Golf Grand Slam – What Is It? Who’s Achieved It?
So, what is the elusive ‘Golf Grand Slam’?
You may have heard the term ‘Golf Grand Slam’ being thrown around recently. After Rory McIlroy’s triumph at the 2025 Masters, it’s become a bit of a hot topic and some of you have probably been left wondering, what really is it?
The Golf Grand Slam refers to the incredible feat of winning all four major championships: The Masters, The PGA Championship, The U.S Open & The Open Championship. To put into perspective just how impressive this accomplishment is, in over 100 years, only SIX people have ever secured the title.
Technically, there are two types of grand slams… The Career Grand Slam and the Calendar-Year Grand Slam. The Career Grand Slam refers to winning each of the four majors at least once in your entire career. The Calendar-Year Grand Slam refers to winning each of the four majors all in the same year. Only one golfer has ever secured a Calendar-Year Grand Slam, Bobby Jones. Though this was back when the four majors were considered to be: The U.S Open, The Open Championship, The U.S Amateur and The British Amateur.
So, who are the six golfers with the ultimate bragging rights?
Let’s go through a little history lesson, starting with the first man to ever achieve a Career Grand Slam…
First Major Won: 1922 | Grand Slam Completed: 1935
Gene Sarazen
Born in 1902, Gene Sarazen began his professional golfing career at the age of just 19! He quickly rose to fame within the industry, achieving his first major tournament win at the age of 20 at the 1922 U.S Open. Throughout his career, he actually managed to win SEVEN major titles, but finally achieved the ‘Career Grand Slam’ at the 1935 Masters.
One of the most iconic rounds of Sarazen’s career, was the 1935 Masters Tournament where he hit his notorious ‘shot heard around the world’ – an albatross on the 15th hole that helped him secure both his 1st place finishing position, and his career ‘Golf Grand Slam’.
Sarazen was not only a fantastic golfer, but also a pioneer for the game. Helping to develop the modern sand wedge, his contributions both on and off the course have earned him a lasting legacy in the world of golf.
First Major Won: 1946 | Grand Slam Completed: 1953
Ben Hogan
Born in 1912, Ben Hogan began his professional career in 1929 at just 17 years old! In his early career he faced a number of setbacks including financial hardships and a struggle to get his hook under control. After years spent intensively practicing and honing his skill, he completely transformed his game, developing his trademark controlled fade. His breakthrough came in the late 1930’s, and he finally won his first major tournament at the 1946 PGA Championship. That year alone, he managed to win 13 different tournaments, achieving a world record for most wins in a single season.
Sadly, his career was interrupted by WWII and a near-fatal car crash in 1949 which left him with significant injuries to his legs. Despite the heart breaking prognosis that he may never walk again, Hogan persevered and made an incredible recovery, returning to competitive golf in 1950.
By 1953, he had achieved the ‘Triple Crown’ and his ‘Golf Grand Slam’, by winning the Masters, U.S Open and the Open Championship in the same year – A feat that has since been unmatched. Throughout his career, Hogan amassed 71 professional wins, including nine major championships, landing him in fourth position on the all-time list.
First Major Won: 1959 | Grand Slam Completed: 1965
Gary 'The Black Knight' Player
Born in South Africa in 1935, Gary Player is heavily regarded as one of the greatest golfers in history. Beginning his career as a pro in 1953, at the age of 17, he amassed quite the list of notable achievements. His victories include nine major championships on the regular tour, six Champions Tour major championships, and three Senior British Open Championships on the European Senior Tour.
At the age of 29, Player won the 1965 U.S Open, making him the first non-American golfer to win all four majors. Retiring in 2009, he later received a lifetime achievement award from the PGA and in 2021, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Player’s career was not only dedictaed to playing golf, but to designing golf courses as well. With over 325 design projects across 5 continents, Player’s influence on the golfing industry will be felt for generations to come.
First Major Won: 1962 | Grand Slam Completed: 1966
Jack 'The Golden Bear' Nicklaus
Born in 1940, Jack ‘The Golden Bear’ Nicklaus, turned pro in 1962 and went on to win… are you ready for this? 117 professional tournaments!!! Truly, if that’s not impressive, I don’t know what is. He is the record holder for 18 major-championship victories including 6 Masters, 5 PGA Championships, 4 U.S Opens and 3 Open Championships. He also achieved 19 runner-up positions, ensuring his record maintained his dominance in professional golf for over a quarter of a century!
In 1965, he finally obtained his ‘Golf Grand Slam’ at the U.S Open, achieving this feat in just 6 years, after his first of the four major tournament wins at the 1959 Open Championship.
Much like Gary Player, Nicklaus went on to contribute to a large number of golf course designs, even opening his own company ‘Nicklaus Design’. Possibly, his most astounding accomplishment is his ‘Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation’, raising over $100 million for children’s health initiatives.
First Major Won: 1997 | Grand Slam Completed: 2000
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is easily one of the most well-known golfers in history and is often regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time. Born in 1975, he began his professional career in 1996 and quickly rose to fame. He has achieved 82 PGA Tour victories, tying the all-time record set by Sam Snead, as well as 15 major championships, second only to Jack Nicklaus (who has won 18!).
In 1997, just one year into his career, he won the Masters Tournament by a record-setting 12 strokes, becoming not only the youngest but also the first person of colour to win. He achieved his Career Golf Grand Slam in just THREE years, when he won the Open Championship at St Andrews. Later that same year he accomplished the ‘Tiger Slam’ by holding all four major titles simultaneously. His 2000 U.S Open victory still remains as the largest margin of victory in a major championship, where he won by 15 strokes!
Pictured on the Left: President Donald J. Trump presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Tiger Woods May 6, 2019, in the Rose Garden of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)
First Major Won: 2011 | Grand Slam Completed: 2025
Rory McIlroy
Born in Northern Ireland in 1989, McIlroy began his career as a pro in 2007. He quickly gained prominence and won his first major victory at the 2011 U.S Open, followed by wins at the 2012 and 2014 PGA Championships and the 2014 Open Championship. Almost achieving a career grand slam in just 3 years.
However, McIlroy wouldn’t secure this achievement for another 11 years, until he eventually won the 2025 Masters earlier this year. He managed to claim his triumph in a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose, marking his first major win in over a decade. Previously having won the Players Championship, often referred to as the unofficial ‘fifth major’, in the same year.
We are excited to see how McIlroy continues his successful career and wish to congratulate him for his astonishing achievement.
So, who could be next on the Golf Grand Slam roster?
With Rory recently achieving his Golf Grand Slam title, all eyes have turned to see who else may be on the horizon…
The most likely player to be added to this impressive roster is Jordan Spieth, having won the Masters, the U.S Open and the Open Championship, he is just one tournament away from having his picture and paragraph above. He came second at the PGA Championship in 2015, and ranked in the top 5 in 2019 so he is certainly due a win soon enough!
Phil Mickelson is another golfer with only one tournament in between him and the Golf Grand Slam feat. He has successfully secured victories at the Open Championship, Masters, and PGA Championship, only needing the U.S Open now. At the age of 54, some are wary that it may never happen, especially after he missed the cut at the Masters, but as a six-time runner up at the U.S Open, it may not be off the cards just yet!
Other players to look out for include Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele who each have secured two out of the four major tournament victories!
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