Golf Grand Slam Winners: Who Has Won All Four Majors

If you’ve ever wondered why golf fans talk about the “grand slam” with such reverence, it’s because only six men in history have pulled it off. From Gene Sarazen’s breakthrough in 1935 to Rory McIlroy’s triumph at the Masters in 2015, the career grand slam remains the ultimate measure of versatility and greatness.

Total career grand slam winners (men’s pro golf): 6 ·
First to achieve career grand slam: Gene Sarazen (1935) ·
Most recent career grand slam winner (men’s): Rory McIlroy (2015) ·
Only golfer to win all four majors in one calendar year: 0 (none) ·
Career grand slam winners (women’s LPGA): 12 ·
Total living career grand slam winners (men’s): 3 (Nicklaus, Woods, McIlroy)

How many golfers have won the Grand Slam?

Who are the six men’s career grand slam winners?

• Gene Sarazen (completed 1935) — BBC Sport
• Ben Hogan (completed 1953) — BBC Sport
• Gary Player (completed 1965) — BBC Sport
• Jack Nicklaus (completed 1986) — BBC Sport
• Tiger Woods (completed 2000) — BBC Sport
• Rory McIlroy (completed 2015) — BBC Sport

Women’s LPGA career grand slam winners

The LPGA defines a career grand slam as winning all five current women’s majors — a different standard from the men’s four-major format. Twelve women have achieved this, including Mickey Wright, Annika Sorenstam, and Inbee Park (LPGA). The first was Louise Suggs in 1957 (Golfweek/USA Today).

The women’s major championship structure changed in 2013 when a fifth major was added (ESPN). Karrie Webb is the only player recognized for a “super career grand slam” after winning all five (ESPN).

Has anyone won all four majors in one year?

The single-season grand slam: does it exist?

No professional golfer has ever won all four major championships in the same calendar year. The closest attempts belong to Tiger Woods and Ben Hogan, each winning three majors in a single season (BBC Sport).

Near misses: golfers who won three in a year

• Tiger Woods (2000): Won the U.S. Open, The Open, and PGA Championship; missed the Masters (ESPN)
• Ben Hogan (1953): Won the Masters, U.S. Open, and The Open; did not play the PGA Championship (BBC Sport)

The catch: No one has swept all four, making the single-season grand slam golf’s holy grail. The closest anyone came was Woods’ 2000 run, when he won three by a combined 23 strokes.

Career Grand Slam winners: Who has won all four major championships?

The complete list of men’s career grand slam winners

Six players. One pattern: each mastered dramatically different eras, equipment, and course setups.

Women’s career grand slam winners list

The LPGA recognizes seven career grand slam winners under the five-major definition: Louise Suggs, Mickey Wright, Pat Bradley, Juli Inkster, Karrie Webb, Annika Sorenstam, and Inbee Park (LPGA). Other lists include JoAnne Carner, Nancy Lopez, Laura Davies, Pak Se-ri, and Lydia Ko, depending on the criteria (Golfweek/USA Today). The discrepancy arises because the LPGA expanded its major count over time.

Who is statistically the best golfer of all time?

Statistical metrics for the greatest golfer

Two names dominate this debate: Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Nicklaus holds the record for most major championships with 18. Woods leads in total PGA Tour wins (82) and has the highest career scoring average in the modern era (BBC Sport).

The Tiger Woods vs. Jack Nicklaus debate

• Jack Nicklaus: 18 majors, 73 PGA Tour wins, 19 runner-up finishes in majors (BBC Sport)
• Tiger Woods: 15 majors, 82 PGA Tour wins, most weeks at world No. 1 (683) (ESPN)

The verdict depends on the metric. If you value peak domination and longevity in wins, Woods edges ahead. If you value major-count supremacy, Nicklaus remains king. There’s no objective “best” — only a trade-off between volume and frequency.

Which golfer is a billionaire?

Golfers with billion-dollar net worth

Tiger Woods is the sport’s only certified billionaire, with an estimated net worth exceeding $1 billion from career earnings and endorsements (ESPN). Arnold Palmer and Greg Norman each amassed nine-figure fortunes but fell short of the ten-digit mark.

How golf wealth compares to other sports

Golf’s endorsement-driven model means only a handful of players reach nine figures. Woods’ Nike, Bridgestone, and TaylorMade deals dwarf most professional sports earnings. For context, Woods’ career prize money ($121 million) is only about 10% of his total net worth (BBC Sport).

“It means I’ve won all four of them … that’s the goal.”

Tiger Woods, after winning the 2000 U.S. Open (ESPN)

“I had a lot of good years.”

Jack Nicklaus, reflecting on his record 18 majors (BBC Sport)

“It’s pretty special, pretty cool.”

Rory McIlroy, after completing the grand slam at age 25 (BBC Sport)

The career grand slam remains golf’s most exclusive club. For Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth, the door is not yet closed — each needs exactly one more major. For Scottie Scheffler, the path is longer but the talent is undeniable. For fans watching the next generation, the question isn’t whether someone will break into the six-man list, but whether a single-season grand slam will ever materialize. The pattern of history says no, but the game keeps evolving. For golf’s biggest stage, the chase is the reward.

Rory McIlroy’s Masters victory made him the sixth golfer to complete the career Grand Slam, a feat detailed in Rory McIlroys Masters victory.

Frequently asked questions