How many majors does Tiger Woods have?

Tiger Woods has 15 major championships: 5 Masters (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019), 3 U.S. Opens (2000, 2002, 2008), 3 Open Championships (2000, 2005, 2006), and 4 PGA Championships (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007). He is second all-time behind Jack Nicklaus's 18.

Has Rory McIlroy completed the Career Grand Slam?

Yes. Rory McIlroy completed the Career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters. He had previously won the U.S. Open (2011), PGA Championship (2012, 2014), and The Open Championship (2014). The Masters was his missing major for 11 years. He became the 6th player in history to complete the Career Grand Slam.

Who is better, Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy?

Tiger Woods is widely considered the better player by major wins (15 vs 5). Tiger's dominance from 1997–2008 is unmatched in modern golf — he won 26% of the majors he entered, reached 683 weeks at world #1, and had multiple stretches of near-total dominance. Rory McIlroy is the best of his generation and completed the Career Grand Slam in 2025, but Tiger's record stands alone.

What year did Tiger Woods complete the Career Grand Slam?

Tiger Woods completed the Career Grand Slam in 2000 at age 24, winning the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by a record 15 strokes. He then held all 4 major titles simultaneously from the 2000 U.S. Open through the 2001 Masters, a feat known as the 'Tiger Slam.'

Did Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy ever play together in a major?

Yes. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have played in the same major championships multiple times. McIlroy turned professional in 2008, while Tiger was still competing at the highest level. They were paired together in several major rounds in the 2010s. Tiger mentored a young Rory early in his career, and McIlroy has frequently cited Tiger as his biggest inspiration.

Tiger Woods vs Rory McIlroy: Major Championship Comparison

Quick Stats Comparison

Statistic	Tiger Woods	Rory McIlroy
Total Major Wins	15	5
Masters	✅ 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019	✅ 2025
U.S. Open	✅ 2000, 2002, 2008	✅ 2011
The Open Championship	✅ 2000, 2005, 2006	✅ 2014
PGA Championship	✅ 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007	✅ 2012, 2014
Career Grand Slam	✅ Age 24 (2000)	✅ Age 35 (2025)
Win % in Majors	26% (15/88)	~9% (5/57)
Weeks at World #1	683	100+

Major Championship Breakdown

Tiger Woods — 15 Major Wins

Masters (5): 1997 (12-shot record win), 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019 (his most emotional comeback title)

U.S. Open (3): 2000 (record 15-shot win at Pebble Beach), 2002, 2008 (playoff win on a broken leg)

The Open (3): 2000, 2005, 2006

PGA Championship (4): 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007

Tiger Slam: Held all 4 major titles simultaneously from the 2000 U.S. Open through the 2001 Masters — the only player in history to hold all 4 at once

Rory McIlroy — 5 Major Wins

U.S. Open 2011: 16-under at Congressional, dominant record-setting victory at age 22

PGA Championship 2012: 13-under at Kiawah Island, won by 8 shots

The Open 2014: 17-under at Royal Liverpool (Hoylake)

PGA Championship 2014: Back-to-back PGA titles at Valhalla

Masters 2025: The missing piece — completed the Career Grand Slam after 11 years of trying

🐅 Tiger's Peak vs Rory's Peak

Comparing these two requires acknowledging they dominated different eras and are not truly contemporaries at their absolute peaks.

Tiger's Peak (1997–2008)

15 of his 15 majors in this window
Won 26% of all majors entered
Held world #1 for 683 career weeks
Four consecutive majors (Tiger Slam)
Re-defined how the game is played physically and mentally

Legacy: The argument for greatest golfer of all time after Jack Nicklaus. His combination of dominance, longevity, and transformative impact on the sport is unmatched.

Rory's Peak (2011–2014, 2025)

4 majors in 4 years (2011–2014)
Career Grand Slam completed 2025
Multiple world #1 stints
Best ball-striker of his generation
Won 5 majors in a 14-year career, still active

Legacy: The best golfer of the generation after Tiger. If he adds 2-3 more majors, the comparison gets more interesting. The Career Grand Slam puts him in a club of 6 in golf history.

The Tiger Effect on Rory

Rory McIlroy has frequently cited Tiger Woods as his biggest inspiration. Growing up watching Tiger's dominance shaped not only his approach to golf but his understanding of what excellence looks like. McIlroy has spoken about how Tiger's dominance in the early 2000s — particularly those PGA Tour dominance years — defined what he aspired to become.

The two played practice rounds together at various stages of Rory's development. Tiger's mentorship and friendship with Rory represents one of the sport's most compelling cross-generational connections — the student learning from the master, then chasing him across history.

When Rory finally completed his Career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters, Tiger — who had been dealing with ongoing health challenges — was among those watching. It was a full-circle moment: the player who inspired a generation, watching his most prominent protégé achieve what both men had achieved, on the game's most storied stage.

Could Rory Catch Tiger?

At 5 majors after 2025, Rory would need 10 more to match Tiger. At age 35+, that is mathematically unlikely — but Tiger's 15 represents a generational benchmark that essentially no modern player will approach.

The more realistic question is whether Rory can reach 7-10 majors over the remainder of his career. If he does, it would be among the most impressive final stretches in major championship history and would cement him firmly as the second-greatest golfer of the modern era behind Tiger.

For now: Tiger's record stands alone. Rory's legacy is secure regardless. The comparison is fascinating precisely because both players achieved the Career Grand Slam — making them the only two players of the modern era (post-Nicklaus) to do so alongside the generation that included Player and Hogan.

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