Who Has Won All Four Golf Majors?

By Sarah Miller · January 16, 2038

In the history of professional golf, no single player has won all four modern major championships in the same calendar year, achieving a Grand Slam. However, five men have completed a career Grand Slam by winning each of the four majors—Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship—at some point in their careers.

What Does Winning All Four Golf Majors Mean?

Winning all four golf majors is one of the most prestigious accomplishments in sports. The term can refer to either a calendar-year Grand Slam (winning all four in a single year) or a career Grand Slam (winning each of the four at least once over a career).

Calendar-Year Grand Slam: Winning the Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and PGA Championship in the same year.
Career Grand Slam: Winning each of the four majors at least once over the course of a golfer's career.
Modern Grand Slam: Refers to the current set of four majors established in 1960 after the Western Open was replaced by the PGA Championship in the traditional lineup.

While the calendar-year Grand Slam remains unachieved in the modern era, several legends have secured the career Grand Slam.

Golfers Who Have Won All Four Majors

Five male golfers have completed the career Grand Slam in the modern era. Each demonstrated sustained excellence across decades, conquering the unique challenges posed by each major championship.

1. Gene Sarazen

Sarazen completed his career Grand Slam in 1935 by winning The Open Championship at Muirfield. He was the first to achieve this feat, having previously won the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, PGA Championship, and Masters Tournament.

2. Ben Hogan

Hogan won his fourth distinct major at the 1953 Open Championship, completing his Grand Slam. His victory at Carnoustie remains legendary, especially given his recovery from a near-fatal car accident.

3. Gary Player

The South African icon completed his career Grand Slam by winning the 1965 U.S. Open. Known for his fitness and global presence, Player was the first non-American to win all four majors.

4. Jack Nicklaus

Nicklaus achieved the career Grand Slam in 1966 by winning The Open Championship. He is widely regarded as the greatest golfer of all time, with 18 major titles overall.

5. Tiger Woods

Tiger completed his career Grand Slam at the 2000 Open Championship at St Andrews. His dominant stretch from 1997 to 2008 included 15 major wins, and he briefly held all four major titles simultaneously (across two calendar years), known as the "Tiger Slam."

Historical Context and Evolution of the Majors

The four recognized men's golf majors today were solidified in the mid-20th century. Before 1960, the Western Open was sometimes considered a major, but it was later replaced by the PGA Championship in the official Grand Slam narrative.

The Masters: Founded in 1934 by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts.
U.S. Open: First played in 1895, organized by the USGA.
The Open Championship: First played in 1860, the oldest major.
PGA Championship: First played in 1916, originally match play until 1958.

The concept of a Grand Slam was popularized by sportswriter Herbert Warren Wind in 1960, borrowing the term from bridge and baseball.

Players Close to Completing the Career Grand Slam

Several elite golfers have won three of the four majors but are missing one to complete the career Grand Slam.

Phil Mickelson: Won the 2021 PGA Championship, becoming the only player to win three different majors after age 40. Missing a U.S. Open title despite six runner-up finishes.
Bryson DeChambeau: Won the 2024 U.S. Open and 2025 Masters. Still seeking The Open Championship and PGA Championship.
Rory McIlroy: Needs a green jacket from the Masters to complete his set. Has won the other three.
Adam Scott: Won the 2013 Masters and other three majors except the PGA Championship.
Justin Rose: Has the 2013 U.S. Open and 2018 Olympic gold, but lacks a PGA Championship and The Open.

Golfer	Masters	U.S. Open	The Open	PGA Championship	Final Major Won	Year Completed
Gene Sarazen	1922, 1935	1922, 1932	1932	1922, 1923, 1933	The Open	1935
Ben Hogan	1951, 1953	1948, 1950, 1951, 1953	1953	1946, 1948	The Open	1953
Gary Player	1961, 1974, 1978	1965	1959, 1968, 1974	1962, 1972	U.S. Open	1965
Jack Nicklaus	1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986	1962, 1967, 1972, 1978, 1980	1966, 1970, 1978	1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980	The Open	1966
Tiger Woods	1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019	2000, 2002, 2008	2000, 2005, 2006, 2019	1999, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2019	The Open	2000

Table data source:1, 2, 3, 4

The table shows that all five players completed their career Grand Slam by winning The Open Championship or the U.S. Open as their final piece. Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods achieved the feat at the youngest ages (26 and 24, respectively), reflecting their dominance in the sport.

Notably, Tiger Woods is the only player to hold all four major titles simultaneously, though not in the same calendar year. His "Tiger Slam" from 2000 to 2001 included victories across two seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions About Winning All Four Golf Majors

Has anyone ever won all four golf majors in one year?

No player has won all four modern men's golf majors in a single calendar year. Bobby Jones achieved the Grand Slam in 1930, but that included pre-modern majors such as the U.S. Amateur and British Amateur. In the modern era, the calendar-year Grand Slam remains unfulfilled.

Who is closest to completing a career Grand Slam today?

Rory McIlroy is widely considered the most likely active player to complete the career Grand Slam. He has won the PGA Championship (2012, 2014), U.S. Open (2011), and The Open (2014), but has yet to win the Masters.

Did Arnold Palmer win all four majors?

No, Arnold Palmer never won the PGA Championship, the only major he lacked. He won seven majors total: four Masters, two British Opens, and one U.S. Open. His popularity helped grow the sport globally.

What is the Tiger Slam?

The Tiger Slam refers to Tiger Woods holding all four major titles at once, from the 2000 U.S. Open to the 2001 Masters. Though not in the same calendar year, he won them consecutively across two seasons, a feat unmatched in golf history.

Has any woman won all four golf majors in a year?

Yes, Pat Bradley (1986), Annika Sörenstam (2003), and Yani Tseng (2011) each won the LPGA's four majors in a single season during their careers. More recently, the LPGA changed its major lineup, but these achievements remain historic.