The career Grand Slam — winning the Masters, U.S. Open, PGA Championship, and The Open Championship at least once — is golf’s most exclusive club, a testament to versatility, resilience, and mastery across diverse courses and eras.
Only six men have etched their names into this elite history, each navigating unique challenges to conquer the sport’s four cornerstones.
Here are the six immortals of pro golf — including newly-minted Masters champion Rory McIlroy:
1. Gene Sarazen
- Born: February 27, 1902, Cortland, New York, USA
- Nickname: The Squire
- Career Grand Slam Completed: 1935 (Masters)
- Best Major Season: 1932 (1st, 1st, DNQ)
- Major Wins (7 total):
- Masters: 1935
- PGA: 1922, 1923, 1933
- U.S. Open: 1922, 1932
- The Open: 1932
Details:
Sarazen, born Eugenio Saraceni, was a pioneer of professional golf, competing against legends like Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen.
He completed the Grand Slam at 33 by winning the 1935 Masters — the second edition but the first using the current Augusta National configuration with the finishing hole at “Holly” (No. 18). His iconic “shot heard ’round the world” — a double eagle on the 15th hole in the final round — forced a playoff in which he edged 1934 winner Craig Wood.
Sarazen was the first to complete the career Grand Slam, though the term wasn’t widely used then since the Masters was new (founded 1934). His 1932 season was remarkable, winning both the U.S. Open and The Open.
Total majors (7) rank him alongside several greats, but his influence extended beyond wins — he popularized the modern sand wedge, changing bunker play.
Context: Sarazen’s era had only three majors for most of his early career (Masters didn’t exist until 1934), so his Slam was a retroactive milestone. He played in an era of limited international travel, making his Open win in 1932 at Prince’s Golf Club, England, a significant feat.
2. Ben Hogan
- Born: August 13, 1912, Stephenville, Texas, USA
- Nickname: The Hawk
- Career Grand Slam Completed: 1953 (The Open Championship)
- Best Season: 1953 (1st, 1st, 1st, DNP)
- Major Wins (9 total):
- Masters: 1951, 1953
- PGA: 1946, 1948
- U.S. Open: 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953
- The Open: 1953
Details:
Hogan’s precision and work ethic made him a golfing legend. His swing theory, detailed in Five Lessons, remains a bible for golfers.
He completed the Slam at 40 by winning the 1953 Open at Carnoustie — his only Open appearance — and was welcomed home to America with a ticker-tape parade in New York City. That year, he won three majors (Masters, U.S. Open, The Open), a feat only he and Tiger Woods (2000) have accomplished.
His 1950 U.S. Open win, 16 months after a near-fatal car accident, is one of golf’s greatest comebacks. He played with physical pain for years, limiting his schedule but not his dominance.
Hogan’s nine majors include four U.S. Opens (tied for most all-time with Nicklaus, Woods, and Bobby Jones).
Context: Hogan rarely played The Open due to travel demands and his focus on the U.S. circuit. His 1953 trip was a one-off, prompted by peers, and his win in brutal conditions cemented his Slam. His era overlapped with Sam Snead and Byron Nelson, fierce rivals — who each completed three legs of the Slam.
3. Gary Player
- Born: November 1, 1935, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Nickname: The Black Knight
- Career Grand Slam Completed: 1965 (U.S. Open)
- Best Major Season: 1974 (1st, 1st, 7th, 8th)
- Major Wins (9 total):
- Masters: 1961, 1974, 1978
- PGA: 1962, 1972
- U.S. Open: 1965
- The Open: 1959, 1968, 1974
Details:
Player, the “Black Knight,” was a global ambassador for golf, traveling tirelessly from South Africa to compete. His fitness regimen — uncommon then — gave him an edge.
He completed the Slam at 29 with the 1965 U.S. Open, beating Kel Nagle in a playoff at Bellerive. It was his only U.S. Open, a tough win given American dominance.
His three Masters wins span 17 years, with the 1978 victory at 42 a testament to longevity. His three (British) Opens, including 1959 at Muirfield, showed his links mastery. He is the only player to have won the British Open in three different decades (1959, 1968, 1974).
Player’s nine majors tie him with Hogan. He also won 24 PGA Tour events and over 100 worldwide — dominating smaller tours like South Africa’s (Sunshine) Tour.
Context: As a non-American, Player faced logistical and cultural barriers, making his Slam remarkable. He was part of golf’s “Big 3,” alongside Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, the era’s giants. His 1965 win made him the first international Slam winner.
4. Jack Nicklaus
- Born: January 21, 1940, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Nickname: The Golden Bear
- Career Grand Slam Completed: 1966 (The Open Championship)
- Best Major Season: 1975 (1st, 1st, 3rd, 7th)
- Major Wins (18 total):
- Masters: 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986
- PGA: 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980
- U.S. Open: 1962, 1967, 1972, 1980
- The Open: 1966, 1970, 1978
Details:
Nicklaus, the “Golden Bear,” holds the record for most majors (18), a benchmark unlikely to be broken. He redefined golf with power and strategy.
He completed the Slam at 26 with the 1966 Open at Muirfield, beating Doug Sanders and Dave Thomas. It was his first of three Opens, a title he coveted for its history.
Nicklaus won each major at least three times, a unique feat. His 1986 Masters at 46 remains iconic, the oldest major winner ever.
Beyond majors, he had 73 PGA Tour wins and 19 runner-up finishes in majors, showing unmatched consistency.
Context: Nicklaus faced Palmer, Player, and later Tom Watson — a murderer’s row of competitors. His Slam came early, but he kept piling up majors, with six after age 35. His record makes him the gold standard for greatness.
5. Tiger Woods
- Born: December 30, 1975, Cypress, California, USA
- Nickname: The Big Cat
- Career Grand Slam Completed: 2000 (The Open Championship)
- Best Major Season: 2000 (1st, 1st, 1st, 5th)
- Major Wins (15 total):
- Masters: 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019
- PGA: 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007
- U.S. Open: 2000, 2002, 2008
- The Open: 2000, 2005, 2006
Details:
Woods revolutionized golf with athleticism, mental toughness, and global appeal. His 1997 Masters win by 12 shots at 21 announced a new era.
He completed the Slam at 24 with the 2000 Open at St. Andrews, winning by eight. That year, he also won the U.S. Open by 15 (a record) and PGA Championship, holding all four titles simultaneously (the “Tiger Slam”).
His 15 majors include iconic moments: the 2008 U.S. Open on a broken leg, the 2019 Masters comeback at 43. His 82 PGA Tour wins tie Sam Snead’s record.
Injuries and personal scandals slowed him — no majors between 2009 and 2018 (in what should have been the prime of his career, 33-41), but his 2019 Masters victory showed resilience.
Context: Woods faced a deep field — Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els — but dominated like no one since Nicklaus. His Slam was the fastest (first major to last: 1997-2000). He’s the only Slam winner to hold all four titles at once.
6. Rory McIlroy
- Born: May 4, 1989, Holywood, Northern Ireland
- Nickname: Rors
- Career Grand Slam Completed: 2025 (Masters)
- Best Major Season: 2014 (1st, 1st, 8th, 23rd)
- Major Wins (5 total):
- Masters: 2025
- PGA Championship: 2012, 2014
- U.S. Open: 2011
- The Open: 2014
Details:
McIlroy, a prodigy from Northern Ireland, burst onto the scene with a record 16-under at the 2011 U.S. Open at 22 — two months after collapsing at the 2011 Masters.
He completed the Slam at 35 with the 2025 Masters, beating Justin Rose in a playoff. It ended an 11-year major drought and years of pressure to win Augusta, where he’d finished top 10 several times.
His five majors include dominant wins: eight shots at the 2012 PGA, seven at the 2014 Open. He has 29 PGA Tour wins and 14 other worldwide wins.
McIlroy’s swing and charisma have made him the media’s go-to face of golf, though he has many critics among the golf fandom, who note his favorable media coverage despite cold persona and professional struggles (e.g., 11 years without a major in his prime).
Context: McIlroy competed in what is often referred to as golf’s golden era which includes a dozen or so potential generational players, such as Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Scottie Scheffler. His Slam makes him the first European to achieve it and only the second since 1970 (Woods). His 2025 win flipped a narrative of “what-ifs.”
Grand Slam Notes
Definition: The career Grand Slam requires winning each of the four modern majors at least once, not necessarily in one year. No golfer has won all four in a calendar year (Bobby Jones won the 1930 Grand Slam, but it included the U.S. and British Amateurs, pre-Masters, while Woods held all four at the same time over two seasons, now called the “Tiger Slam.”)
Era Differences: Sarazen and Hogan played when The Open was less accessible to Americans due to travel by ship; Player faced travel and social barriers due to apartheid in South Africa; and Nicklaus, Woods, and McIlroy benefited from globalized golf. The Masters’ youth (not founded until 1934) shaped the early era of Slams possibilities as iconic players like Jones and Walter Hagen, who won 11 majors, were past their prime when the Masters debuted.
Majors Count: Nicklaus (18), Woods (15), Hogan and Player (9), Sarazen (7), and McIlroy (5). McIlroy’s total is lowest, but at 35, he has time to add more.
Legends Who Completed Three Legs: Walter Hagen (11 Majors, Masters debuted after his prime), Tom Watson (8 majors, no PGA), Arnold Palmer (7 majors, no PGA), Sam Snead (7 majors, no US. Open), Lee Trevino (6 majors, no Masters), Phil Mickelson (6 majors, no U.S. Open), Byron Nelson (5 majors, missing The Open), Raymond Floyd (4 majors, missing The Open), Tommy Armour (3 majors, Masters debuted after his prime).
Current Players with Realistic Chance for Grand Slam (at least two different majors): Jordan Spieth (needs only the PGA), Xander Schauffele (needs Masters and U.S. Open), Collin Morikawa (needs Masters and U.S. Open), Brooks Koepka (needs Masters and The Open), Jon Rahm (needs PGA and The Open), and Dustin Johnson (needs PGA and The Open).
Sources: Golf record books, PGA Tour data, Masters, R&A, and USGA.
