Precision over aggression
One major is known for narrow fairways, thick rough and severely sloped, fast greens, a combination that punishes even slightly wayward driving and demands conservative course management over raw aggression. Players who succeed there tend to be those willing to lay back off the tee for accuracy and to accept a longer approach shot rather than risk the rough, a trade-off that rewards patience and restraint more than length.
Adaptability in changeable conditions
A major played on coastal, links-style terrain instead tests adaptability to wind and firm, unpredictable ground more than raw power or precision alone. Because conditions can change meaningfully across a single day, and shots must be shaped low and controlled rather than launched high, this event tends to reward players comfortable improvising their shot selection rather than relying on a single repeated technique across every round.
A blend of power and control
Other majors combine significant length with punishing rough and firm greens, demanding both the power to reach greens in regulation from a difficult lie and the precision to control approach shots on fast surfaces. This blend tends to favour players strong in more than one discipline, which is part of why certain names recur across multiple major wins: the setup is specifically designed to leave little room for a one-dimensional game to succeed.