For over a century, golf’s majors have crowned legends whose names echo through sporting history. From Tiger Woods’ meteoric rise to Rory McIlroy’s brilliant run, these champions have shaped the game’s golden moments.
Behind each Green Jacket and Claret Jug lies a story of triumph, heartbreak and resilience. The majors are more than tournaments — they’re stages where greatness is tested, and only a few emerge immortal.
From the roars at Augusta to the drama of St. Andrews, the roll call of champions reveals golf’s enduring allure. Here’s a look at the names that turned fairways into arenas of sporting history.
What is a Grand Slam in golf?
In golf, achieving a Grand Slam means winning all four major championships — The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open Championship — over the course of a career.
Each tournament brings its own unique challenge, from Augusta’s fast greens and unforgiving slopes to the unpredictable weather at The Open. Together, they form the ultimate test of a golfer’s versatility, endurance, and mental strength.
While winning a single major can define a player’s career, capturing all four elevates a golfer to a different level, securing their place among the sport’s immortals. It’s an achievement so rare that only a handful of names have managed it.
Who has won all four golf Majors?
| Golfer | Year completed Grand Slam | Majors won | Total Majors |
| Rory McIlroy | In progress (still competing at The Masters) | 1 U.S. Open (2011), 2 PGA Championships (2012, 2014), 1 Open Championship (2014) | 4 |
| Gene Sarazen | 1935 | 1 Masters, 2 U.S. Opens, 3 PGA Championships, 1 Open Championship | 7 |
| Ben Hogan | 1953 | 2 Masters, 4 U.S. Opens, 2 PGA Championships, 1 Open Championship | 9 |
| Gary Player | 1965 | 3 Masters, 1 U.S. Open, 2 PGA Championships, 3 Open Championships | 9 |
| Jack Nicklaus | 1966 | 6 Masters, 4 U.S. Opens, 5 PGA Championships, 3 Open Championships | 18 |
| Tiger Woods | 2000 | 5 Masters, 3 U.S. Opens, 4 PGA Championships, 3 Open Championships | 15 |
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland poses with the Masters trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Source: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish phenom, has joined the elite by becoming the sixth golfer in history to win all four majors. Bursting onto the scene with a dominant performance at the 2011 U.S. Open, he quickly added PGA Championship titles and triumphed at The Open Championship in 2014.
What’s made his journey especially compelling is his pursuit of The Masters — the one major that had eluded him. At the time this article was written, he was still competing for that coveted green jacket, with the Grand Slam within reach.
Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen of the USA starts the 1999 US Masters at the Augusta National GC. (Source: Stephen Munday /Allsport)
Gene Sarazen was the first golfer to win all four majors, completing his set with a dramatic Masters victory in 1935. His legendary “shot heard ’round the world” — a double eagle at the 15th hole — helped him secure the win and forever etched his name into golf folklore.
His major championship record includes three PGA Championships, two U.S. Opens, one Open Championship, and one Masters. His achievement set the standard for generations of golfers to come.
Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan (Source: OneUpGOLF)
Ben Hogan completed the Career Grand Slam in 1953, capping it off with a hard-fought victory at The Open Championship — his only appearance at the event. Known for his laser-sharp ball-striking and relentless practice habits, his major tally includes four U.S. Opens, two Masters titles, two PGA Championships and that lone Open Championship. His story is even more remarkable considering the near-fatal car accident he survived in 1949, after which he returned to play some of the best golf of his life.
Gary Player
Gary Player of South Africa reacts to a putt during the Par 3 contest prior to the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 05, 2023. (Source: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Gary Player, the iconic South African, became the third member of this elite group in 1965 when he won the U.S. Open. Known as “The Black Knight”, his tireless work ethic, charisma and commitment to fitness made him a global ambassador for golf.
His nine major championships include three Masters, three Open Championships, two PGA Championships, and one U.S. Open. His success on six continents helped popularize golf worldwide and set an example of longevity in the sport.
Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus of the United States reacts after playing his shot during the first tee ceremony prior to the first round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Source: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Jack Nicklaus, often regarded as the greatest golfer of all time, completed his Career Grand Slam at the 1966 Open Championship at Muirfield. His astounding 18 major titles — a record that still stands — include six Masters, five PGA Championships, four U.S. Opens, and three Open Championships.
His power, strategy, and competitive fire revolutionized the game, and his influence endures both through his records and his contributions as a course designer and ambassador.
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods of the United States celebrates with the Masters Trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019. (Source: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Tiger Woods joined the Grand Slam club in 2000 when he won The Open Championship at St. Andrews, the home of golf. Not only did he complete the Career Grand Slam at age 24, but he went on to achieve the unprecedented “Tiger Slam”, holding all four major titles simultaneously from 2000 to 2001.
With 15 major championships to his name, he redefined what was possible in the game, combining power, precision, mental toughness, and global star power like no player before him.
