What Is the Career Grand Slam in Golf?
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A golf career Grand Slam means winning the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship during a career. It does not require the victories to happen in one year. Six men have completed the modern set, most recently Rory McIlroy in 2025. SportsLook separates this achievement from who has won the most majors, from annual Masters prize money and from the Claret Jug.
Which four tournaments make up the career Grand Slam?
The set contains the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship.
| Major | Usual season position | Governing context |
|---|---|---|
| Masters | April | Augusta National |
| PGA Championship | May | PGA of America |
| U.S. Open | June | USGA |
| Open Championship | July | The R&A |
The four events are distinct championships with different courses, qualifying routes and playing conditions. Winning three does not count as a Grand Slam until the fourth is added.
Who has completed the men’s career Grand Slam?
Six men have won all four modern majors at least once.
| Player | Completion year | Missing major won last |
|---|---|---|
| Gene Sarazen | 1935 | Masters |
| Ben Hogan | 1953 | Open Championship |
| Gary Player | 1965 | U.S. Open |
| Jack Nicklaus | 1966 | Open Championship |
| Tiger Woods | 2000 | Open Championship |
| Rory McIlroy | 2025 | Masters |
The completion year marks the season in which the player won the last missing major, not the year of the player’s first major.
Is a career Grand Slam the same as a calendar Grand Slam?
No. A career Grand Slam spans a player’s career; a calendar Grand Slam requires all four wins in one calendar year.
The calendar version is much harder because the player has only four opportunities in one season. A career Grand Slam rewards longevity and adaptation across courses and eras instead.
Why is the fourth major so difficult?
Each major tests a different combination of course setup, weather, travel, field strength and pressure.
A player can dominate one style of course and still struggle at a links venue or in a U.S. Open setup. The time between majors is also short, so a poor week cannot simply be repaired with a different season’s preparation.
Does this definition include women’s majors?
No. This page uses the established men’s definition of the four major championships.
Women’s professional golf has five widely recognised majors and its own career-achievement discussions. Combining the lists would hide the different tournament structures and answer neither query cleanly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the career Grand Slam?
Winning the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship during a career.
How many have done it?
Six men.
Who was first?
Gene Sarazen in 1935.
Is it a calendar-year feat?
No. That is a separate and rarer achievement.
Which major was McIlroy missing?
The Masters, which he won in 2025.
Are women’s majors included?
No. Women’s golf has a separate major structure.
Bottom line
The career Grand Slam is a four-event test of range and longevity, not simply a count of major wins. A golfer must win the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship, in any order and across any number of seasons.
Frequently asked questions
What is a career Grand Slam in golf?+
It is winning the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship at least once during a career.
How many golfers have completed it?+
Six men have completed the modern career Grand Slam: Sarazen, Hogan, Player, Nicklaus, Woods and McIlroy.
Is it the same as a calendar Grand Slam?+
No. A calendar Grand Slam means winning all four majors in one calendar year, while a career Grand Slam can span many seasons.
Who was the first to complete it?+
Gene Sarazen was the first, completing the set at the 1935 Masters.
Which major is usually the missing one?+
The missing major varies by player; before completing the set, many candidates lack the Masters or Open Championship.
Do women's majors count in this list?+
No. This definition refers to the men's four major championships; women's golf has its own major structure.
Sources
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