Who Has Won the Golf Career Grand Slam?

By Emma Wilson · May 2, 2026

Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods are the only golfers who have achieved a career Grand Slam by winning all four major championships: The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and PGA Championship.

What Is the Career Grand Slam in Golf?

The career Grand Slam in professional golf refers to winning each of the four major tournaments at least once during a player's career. These majors are:

The Masters Tournament (since 1934)
U.S. Open (since 1895)
The Open Championship (since 1860)
PGA Championship (since 1916)

Winning all four constitutes one of the sport’s greatest accomplishments. While some players have won multiple majors, only five have completed the full set across their careers.

Players Who Have Won the Career Grand Slam

Five legendary golfers have secured victories in all four major championships. Each achieved this feat across different eras, showcasing dominance and consistency over time.

Gene Sarazen

Sarazen was the first to complete the career Grand Slam, accomplishing it in 1935 after winning The Masters—ironically a tournament he helped inspire. He was known for innovation, including inventing the modern sand wedge.

Ben Hogan

Hogan completed his Grand Slam in 1953, famously winning three majors that year despite limited international travel. His resilience after a near-fatal car accident remains one of golf’s most inspiring stories.

Gary Player

South African icon Gary Player became the third career Grand Slam winner in 1965. He was the first non-American to achieve the milestone and promoted global golf like no other in his generation.

Jack Nicklaus

Nicklaus completed the career Grand Slam in 1966 and went on to win a record 18 major titles. He is widely regarded as the greatest golfer of all time, with six Masters, five PGA Championships, four U.S. Opens, and three Open Championships.

Tiger Woods

Woods joined the list in 2000 after winning The Open Championship at St. Andrews. He achieved the career Grand Slam at age 24, the youngest to do so. His impact on golf transcended sport, revolutionizing popularity, athleticism, and global reach.

Differences Between Career Grand Slam and Calendar-Year Grand Slam

It's essential to distinguish between two types of Grand Slams:

Career Grand Slam: Winning all four majors at any point in a golfer’s career.
Calendar-Year Grand Slam: Winning all four in a single year.

Bobby Jones achieved the latter in 1930—but before the modern era—by winning four top events including pre-Masters tournaments. No male professional has completed a calendar-year Grand Slam in the modern era.

Historical Context and Evolution of Majors

The four current majors were not always defined as such. The term "Grand Slam" gained popularity after Sarazen’s 1935 accomplishment. The PGA Championship rotated formats (match play to stroke play), and The Masters began in 1934, solidifying the modern structure.

Player	Masters	U.S. Open	Open Championship	PGA Championship	Final Major Won	Year Completed
Gene Sarazen	1935	1932	1932	1922, 1930	The Masters	1935
Ben Hogan	1951, 1952, 1953	1948, 1950, 1951, 1953	1953	1946, 1948	The Open Championship	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, 1975, 1980	1966, 1970, 1978	1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980	Open Championship	1966
Tiger Woods	1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019	2000, 2002, 2008	2000, 2005, 2006, 2008	1999, 2000, 2006, 2007	Open Championship	2000

Table data source:1, 2, 3, 4

The table illustrates the years each player won specific majors and when they completed their Grand Slam. Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods stand out for winning multiple majors beyond the Slam, with Woods achieving his by age 24. Sarazen and Player broke geographical and cultural barriers, expanding golf’s appeal internationally.

Modern Contenders for the Career Grand Slam

Several active players are close to completing the career Grand Slam but lack one or more titles:

Phil Mickelson: Won all except the U.S. Open (runner-up six times).
Rory McIlroy: Needs The Masters to complete his Slam (won other three).
Adam Scott: Missing the PGA Championship.
Justin Rose: Lacks The Masters and PGA Championship.

McIlroy, in particular, has been vocal about his desire to win The Masters and join the elite group.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Golf Career Grand Slam

Who has won the golf career Grand Slam?

Five golfers have won the career Grand Slam: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. They each won The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and PGA Championship at least once.

Has anyone won all four majors in one year?

No male professional golfer has won all four modern majors in a single calendar year. Bobby Jones completed the Grand Slam in 1930, but it included different events before The Masters existed. In the modern era, no one has achieved this feat.

Who came closest to a calendar-year Grand Slam?

Tiger Woods came closest by holding all four major titles simultaneously in 2000–2001, though across two calendar years—a feat dubbed the "Tiger Slam." He won the U.S. Open, Open Championship, and PGA Championship in 2000, then The Masters in 2001.

Why hasn’t Rory McIlroy completed the Grand Slam?

Rory McIlroy has not completed the career Grand Slam because he has never won The Masters. He has won the other three majors: U.S. Open (2011), Open Championship (2014), and PGA Championship (2012, 2014).

Is the Grand Slam possible in women’s golf?

Yes. In women’s golf, the LPGA defines the Grand Slam differently, and several players—including Patty Berg, Mickey Wright, and Karrie Webb—have achieved versions of it. More recently, the focus has shifted to the modern LPGA majors, with Annika Sörenstam and others winning all four under various configurations.