Golfers Who Have Won All Four Majors

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Quick Answer

• Only five golfers have ever achieved the career Grand Slam, meaning they’ve won all four men’s professional golf majors.
• This is one of the rarest and most prestigious accomplishments in the sport.
• These players are in an exclusive club, cementing their place in golf history.

Who This Is For

• Golf nuts who want to know the absolute legends of the game.
• Anyone looking to settle a bet or impress friends with golf trivia.

What to Check First

• Define the “Career Grand Slam”: This isn’t winning all four in one year (that’s a calendar Grand Slam, way harder). It’s winning each of the four majors at some point in your career. Big difference.
• Identify the Four Majors: Make sure you’re talking about the current big four: The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship (that’s the one played in the UK, often called the British Open).
• Official Records are King: Always, always, always check with the PGA Tour, USGA, R&A, or Augusta National. Don’t trust some random forum post.
• Player Timelines: Understand when each major started and if a golfer competed in them during their prime.

How Many Golfers Have Won All 4 Majors?

Step-by-Step Plan to Identify Grand Slam Winners

1. Action: Research the history and status of golf’s four major championships.

What to look for: When each major was established, its significance, and the criteria that make it a “major.” This gives you the foundation.
Mistake to avoid: Getting confused by historical “majors” that aren’t part of the modern lineup. Stick to the big four.

2. Action: Compile lists of winners for each of the four majors.

What to look for: Separate lists for The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. Note the years each player won.
Mistake to avoid: Thinking a player is a Grand Slam winner just because they won one major multiple times. You need to see wins across all four.

3. Action: Cross-reference the winner lists to find players with wins in all four majors.

What to look for: Scan the names. Does this golfer appear on the Masters list and the PGA Championship list and the U.S. Open list and The Open Championship list?
Mistake to avoid: Giving up too early. This takes careful comparison. You’re looking for a complete set.

4. Action: Verify the career Grand Slam status for each potential candidate.

What to look for: Confirmation that each of the four distinct major championships has been won by the player at some point during their professional career.
Mistake to avoid: Mistaking a near-miss or a player who won three majors for a true Grand Slam champion. It’s an all-or-nothing club.

5. Action: Consult official golf archives for definitive confirmation.

What to look for: A final, verified list from authoritative sources like the PGA Tour or the governing bodies of the majors.
Mistake to avoid: Relying on outdated articles or fan-made wikis. You want the official word.

The Elite Few: Golfers Who Have Won All 4 Majors

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Confusing the career Grand Slam with the calendar Grand Slam.

Why it matters: The calendar Grand Slam (winning all four majors in the same calendar year) is exponentially rarer and a distinct, almost mythical, achievement. It’s the difference between climbing a mountain and summiting Everest in a single day.
Fix: Always clarify if you’re discussing winning all four over a career or within a single season.

• Mistake: Including golfers who have won only three of the four majors.

Why it matters: This dilutes the meaning of the career Grand Slam. It’s a testament to sustained excellence across different courses and conditions, not just coming close.
Fix: Stick strictly to the definition: a golfer must have won all four distinct major championships at least once.

• Mistake: Relying on outdated or unofficial lists.

Why it matters: Golf history is meticulously recorded. Using old or unofficial sources means you might be spreading misinformation. Records are updated, and official bodies are the final word.
Fix: Always cross-reference with official PGA Tour, USGA, R&A, or Augusta National records.

• Mistake: Not understanding the historical evolution of the majors.

Why it matters: What constitutes a “major” has shifted slightly over golf’s long history. Focusing on the modern era ensures you’re comparing apples to apples.
Fix: Ensure your research focuses on the four majors as they are universally recognized today.

• Mistake: Overlooking players who achieved the Grand Slam before the modern era.

Why it matters: While Gene Sarazen was the first to achieve the “Grand Slam” by winning the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, the Masters, and the PGA Championship (in that order, over several years), the modern elite list is often considered separate.
Fix: Be aware of historical context but focus on the commonly cited list of five players who achieved the career Grand Slam under the current major structure.

FAQ

• How many golfers have won all four major championships in their career?

Only five golfers have achieved this incredible feat: Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Tom Watson. It’s an exclusive club, for sure.

• What are the four major championships in men’s professional golf?

They are The Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship (often referred to as the British Open). These are the tournaments every pro dreams of winning.

• Is it possible to win the career Grand Slam by winning majors from different eras?

Yes, absolutely. The career Grand Slam is achieved by winning all four majors at any point during a golfer’s career, regardless of the year or era. It’s about collecting all four titles over time.

• Who was the first golfer to complete the career Grand Slam?

Gene Sarazen was the first to achieve the career Grand Slam in 1935. He won the Masters in 1935, the PGA Championship in 1922, the U.S. Open in 1922, and The Open Championship in 1932. He completed the set in a remarkable fashion.

• Has anyone won all four majors in a single calendar year?

Only one golfer, Bobby Jones, achieved the calendar Grand Slam in 1930. However, this included two amateur championships (U.S. Amateur and British Amateur) alongside the U.S. Open and The Open Championship. In professional golf, winning all four majors in a single year has never been accomplished. It’s that tough.

• How long does it typically take a golfer to achieve the career Grand Slam?

It varies wildly. For some, like Tiger Woods, it was relatively quick. For others, like Ben Hogan, it took many years and multiple attempts. It requires incredible consistency and luck across different championships. I remember watching Tiger chase this; the tension was unreal.

• Are there any active players currently close to achieving the career Grand Slam?

Several top players have won three of the four majors and are actively pursuing the career Grand Slam. Players like Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are often mentioned in these discussions. It’s always exciting to watch someone make a run at it.