Golf has plenty of major achievements, but few are as rare as completing a Grand Slam. It takes success across the sport’s biggest championships, where every course, condition, and moment can test a golfer in different ways.
So, what is a grand slam in golf, and how does a player actually achieve one? The answer depends on whether it happens in a single year or across an entire career.
From historic champions to today’s grand slam golf winners, only a small group has reached this milestone. Read on to see how the Grand Slam works, who has achieved it, and what makes it so difficult.
What is a Grand Slam in Golf
A Grand Slam in men’s professional golf means winning the sport’s four major championships: the Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship.
These events are considered the biggest tests in golf and are played at different times throughout the season.
The term is used in two main ways. A Calendar Grand Slam means winning all four majors in the same calendar year, while a Career Grand Slam means winning each of the four at least once during a golfer’s career.
The Career Grand Slam has been achieved by only a small group of players.
A Career Grand Slam is completed when a golfer wins all four majors at any point in their career. A Calendar Grand Slam requires winning the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open in the same year.
What are the Four Majors in Golf
The four majors are the most prestigious championships in men’s professional golf. Each one has its own identity, schedule, course setup, and traditions, which is one reason completing a Grand Slam is so difficult.
Major | Usually Played | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
Masters Tournament | April | Played annually at Augusta National Golf Club |
PGA Championship | May | Organized by the PGA of America |
U.S. Open | June | Known for difficult course setups and demanding conditions |
The Open Championship | July | The oldest of the four major championships |
Winning any one of these tournaments is a major career achievement. Winning all four is what puts a golfer in Grand Slam territory.
Understanding scoring terms such as a birdie in golf can also make it easier to follow how players move up and down a major championship leaderboard.
Career Grand Slam vs Calendar Grand Slam
The term Grand Slam can mean slightly different things depending on when the four major victories happen. In men’s professional golf, three versions are commonly discussed.
Type | What It Means |
|---|---|
Calendar Grand Slam | Winning all four majors in the same calendar year |
Career Grand Slam | Winning all four majors at least once during a career |
Tiger Slam | Winning four consecutive majors across two calendar years |
Tiger Woods created another category of his own by holding all four major titles at once after winning four straight majors across 2000 and 2001.
Grand Slam Golf Winners
Only six men have completed the modern Career Grand Slam. These Grand Slam golf winners managed to win the Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship at least once during their careers.
Golfer | Year Completed | Major That Completed It |
|---|---|---|
Gene Sarazen | 1935 | Masters |
Ben Hogan | 1953 | The Open |
Gary Player | 1965 | U.S. Open |
Jack Nicklaus | 1966 | The Open |
Tiger Woods | 2000 | The Open |
Rory McIlroy | 2025 | Masters |
Gene Sarazen was the first player to complete the modern Career Grand Slam, doing so with his Masters victory in 1935.
Ben Hogan followed in 1953, while Gary Player joined the group in 1965.
Jack Nicklaus completed the set in 1966 and eventually won each of the four majors multiple times.
Tiger Woods joined the list in 2000 after winning The Open Championship.
Rory McIlroy became the newest member in 2025 when he finally won the Masters. His victory ended a 25-year gap since Woods became the previous golfer to complete the Career Grand Slam.
Among these players, Nicklaus and Woods stand out for completing the Career Grand Slam three times over, showing just how dominant they were across all four major championships.
Rory McIlroy Completes the Career Grand Slam
Image Source: PGA TOUR
Rory McIlroy entered the 2025 Masters with three parts of the Career Grand Slam already secured. He had won the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, and The Open Championship, leaving only the Masters missing from his record.
That changed when McIlroy won the 2025 Masters and completed the Career Grand Slam. The victory made him the sixth man to achieve the modern Career Grand Slam and the first new player to join the group since Tiger Woods in 2000.
He was also the first new player to join the group since Tiger Woods completed his Career Grand Slam in 2000.
The victory placed McIlroy alongside some of the most accomplished players in golf history.
Has Anyone Won All Four Majors in One Year
No male golfer has completed the modern Calendar Grand Slam, which requires winning the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship in the same year.
Bobby Jones did achieve a Grand Slam in 1930, but it came before today’s modern four-major structure. He won the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, U.S. Amateur, and British Amateur, which were considered the four biggest championships of his era.
The USGA records Jones’ 1930 achievement as the completion of his Grand Slam. His accomplishment is therefore usually discussed separately from the modern men’s Calendar Grand Slam.
What Was the Tiger Slam
The Tiger Slam refers to Tiger Woods winning four consecutive major championships across two calendar years. His remarkable run included the:
- 2000 U.S. Open
- 2000 Open Championship
- 2000 PGA Championship
- 2001 Masters
By winning the 2001 Masters, Woods held all four major championship titles at the same time. However, because the victories were split between 2000 and 2001, the achievement was not considered a Calendar Grand Slam.
Instead, it became widely known as the Tiger Slam, one of the most memorable stretches in professional golf history.
Runs like the Tiger Slam often come down to a handful of decisive shots, and an eagle in golf can create a major swing on the leaderboard during championship play.
Golfers Closest to a Career Grand Slam Right Now
Several major champions have come close to joining golf’s exclusive Career Grand Slam group. These notable players have already won three of the four men’s majors and need just one more championship to complete the set.
Golfer | Majors Won | Major Still Needed |
|---|---|---|
Scottie Scheffler | Masters, PGA Championship, The Open | U.S. Open |
Jordan Spieth | Masters, U.S. Open, The Open | PGA Championship |
Phil Mickelson | Masters, PGA Championship, The Open | U.S. Open |
Scheffler and Spieth remain active contenders, while Mickelson has famously finished runner-up at the U.S. Open multiple times without winning it.
Career Grand Slam in Women’s Golf
The Career Grand Slam works differently in women’s golf because the LPGA currently recognizes five major championships rather than four.
These are the Chevron Championship, U.S. Women’s Open, Women’s PGA Championship, Evian Championship, and Women’s Open.
Because the number and identity of women’s majors have changed over time, the LPGA recognizes players who have won four different majors available during their careers as Career Grand Slam winners.
Seven women are currently recognized for achieving the feat, including Louise Suggs, Mickey Wright, Annika Sörenstam, and Inbee Park.
Conclusion
A Grand Slam represents one of the highest achievements in golf, whether a player wins all four majors across a career or somehow captures them in the same year.
Only six men have completed the modern Career Grand Slam, with Rory McIlroy becoming the latest member in 2025.
Bobby Jones remains famous for his original 1930 Grand Slam, while Tiger Woods created history with the unforgettable Tiger Slam across 2000 and 2001.
These achievements show just how difficult the feat really is. Which current golfer do you think will complete the Career Grand Slam next? Share your pick in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Statistically the Best Golfer of All Time?
This is the best option from your remaining questions because it is still relevant to Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, majors, and Grand Slam history.
Who Made $30 Million without Ever Winning Golf?
Not covered, but I wouldn’t recommend it for this article. It moves away from the Grand Slam search intent.
Who is the Golfer No One Likes?
Also not covered, but I would avoid this one. It is subjective, difficult to answer authoritatively, and doesn’t fit your blog’s informational intent.
Has Anyone Ever Won All Four Golf Majors in a Row?
Yes. Tiger Woods won four consecutive majors across 2000 and 2001, a feat known as the Tiger Slam, though it was not a Calendar Grand Slam.
