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The Grand Slam in golf is an unofficial term for winning all four major championships in the same year. The modern Grand Slam requires victories in four tournaments in a single calendar year: the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and the Open Championship. Only one player, Bobby Jones, has won all four majors in the same year, in 1930. Six golfers have achieved the Career Grand Slam, winning all four majors at any time in their careers: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is a Grand Slam in golf? | Winning all four major championships in the same calendar year |
| Number of golfers who have won all four major championships | Six: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy |
| Number of golfers who have won their first two major championships | Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, and Xander Schauffele |
| Tournaments included in the Grand Slam | Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship |
| Year of the first Grand Slam | 1930, by Bobby Jones |
| Year of the modern Grand Slam concept | 1960, by sportswriter Bob Drum |
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What You'll Learn
The Grand Slam in golf explained
The Grand Slam in golf represents more than just skill. It demands consistency, mastery across various courses and conditions, and a sustained career at the highest level. The term "Grand Slam" was first used in golf in 1930 when Bobby Jones won the four major golf events of that era: The Open Championship, the U.S. Open, the U.S. Amateur, and the British Amateur.
In modern times, a Grand Slam in professional golf, for both men and women, refers to winning all four major championships in the same calendar year. These tournaments are the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. This feat has been accomplished by only six male golfers in history: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and most recently, Rory McIlroy. Woods is the only golfer to have held all four major titles at the same time, an achievement known as the "Tiger Slam."
The term "Career Grand Slam" refers to winning all four major championships at any time during a golfer's career. This is different from the "Calendar-Year Grand Slam," which refers to winning all four majors in a single year. The Career Grand Slam has been achieved by six male golfers, as mentioned earlier, and seven female golfers: Louise Suggs, Mickey Wright, Pat Bradley, Juli Inkster, Karrie Webb, Annika Sorenstam, and most recently, Rory McIlroy in 2025.
In addition to the Grand Slam, variations such as the "Super Career Grand Slam" exist, where a golfer wins five different majors. Karrie Webb is the only player to have achieved this feat. The Grand Slam in golf is an incredibly rare and challenging accomplishment, making it one of the most exciting storylines in the sport.
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The four major championships
In golf, the Grand Slam is an unofficial term for winning all four major championships in the same year. The four major championships are:
The Masters Tournament
Also referred to as the U.S. Masters, the Masters Tournament is the season's first major championship. It is held in the week ending on the second Sunday in April and is hosted as an invitational by and at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The Masters invites the smallest field of the majors, generally under 100 players, and is the only major that is played at the same course every year. It is often considered the most prestigious of the four majors.
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship, also known as the "United States PGA Championship" or "USPGA", is held in the week ending on the third Sunday in May. It is hosted by the PGA of America and played at various locations in the United States. The tournament stands out due to its rotating venue system, showcasing an array of America's finest courses. The PGA Championship is the only one of the four majors to invite all winners of PGA Tour events in the year preceding the tournament.
U.S. Open
The U.S. Open is held in the week ending on the third Sunday in June. It is hosted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and played at various locations across America's iconic golf courses, from the coastal cliffs of Pebble Beach to the historic layout of Pinehurst No. 2. Unlike majors with fixed venues, the U.S. Open offers a distinct challenge at each course, stirring up fresh excitement year after year.
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, sometimes called "the British Open" outside the UK, is held in the week containing the third Friday in July. It is organised by The R&A, an offshoot of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, and is typically played on a links-style course in the United Kingdom, mainly Scotland or England. The Open Championship is open to qualifying professionals and amateurs alike, adding a unique flavour to the championship. Players often face unpredictable weather conditions, with sudden downpours and gusting winds in a single round, making strategy and patience pivotal.
Only six male golfers have completed the Career Grand Slam, winning all four major championships during their careers: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy. Woods is the only golfer to have held all four major titles at the same time, known as the Tiger Slam, which he achieved in 2000-2001.
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The Tiger Slam
Following this, Woods secured his first Claret Jug at the 2000 Open Championship, transforming his game to meet the unique demands of the links. A few weeks later, he continued his winning streak at the 2000 PGA Championship, defeating Bob May in a playoff at Valhalla. With this victory, Woods had won three major championships in 2000.
In 2001, Woods completed the Tiger Slam by winning his second Masters title. This victory marked the first time in the modern era that a golfer had held all four major championships simultaneously. The term "Tiger Slam" was coined to honour this remarkable achievement, setting Woods apart from other golfers who had achieved the Grand Slam within a calendar year.
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Career Grand Slam winners
In golf, a Grand Slam represents more than just skill. It demands consistency, mastery across various courses and conditions, and a sustained career at the highest level. The Grand Slam in men's golf is an unofficial term for winning all four major championships in the same year. In the modern era, the Grand Slam requires victories in four tournaments in a single calendar year: the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and the Open Championship (British Open).
Only six golfers have won all four of golf's modern majors at any time during their careers, an achievement referred to as a Career Grand Slam. They are:
- Gene Sarazen: 1922 U.S. Open, 1922 PGA Championship, 1932 Open Championship, and 1935 Masters.
- Ben Hogan: 1946 PGA Championship, 1948 U.S. Open, 1951 Masters, and 1953 Open Championship.
- Gary Player: 1959 Open Championship, 1961 Masters, 1962 PGA Championship, and 1965 U.S. Open.
- Jack Nicklaus: 1962 U.S. Open, 1963 Masters, 1963 PGA Championship, and 1966 Open Championship.
- Tiger Woods: Woods won all four majors consecutively, with the U.S. Open, Open Championship, and PGA Championship in 2000, and the 2001 Masters. This feat is often called the Tiger Slam. Notably, Woods and Nicklaus have each won three Career Grand Slams, a feat unmatched by any other golfer.
- Rory McIlroy: 2011 U.S. Open, 2012 and 2014 PGA Championship, 2014 British Open, and 2025 Masters.
In the pre-Masters era (before 1934), when the U.S. and British Amateur tournaments were considered majors, Bobby Jones completed the Grand Slam in 1930, winning all four major championships of that era in the same year. Tommy Armour and Walter Hagen also achieved a version of the Grand Slam in 1931, winning The Open, U.S. Open, PGA Championship, and the next three biggest tournaments of the time.
In women's golf, the structure is slightly different, and the LPGA currently recognizes five majors. Seven women have completed the Career Grand Slam by winning four different majors, and Karrie Webb is recognized as the only "Super Career Grand Slam" winner, having won five different tournaments recognized as majors.
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The Impregnable Quadrilateral
In the context of golf, the "Impregnable Quadrilateral" is a term coined by writer O.B. Keeler to describe Bobby Jones' remarkable achievement of winning all four major championships in 1930. The four majors consisted of The Amateur Championship, The Open Championship, the United States Open, and the United States Amateur. This feat, known as the Grand Slam, represents the pinnacle of golfing achievement and is incredibly rare.
The Grand Slam in golf represents the highest level of skill, consistency, and mastery across various courses and conditions. It demands victory in all four major championships in the same calendar year. In the modern era, these four tournaments are the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship ("The Open" or the "British Open" outside the UK).
Only one golfer, Bobby Jones, has achieved the Grand Slam in the pre-professional era, in 1930. Since then, the concept of the modern Grand Slam was formulated by sportswriter Bob Drum in 1960, and it has only been accomplished by six golfers in the men's game: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy. These golfers achieved what is known as a Career Grand Slam, winning all four majors at least once during their careers but not in the same calendar year.
Holding all four major titles simultaneously has been achieved only once, by Tiger Woods in 2000-2001, dubbed the "Tiger Slam." This exceptional accomplishment further solidified Woods' legendary status in the golfing world.
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Frequently asked questions
A Grand Slam in golf is winning all four major championships in the same calendar year. The four tournaments are The Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship.
A Grand Slam in golf is incredibly rare. Only one player, Tiger Woods, has won a Grand Slam, and only six players have completed a career Grand Slam.
The first player to win a Grand Slam was Bobby Jones in 1930. The four major championships of that era were The Amateur Championship, The Open Championship, the United States Open, and the United States Amateur.
A career Grand Slam is winning all four major championships at least once during a player's career.
Six male golfers have completed a career Grand Slam: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy. Seven female golfers have also achieved this feat.
