Who Has Won the Golf Grand Slam? Complete Guide

By Sarah Miller · November 19, 2039

Only one golfer, Tiger Woods, has achieved the career Grand Slam more than once, completing it in 2000 and 2001 by winning all four major championships: The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and PGA Championship.

What Is the Golf Grand Slam?

The term "Grand Slam" in golf refers to winning all four major championships in a single calendar year. These majors are:

The Masters Tournament – held annually at Augusta National Golf Club in April.
U.S. Open – conducted by the USGA, typically in June.
The Open Championship (often called the British Open) – golf’s oldest major, run by The R&A, played in July.
PGA Championship – organized by the PGA of America, usually in May or August.

Winning all four in one year constitutes the true Grand Slam. However, the term "career Grand Slam" is used when a player wins each of the four titles at any point during their professional career.

Has Anyone Won the Calendar-Year Grand Slam?

No golfer in history has won the official calendar-year Grand Slam. The feat remains one of the most elusive achievements in sports.

Bobby Jones accomplished the Grand Slam in 1930, but this included amateur majors (U.S. Amateur, British Amateur) and is not considered part of the modern professional Grand Slam era.

Near Misses in Pursuit of the Grand Slam

Several legendary players have come close:

Tiger Woods (2000–2001): Won all four majors consecutively across two years (not in the same calendar year), known as the "Tiger Slam." This is the closest any player has come in the modern era.
Jack Nicklaus (1972): Won The Open Championship and PGA Championship in 1971, then The Masters and U.S. Open in 1972 — another跨年度 sweep.
Amy Alcott, Annika Sörenstam, and Karrie Webb: Among top female golfers who have achieved the LPGA Grand Slam, though with different major events.

Players Who Have Achieved the Career Grand Slam

Five male golfers have completed the career Grand Slam by winning all four modern majors:

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

Table data source:Masters.com, USGA.org, TheOpen.com, PGA.com

The table shows that Tiger Woods completed his first career Grand Slam youngest at age 24 in 2000. Jack Nicklaus holds the record for most major wins (18), while Woods is the only player to achieve the career Grand Slam twice.

Notably, Woods' 2019 Masters victory marked his fifth green jacket and completed his second career Grand Slam after overcoming multiple back surgeries and personal challenges.

Why Is the Grand Slam So Difficult to Achieve?

The Grand Slam demands excellence across diverse courses, climates, and formats throughout the year. Key factors include:

Varying course conditions: From the manicured lawns of Augusta to the rugged links of St Andrews.
High competitive depth: Modern golf features deeper talent pools than ever before.
Physical and mental endurance: Requires peak performance over 12 consecutive months.
Scheduling pressure: Majors are spaced unevenly and often conflict with other tournaments and rest cycles.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Golf Grand Slam

Who has won the golf Grand Slam?

Tiger Woods is the only golfer to win the career Grand Slam more than once, completing it first in 2000. Five players — Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods — have achieved the career Grand Slam.

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

No. No professional golfer has won all four modern majors in a single calendar year. Bobby Jones won the original Grand Slam in 1930, but it included amateur events.

What is the difference between the career Grand Slam and the calendar-year Grand Slam?

The calendar-year Grand Slam requires winning all four majors in one year. The career Grand Slam means winning each of the four majors at least once over a player's career, not necessarily in the same year.

How many players have completed the career Grand Slam?

Five male golfers have achieved the career Grand Slam: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tiger Woods. Collectively known as the "Career Grand Slam Club."

Did Tiger Woods win the Grand Slam?

Tiger Woods never won all four majors in a single calendar year. However, he won all four consecutively across 2000 and 2001 (the "Tiger Slam") and completed the career Grand Slam twice, making him the only player to do so.