Rory McIlroy’s Masters victory sealed his career Grand Slam, joining Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen, and Ben Hogan in golf’s most exclusive club. With only six players achieving the feat — winning the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA Championship — attention now turns to the contenders best positioned to become the seventh.
Here’s a look at the leading candidates, their missing majors, and their prospects.
Xander Schauffele, 31
- Needs: Masters, U.S. Open
- Schauffele, the 2024 British Open and PGA champion, is in scintillating form, ranked No. 3 in the world. His major record is stellar — 16(!) top-10s since 2017—and he’s been close in both missing events, with a T2 at the 2019 Masters and T3 at the 2019 U.S. Open. Schauffele’s all-around game and mental toughness, evident in his 2024 PGA wire-to-wire win, makes him a favorite to complete the Slam soon.
- Odds: Very High
Jon Rahm, 30
- Needs: PGA Championship, British Open
- The 2021 U.S. Open and 2023 Masters champion, Rahm, the former world No. 1, is in prime position at 30. His move to LIV Golf hasn’t dulled his edge, with a T14 at the 2025 Masters and consistent top-10s in LIV events. Rahm’s power and precision suit the PGA Championship, where he has three top-15s, including a T4 in 2018. The British Open, where he owns three top-7s (T3-2021, T2-2023, T7-2024), seems to fit his game even better. His youth and form make him a top contender to complete the Slam.
- Odds: Very High
Collin Morikawa, 28
- Needs: Masters, U.S. Open
- At 28, Morikawa, the 2020 PGA and 2021 British Open champion, is trending upward, ranked No. 4 after a T14 at the 2025 Masters. His laser-like iron play suits Augusta, where he has two top-5s, and USGA’s demanding setup for the U.S. Open aligns with his precision (T4-2021, T5-2022). With nine top-10s in 21 major starts, Morikawa’s youth and consistency position him as a strong candidate.
- Odds: High
Jordan Spieth, 31
- Needs: PGA Championship
- Spieth, with wins at the 2015 Masters, 2015 U.S. Open, and 2017 British Open, is one PGA Championship away from the Slam. At 31, time is on his side, but his form has been inconsistent since 2017, with no wins since 2022 and a No. 58 world ranking. His best PGA result is a solo second during that magical 2015 summer, but recent struggles with ball-striking — evident in his failure to post a single top-10 finish in his last eight major starts — raise serious doubts. Still, Spieth’s clutch play in majors (14 top-10s) make him a threat if he regains his 2015-17 peak.
- Odds: Moderate
Brooks Koepka, 34
- Needs: Masters, British Open
- Koepka, a five-time major winner with three PGAs and two U.S. Opens, is a major force despite a missed cut at the 2025 Masters). His Augusta record is solid — three top-7s, including a pair of T2s in 2019 and 2023 — but the British Open has been a struggle of late, with a T43 his best result in his last three starts. He did post four top-10s between 2015 and 2021 but that was prime Koepka. At 34, Koepka’s major pedigree and big-stage mentality keep him in the conversation, but his recent major woes since winning the 2023 PGA — a single top-25 in seven starts — temper expectations.
- Odds: Moderate
Dustin Johnson, 40
- Needs: PGA Championship, British Open
- The 2016 U.S. Open and 2020 Masters champion, Johnson, 40, faces long odds. His form has waned since joining LIV Golf, with just two top-10s in his last 13 major starts. Johnson’s best PGA finish is a solo second and T2 in 2019 and 2020, and his British Open record is spotty (just two top-5s in 15 starts). A career resurgence is possible, but his age and recent struggles suggest the Slam may elude him.
- Odds: Low
Phil Mickelson, 54
- Needs: U.S. Open
- Mickelson, with six majors including the 2004, 2006, and 2010 Masters, 2005 PGA, and 2013 British Open, is the closest to the Slam, missing only the U.S. Open. But at 54, his form is suspect (T45 at 2025 Masters), and his U.S. Open history is brutal — six runner-up finishes, including 2013. Father Time makes his chances slim, despite his 2021 PGA win defying age.
- Odds: Very Low
The Verdict
Schauffele and Rahm lead the pack, with youth, form, and major pedigree. Morikawa’s trajectory makes him a close third, while Spieth and Koepka remain viable but face hurdles. Johnson and Mickelson, hindered by age and form, are long shots. Posts on social media reflect similar sentiment, with Schauffele and Rahm frequently cited as the next Slam winners.
The 2025 majors—PGA (May 15-18, Quail Hollow), U.S. Open (June 12-15, Oakmont), and British Open (July 17-20, Royal Portrush)—offer the next proving ground.
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