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Career Grand Slam in Golf: Who Has Won All 4 Majors?
What Is the Career Grand Slam?
The Career Grand Slam is golf's most prestigious career achievement: winning each of the four major championships at least once. The four majors are:
- The Masters Tournament — Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia, USA (held each April)
- U.S. Open Championship — Rotating venues across the United States (held each June)
- The Open Championship — Rotating links courses in the United Kingdom (held each July)
- PGA Championship — Rotating U.S. venues (held each May)
Unlike the Calendar Grand Slam, which requires all four in a single year, the Career Grand Slam can be accumulated over an entire career. The four majors in their modern form have been contested since The Masters was established in 1934, making the Career Grand Slam achievable since at least 1934–1935.
All Career Grand Slam Winners — At a Glance
| Player | Completed | Years to Complete | Total Majors | Completing Major |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gene Sarazen | 1935 | 13 years | 7 | Masters |
| Ben Hogan | 1953 | 7 years | 9 | The Open Championship |
| Gary Player | 1965 | 9 years | 9 | U.S. Open |
| Jack Nicklaus | 1966 | 3 years | 18 | The Open Championship |
| Tiger Woods | 2000 | <3 years | 15 | U.S. Open (at Pebble Beach) |
| Rory McIlroy ✅ 2025 | 2025 | 13 years | 6+ | The Masters |
*Hogan's major count includes wins before his 1949 car accident. Sarazen's 7 includes majors counted in his era (some sources count differently). McIlroy's count as of 2025.
The Career Grand Slam Winners — In Depth
1. Gene Sarazen — Completed 1935
Gene Sarazen was the first player to win all four modern major championships, completing his Career Grand Slam at the 1935 Masters. He had already won the U.S. Open (1922, 1932), The Open Championship (1932), and the PGA Championship (1922, 1923, 1933) before Augusta National even held its first Masters.
| Major | Year(s) Won |
|---|---|
| The Masters | 1935 ⭐ (completing major) |
| U.S. Open | 1922, 1932 |
| The Open Championship | 1932 |
| PGA Championship | 1922, 1923, 1933 |
The moment: Sarazen's 1935 Masters victory is famous for the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" — a 4-wood albatross (double eagle) on the 15th hole in the final round that tied him for the lead. He won the playoff the following day. It remains one of the most celebrated shots in golf history.
2. Ben Hogan — Completed 1953
Ben Hogan is one of the greatest ball-strikers in history. His path to the Career Grand Slam is made all the more remarkable by a near-fatal head-on collision with a Greyhound bus in February 1949. Hogan nearly lost his legs and missed over a year of competition. He returned to win six more majors, completing his Career Grand Slam at the 1953 British Open at Carnoustie — his only Open Championship appearance.
| Major | Year(s) Won |
|---|---|
| The Masters | 1951, 1953 |
| U.S. Open | 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953 |
| The Open Championship | 1953 ⭐ (completing major) |
| PGA Championship | 1946, 1948 |
The moment: In 1953, Hogan had arguably the greatest season in major championship history — winning The Masters, U.S. Open, and The Open in the same year (he skipped the PGA Championship due to schedule conflict). This was called Hogan's Triple. He completed the Career Grand Slam at Carnoustie with a record score for the tournament.
3. Gary Player — Completed 1965
Gary Player of South Africa was golf's original global ambassador, playing more tournaments around the world than any player of his era. His Career Grand Slam completion at the 1965 U.S. Open at Bellerive came 9 years after his first major. Player went on to win 9 majors total, proving his longevity across three decades.
| Major | Year(s) Won |
|---|---|
| The Masters | 1961, 1974, 1978 |
| U.S. Open | 1965 ⭐ (completing major) |
| The Open Championship | 1959, 1968, 1974 |
| PGA Championship | 1962, 1972 |
The legacy: Player is the only non-American in the Career Grand Slam club until Rory McIlroy in 2025. He completed his third Masters win at age 42 in 1978 — one of the most remarkable senior victories in major history.
4. Jack Nicklaus — Completed 1966
Jack Nicklaus completed the Career Grand Slam in one of the fastest times ever — just 3 years after his first major. He won the U.S. Open in 1962, The Masters and PGA Championship in 1963, and completed the set with The Open Championship at Muirfield in 1966. He went on to win 18 major championships in total — a record that stood unchallenged until Tiger Woods mounted a serious threat.
| Major | Year(s) Won |
|---|---|
| The Masters | 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986 |
| U.S. Open | 1962, 1967, 1972, 1980 |
| The Open Championship | 1966 ⭐ (completing major), 1970, 1978 |
| PGA Championship | 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980 |
The record: Nicklaus's 18 majors remain the all-time record. He won at least one major in four different decades. His 1986 Masters win at age 46 — the oldest champion ever — remains the most celebrated final victory in golf history.
5. Tiger Woods — Completed 2000 (Fastest Ever)
Tiger Woods completed the Career Grand Slam faster than any player in history. He won The Masters in 1997 (age 21), PGA Championship in 1999, and completed the set with both the U.S. Open and The Open Championship in 2000 — giving him all four in less than three full seasons on Tour. He went on to win 15 majors total, second only to Nicklaus.
| Major | Year(s) Won |
|---|---|
| The Masters | 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019 |
| U.S. Open | 2000 ⭐ (completing major), 2002, 2008 |
| The Open Championship | 2000, 2005, 2006 |
| PGA Championship | 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007 |
The "Tiger Slam": After winning the 2000 U.S. Open, Tiger went on to win the 2000 Open Championship, 2000 PGA Championship, and 2001 Masters — holding all four major trophies simultaneously, even though they weren't won in the same calendar year. This is called the Tiger Slam, the closest anyone has come to a true Calendar Grand Slam in the modern era.
6. Rory McIlroy — Completed 2025
Rory McIlroy was one of golf's great "nearly" stories for over a decade. He won the U.S. Open in 2011, PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014, and The Open Championship in 2014 — but The Masters kept eluding him. He lost the 2011 Masters with a final-round collapse, was in contention multiple times, and suffered one of sport's most discussed long waits for a single title. In April 2025, McIlroy finally captured his green jacket at Augusta National, completing one of the most anticipated Career Grand Slams in golf history.
| Major | Year(s) Won |
|---|---|
| The Masters | 2025 ⭐ (completing major) |
| U.S. Open | 2011 |
| The Open Championship | 2014 |
| PGA Championship | 2012, 2014 |
The wait: McIlroy's 13-year journey from his first major (2011 U.S. Open) to his Career Grand Slam completion (2025 Masters) is the longest among all six members. His 2025 Masters win was celebrated globally as the resolution of one of sport's greatest unfinished stories.
Career Grand Slam vs. Calendar Grand Slam
| Term | Definition | Achieved By |
|---|---|---|
| Career Grand Slam | All 4 majors at any point during career | Sarazen, Hogan, Player, Nicklaus, Woods, McIlroy |
| Calendar Grand Slam | All 4 majors in the same calendar year | Never achieved (modern era) |
| Tiger Slam | Holding all 4 trophies simultaneously (across years) | Tiger Woods (2000–2001) |
Active Players Chasing the Career Grand Slam (as of 2025)
With McIlroy's completion in 2025, the focus shifts to today's generation. Several active players are within striking distance:
| Player | Have Won | Still Need |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Spieth | Masters (2015), U.S. Open (2015), The Open (2017) | PGA Championship only |
| Scottie Scheffler | Masters (2022, 2024) | U.S. Open, The Open, PGA Championship |
| Brooks Koepka | U.S. Open (2017, 2018), PGA Championship (2018, 2019, 2023) | Masters, The Open Championship |
| Jon Rahm | U.S. Open (2021), Masters (2023) | The Open Championship, PGA Championship |
| Collin Morikawa | PGA Championship (2020), The Open (2021) | Masters, U.S. Open |
| Xander Schauffele | PGA Championship (2024), The Open (2024) | Masters, U.S. Open |
Jordan Spieth is the most compelling active chase — he needs only the PGA Championship to complete a Career Grand Slam. He has finished runner-up at the PGA Championship twice and has been a contender multiple times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has won the Career Grand Slam in golf?
Six players have won all four major championships: Gene Sarazen (completed 1935), Ben Hogan (1953), Gary Player (1965), Jack Nicklaus (1966), Tiger Woods (2000), and Rory McIlroy (2025). Some lists cite only five because McIlroy's completion in 2025 is very recent.
What is the Career Grand Slam in golf?
The Career Grand Slam means winning each of the four major championships — The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and PGA Championship — at least once during a player's career. The wins do not need to occur in the same year.
What is the difference between a Career Grand Slam and a Calendar Grand Slam?
The Career Grand Slam = all 4 majors at any point in a career. The Calendar Grand Slam = all 4 majors in the same calendar year. No golfer has achieved the Calendar Grand Slam in the modern era. Tiger Woods came closest with the "Tiger Slam" — winning the final three majors of 2000 and the first of 2001, holding all four simultaneously but not in one calendar year.
How long did it take each player to complete the Career Grand Slam?
Tiger Woods was fastest — under 3 years (1997–2000). Jack Nicklaus took 3 years (1962–1966 for first in each). Gary Player took 9 years (1956–1965). Ben Hogan took 7 years from his first major. Gene Sarazen took 13 years. Rory McIlroy also took 13 years (2011–2025).
Did Rory McIlroy complete the Career Grand Slam?
Yes. Rory McIlroy completed the Career Grand Slam in April 2025 by winning The Masters Tournament at Augusta National. The Masters was the only major missing from his resume after winning the U.S. Open (2011), The Open Championship (2014), and PGA Championship (2012, 2014).
Who is closest to completing the Career Grand Slam among active players?
Jordan Spieth needs only the PGA Championship — making him the single closest active player to completing the Career Grand Slam. Brooks Koepka needs The Masters and The Open. Jon Rahm needs The Open and PGA Championship.
Related Questions
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- What Is the Career Grand Slam?
- What Is the Calendar Grand Slam?
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- Who Has Won the Most Majors All Time?
- What Majors Has Rory McIlroy Won?
- How Many Majors Does Tiger Woods Have?
- How Many Majors Does Jack Nicklaus Have?
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