year where the wentworth title is highly prized.
There are also many team tournaments with the most famous being the ryder cup, where two teams from europe and the us contest in fourballs, foursomes and singles to claim the biennial trophy. There is a female version of the tournament called the solheim cup also which runs under the same format. There are also versions of the game for amateurs, the walker cup being for male amateurs and the curtis cup being the female form.