Most Wins at Each Major Championship
Quick Answer
Jack Nicklaus holds records at two majors (6 Masters, 5 PGA). Harry Vardon leads The Open with 6. The U.S. Open record of 4 is shared by four legends including Nicklaus and Ben Hogan.
The Masters — Most Wins
Augusta National has seen many dominant champions, but none more so than Jack Nicklaus, who won the Green Jacket six times across three decades. Tiger Woods is second with five titles.
| # | Player | Wins | Years Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack Nicklaus | 6 | 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986 |
| 2 | Tiger Woods | 5 | 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019 |
| 3 | Arnold Palmer | 4 | 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964 |
| T4 | Gary Player | 3 | 1961, 1974, 1978 |
| T4 | Nick Faldo | 3 | 1989, 1990, 1996 |
| T4 | Phil Mickelson | 3 | 2004, 2006, 2010 |
| T4 | Seve Ballesteros | 2 | 1980, 1983 |
| T4 | José María Olazábal | 2 | 1994, 1999 |
| T4 | Bernhard Langer | 2 | 1985, 1993 |
| T4 | Bubba Watson | 2 | 2012, 2014 |
Nicklaus's Masters Dominance
Jack Nicklaus's 6 Masters wins span from 1963 to 1986 — a 23-year window. His last, in 1986 at age 46, remains the most celebrated moment in Masters history. He played the back nine on Sunday in 30 strokes, making eagles and birdies while the sold-out crowd roared. His record of 6 is considered one of golf's most unbreakable marks.
U.S. Open — Most Wins
The U.S. Open record of 4 wins is shared by four legends, each from a different era of American golf.
| # | Player | Wins | Years Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Willie Anderson | 4 | 1901, 1903, 1904, 1905 |
| T1 | Bobby Jones | 4 | 1923, 1926, 1929, 1930 |
| T1 | Ben Hogan | 4 | 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953 |
| T1 | Jack Nicklaus | 4 | 1962, 1967, 1972, 1980 |
| T5 | Tiger Woods | 3 | 2000, 2002, 2008 |
| T5 | Gary Player | 1 | 1965 |
| T5 | Ernie Els | 2 | 1994, 1997 |
| T5 | Retief Goosen | 2 | 2001, 2004 |
| T5 | Rory McIlroy | 1 | 2011 |
| T5 | Brooks Koepka | 2 | 2017, 2018 |
Ben Hogan's Remarkable Run
Ben Hogan won 4 U.S. Opens under extraordinary circumstances. His 1950 win at Merion came just 16 months after a near-fatal car accident that many thought would end his career — and his life. He walked 18 holes for four days on legs wrapped in bandages. It remains one of sport's greatest comeback stories.
The Open Championship — Most Wins
Harry Vardon's record of 6 Open titles has stood for over a century and is widely considered the most untouchable record in golf.
| # | Player | Wins | Years Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Vardon | 6 | 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, 1914 |
| T2 | Peter Thomson | 5 | 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965 |
| T2 | Tom Watson | 5 | 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983 |
| T4 | James Braid | 5 | 1901, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1910 |
| T4 | J.H. Taylor | 5 | 1894, 1895, 1900, 1909, 1913 |
| T6 | Tom Morris Sr. | 4 | 1861, 1862, 1864, 1867 |
| T6 | Tom Morris Jr. | 4 | 1868, 1869, 1870, 1872 |
| T6 | Walter Hagen | 4 | 1922, 1924, 1928, 1929 |
| T6 | Bobby Locke | 4 | 1949, 1950, 1952, 1957 |
| T6 | Nick Faldo | 3 | 1987, 1990, 1992 |
| T6 | Seve Ballesteros | 3 | 1979, 1984, 1988 |
| T6 | Greg Norman | 2 | 1986, 1993 |
Harry Vardon — Six Claret Jugs
Harry Vardon's 6 Open Championship victories span 18 years (1896-1914), a period that also saw him win the 1900 U.S. Open. Vardon revolutionized golf technique — the "Vardon grip" (overlapping grip) is still the most common grip in golf today. His record at The Open has stood for over 100 years; Tom Watson came closest to matching it, winning 5 times before his near-miss playoff loss at Turnberry in 2009 at age 59.
PGA Championship — Most Wins
The PGA Championship has two eras: match play (1916-1957) and stroke play (1958-present). Walter Hagen dominated the match-play era; Jack Nicklaus dominated stroke play.
| # | Player | Wins | Years Won | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Jack Nicklaus | 5 | 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980 | Stroke play |
| T1 | Walter Hagen | 5 | 1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927 | Match play |
| T3 | Tiger Woods | 4 | 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007 | Stroke play |
| T3 | Gene Sarazen | 3 | 1922, 1923, 1933 | Match play |
| T3 | Sam Snead | 3 | 1942, 1949, 1951 | Match play |
| T3 | Brooks Koepka | 3 | 2018, 2019, 2023 | Stroke play |
| T6 | Gary Player | 2 | 1962, 1972 | Stroke play |
| T6 | Phil Mickelson | 1 | 2021 | Stroke play |
| T6 | Nick Price | 2 | 1992, 1994 | Stroke play |
Walter Hagen's Match Play Mastery
Walter Hagen won 4 consecutive PGA Championships from 1924-1927 — a feat never matched in the match-play era. Hagen was renowned as a match-play specialist, winning 22 consecutive match-play rounds at one stretch. He also won the PGA Seniors five times. His 11 career major championships are second all-time only to Jack Nicklaus's 18.
Records Summary
| Major | Record Holder | Wins | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | Jack Nicklaus | 6 | Tiger Woods (5) |
| U.S. Open | 4 players tied | 4 | Tiger Woods (3) |
| The Open Championship | Harry Vardon | 6 | Peter Thomson / Tom Watson (5 each) |
| PGA Championship | Nicklaus / Hagen | 5 | Tiger Woods (4) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has won the most Masters titles?
Jack Nicklaus holds the Masters record with 6 wins (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986). Tiger Woods has won 5 (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019). No other player has won more than 4.
Who has won the most U.S. Open titles?
Four players share the record with 4 U.S. Open titles: Willie Anderson (1901-05), Bobby Jones (1923-30), Ben Hogan (1948-53), and Jack Nicklaus (1962-80).
Who has won the most Open Championship titles?
Harry Vardon won 6 Open Championships (1896-1914), a record that has stood for over a century. Peter Thomson and Tom Watson each won 5.
Who has won the most PGA Championship titles?
Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen each won 5 PGA Championships. Hagen won in the match-play era (1921-27); Nicklaus won in the stroke-play era (1963-80). Tiger Woods has 4 PGA titles.
Has anyone ever won the same major 6 times?
Yes — two players have won the same major 6 times. Jack Nicklaus won the Masters 6 times, and Harry Vardon won The Open Championship 6 times. No player has won any major 7 times.