Winning all four majors—the Masters Tournament, the US Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championship—is referred to as having a "career grand slam." During the season, the PGA hosts four major golf tournaments: the Masters Tournament, the US Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championship. Like tennis, the Grand Slam in professional golf entails winning all major championships.
List of Golfers Who Have Won All 4 Majors
There have been five golfers ever who have won all four majors: Gene Sarazen, also known as "The Squire," was the first to win all four majors in 1922–1935, followed by Ben Hogan in 1946–1953, Gary Player in 1959–1978, Jack Nicklaus in 1962–1986, and last but not least, Tiger Woods in 1997–2019.
| Golfers | Won Masters | Won The US Open | Won The Open | Won The PGA |
| Gene Sarazen | 1935 | 1922,1932 | 1932 | 1922, 1923, 1933 |
| Ben Hogan | 1951 and 1953 | 1950, 1951, and 1953 | 1953 | 1946 and 1948 |
| Gary Player | 1961, 1974, 1978 | 1965 | 1959, 1968, 1974 | 1962, 1972 |
| Jack Nicklaus | 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986 | 1962, 1967, 1972, 1980 | 1966, 1970, and 1978 | 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980 |
| Tiger Woods | 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2019 | 2000, 2002, 2008 | 2000, 2005, 2006 | 1999,2000 ,2006, 2007 |
The Masters Tournament
Inaugurated in 1934, The Masters' Tournament is still one of the most respected and oldest golf championships. The tournament is much different from the PGA tournaments and is run by a private club, the Augusta National. The Masters' is also the first major competition of the year held on the same golf course each year. Horton Smith won the first Masters, while Jack Nicklaus had six Masters victories between 1963 and 1986. Tiger Woods won five major championships between 1997 and 2019.
The Masters has accumulated various traditions since its inception in 1936, such as the green jacket granted to the champion, who must return it to the clubhouse one year after his triumph, despite it being his own property. In addition, on the Tuesday before each tournament, the legendary Champions Supper is hosted, which is only open to past champions and some Augusta National Golf Club board members.
The PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is also known as the US PGA. The Professional Golfers' Association of America oversees the tournament. The first competition was held in 1916 at the Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, and it was won by Jim Barnes, who received a $500 prize and a gold medal with brilliants. Following that, the winners earned the Rodman Wanamaker Trophy, which became the symbol of the US PGA. It was initially a matchplay event before becoming a strokeplay event in 1958.
The competition is only open to professional players who meet stringent requirements. Jack Nicklaus has the most US PGA titles, with five between 1963 and 1980, followed by Tiger Woods, who won his first Wanamaker trophy in 1999 and has four triumphs to date.
The U.S. Open
The US Open originated in the 1800s and had a modest start in 1895, with only 11 competitors playing on a nine-hole course at Newport Golf & Country Club, competing for a $150 prize. However, it has since grown significantly, with 156 participants now vying for a remarkable $20 million. Renowned as one of the toughest golf tournaments worldwide, the US Open challenges players with demanding course setups, testing their skills and mental strength. Its evolution from humble beginnings to a prestigious event reflects its status as a true test of golfing excellence.
It's unpredictable course, obstacles surrounding the holes, and the course overall is designed for the best of the best. However, the US Open is open to all! Both amateur & professional players with a USGA Handicap Index of no more than 1.4 are allowed to play. Only four golfers have won the US Open four times: Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan & Jack Nicklaus.
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, also known as The Open or British Open, is the oldest tournament in the Grand Slam of golf. It carries immense prestige as it takes place in the birthplace of golf. It rotates among several links golf courses in Great Britain and Ireland. The unpredictable British climate uniquely influences the tournament, with traditional courses featuring challenging and punishing playing surfaces. Often located along the coast and exposed to strong winds, the conditions frequently impact the players' scores.
The inaugural British Open took place in 1860 as a professional-only event, with Willie Park Sr. emerging as the champion and receiving a prize of 25 pounds. Just a year later, the championship was opened up to amateur players. In more recent times, any player with a handicap index not exceeding 1.5 is eligible to participate in this prestigious event.
FAQs on All Major Winners
A. A total of five golfers have all four majors: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.
A. Yes, Bobby Jones won all four majors in 1930; however, the then-majors were the Open Championship, the U.S. Open, the U.S. Amateur Championship, and the Amateur Championship.
A. Yes, Tiger Woods has a total of 15 major wins. He has won the Masters Tournament five times, the U.S. Open three times, the Open Championship three times, and the the PGA Championship four times.
A. Jack Nicklaus has won the most golf majors with 18.
A. No, Rory McIlroy has won the PGA Championship two times, the U.S. Open once, and the Open Championship once. He has yet to win a Masters Tournament.
