The Career Grand Slam in Golf
The ultimate career achievement in professional golf
The Career Grand Slam in golf means winning all four major championships — The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship — at least once during a career. Only 6 players in history have accomplished this feat: Gene Sarazen (completed 1935), Ben Hogan (completed 1953), Gary Player (completed 1965), Jack Nicklaus (completed 1966), Tiger Woods (completed 2000), and Rory McIlroy (completed 2025 Masters after a decade-long wait).
Note: Rory McIlroy completed his Career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters, ending a historic 11-year wait since his last major (2014 Open Championship).
All Career Grand Slam Achievers
The six golfers who won all four majors at least once in their careers, listed chronologically by completion.
| Player | Completed | Final Piece | Total Majors | Career Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gene Sarazen | 1935 | The Masters | 7 | 1922–1935 |
| Ben Hogan | 1953 | The Open Championship | 9 | 1946–1953 |
| Gary Player | 1965 | U.S. Open | 9 | 1959–1978 |
| Jack Nicklaus | 1966 | The Open Championship | 18 | 1962–1986 |
| Tiger Woods | 2000 | The Open Championship | 15 | 1997–2019 |
| Rory McIlroy | 2025 | The Masters | 5+ | 2011–present |
Major Wins Breakdown
Every major championship won by each Career Grand Slam member.
| Player | Masters | PGA Champ. | U.S. Open | The Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gene Sarazen | 1935 | 1922, 1923, 1933 | 1922, 1932 | 1932 |
| Ben Hogan | 1951, 1953 | 1946, 1948 | 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953 | 1953 |
| Gary Player | 1961, 1974, 1978 | 1962, 1972 | 1965 | 1959, 1968, 1974 |
| Jack Nicklaus | 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986 | 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980 | 1962, 1967, 1972, 1980 | 1966, 1970, 1978 |
| Tiger Woods | 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019 | 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007 | 2000, 2002, 2008 | 2000, 2005, 2006 |
| Rory McIlroy | 2025 | 2012, 2014 | 2011 | 2014 |
Career Grand Slam vs. Career Super Slam
Career Grand Slam ✅
Win all four traditional majors at least once:
Achieved by: 6 players
Career Super Slam ❌
Win all four majors plus The Players Championship:
- The Masters Tournament
- PGA Championship
- U.S. Open
- The Open Championship
- The Players Championship (5th "major")
Achieved by: 0 players
The Career Super Slam (also called the "Grand Slam of Golf" by some commentators) requires winning The Players Championship in addition to all four traditional majors. While Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus both won The Players Championship, neither completed it as part of a Grand Slam set. Rory McIlroy, who has won The Players Championship (2019), would need wins at the remaining majors to be considered for the Super Slam. Since no player has ever completed it, the Career Super Slam remains one of golf's great unclaimed achievements.
Close Calls: Near Career Grand Slams
Several elite players have won three of the four majors but never completed the set:
| Player | Missing Major | Majors Won | Best Finish (Missing Major) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Mickelson | U.S. Open | Masters ×3, The Open ×1, PGA ×1 | T2 (six times) |
| Lee Trevino | The Masters | U.S. Open ×2, The Open ×2, PGA ×2 | T10 (best) |
| Tony Jacklin | Masters, PGA | U.S. Open ×1, The Open ×1 | Various |
| Ernie Els | Masters, PGA | U.S. Open ×2, The Open ×2 | T2 at Masters (2000) |
Phil Mickelson is the most famous "near miss" — he finished runner-up at the U.S. Open a record 6 times without ever winning it, which would have given him the Career Grand Slam.
The Tiger Slam (2000–2001)
Tiger Woods accomplished something unprecedented: holding all four major trophies simultaneously. After winning the 2000 U.S. Open, 2000 Open Championship, and 2000 PGA Championship, he then won the 2001 Masters to hold all four titles at once. This "Tiger Slam" is not considered a true Grand Slam (which requires all four in a single calendar year), but it stands as one of the most dominant stretches in golf history.
| Major | Year | Score | Margin | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Open | 2000 | 272 (-12) | 15 strokes | Pebble Beach |
| The Open Championship | 2000 | 269 (-19) | 8 strokes | St Andrews (Old Course) |
| PGA Championship | 2000 | 270 (-18) | 3 strokes | Valhalla GC |
| The Masters | 2001 | 272 (-16) | 2 strokes | Augusta National |
Career Grand Slam: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Career Grand Slam in golf?
The Career Grand Slam means winning all four major championships at least once during a career: The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. Only 6 players have achieved this since professional golf's modern major era.
When did Rory McIlroy complete the Career Grand Slam?
Rory McIlroy completed the Career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters Tournament. He had previously won the U.S. Open (2011), PGA Championship (2012, 2014), and The Open Championship (2014), making the Masters the missing piece he famously chased for over a decade.
Is the Tiger Slam a real Grand Slam?
The "Tiger Slam" refers to Tiger Woods holding all four major trophies simultaneously from June 2000 through April 2001. It is not a calendar-year Grand Slam (which would require winning all four in a single year). However, it is an unprecedented achievement — no other player has ever held all four trophies at the same time, whether or not it spanned two seasons.
What is the Career Super Slam?
The Career Super Slam requires winning all four traditional majors plus The Players Championship. No golfer has ever completed it. While Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus both won The Players Championship, they didn't complete all five. Rory McIlroy has won The Players Championship (2019) and completed the traditional Career Grand Slam in 2025 — but needs additional Players wins to claim a "Super Slam."
Why hasn't Phil Mickelson won the Career Grand Slam?
Phil Mickelson has won 3 Masters, 1 Open Championship, and 1 PGA Championship — but has never won the U.S. Open. He finished runner-up at the U.S. Open a record 6 times (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013), making him the most famous near-miss in Career Grand Slam history. He still has not won at his national championship.