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Golf Grand Slam Winners: Who Has Won the Most?

Amelia WalkerBy Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer Updated: 07 July 2023
Amelia Walker Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer

Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.

Golf ball and stick Golf Grand Slam Winners

If you’re interested in learning more about the best golf Grand Slam winners in history, then this blog is designed for you. Today, we will be looking at what it takes for golfers to win the Grand Slam, what the Grand Slam is, and a few of the world’s most well-known golfers who’ve accomplished this amazing feat.

Career Grand Slam in Golf: The Ultimate Golfing Achievement

Getting a career Grand Slam in golf is arguably the biggest achievement a professional golfer can accomplish. It’s not something that many have been able to manage, and, as you’ll see from this post, only the world’s best have been able to complete this feat. Who has won all 4 majors in golf? Keep reading today’s blog to find out.

Career Grand Slam Winners in Golf: What is a Grand Slam?

The Grand Slam in golf is the ultimate achievement that every golfer dreams of accomplishing. Career Grand Slam winners in golf have won all four major championships: the Masters, the US Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship. A career Grand Slam is achieved when a golfer wins all four of these majors at least once in their career.

If you’ve bet on Grand Slam golf tournaments in the past, you will already be familiar with what these events entail. However, for those who are unfamiliar with the Grand Slam, we’re going to begin this blog by taking a look at how Grand Slams started and what they are.

The career Grand Slam is simple: it is an accolade taken by any player who manages to win all four Majors in their career. These are the Masters, US Open, British Open, and PGA Championship.

Today, we will be exploring the incredible achievements of five golfers who have reached the pinnacle of golfing success by claiming the career Grand Slam: Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Gene Sarazen.

Jack Nicklaus Achievements

Jack Nicklaus, often nicknamed the “Golden Bear,” is a true icon in the world of golf. Born in 1940, he showed tremendous promise for the game in his young teen years, and his natural talent allowed him to turn pro in 1961. With a record 18 major championships to his name, Nicklaus is easily one of the greatest golfers of all time, thanks to his consistent perfection and exceptional skill on the course.

Nicklaus won his first major at the 1962 US Open, and by 1966, he had completed his career Grand Slam, an incredible achievement considering he was only 26 years old. He went on to win six Masters titles and five PGA Championships, along with three US Open and three Open Championship victories, making him, without a doubt, the best golfer in modern history, with three career Grand Slams.

Below, we’ll show you some of Nicklaus’ most impressive achievements he managed during his career:

Achievement Description
Masters Tournament Wins Nicklaus won the Masters Tournament a record six times in his career, in 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, and 1986.
Major Championship Wins Nicklaus won a record 18 major championships during his career, including six Masters Tournaments, five PGA Championships, four U.S. Open Championships, and three Open Championships.
PGA Tour Wins Nicklaus won a total of 73 PGA Tour events in his career, third on the all-time list behind Sam Snead and Tiger Woods.
Ryder Cup Record Nicklaus played in six Ryder Cup tournaments and captained the U.S. team four times. He also served as honorary captain for the U.S. team in 1995 and 1997.
World Golf Hall of Fame Nicklaus was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974, just three years after becoming eligible. He was one of the youngest inductees ever at the time.

Tiger Woods’ Legacy

Tiger Woods, born in 1975, is probably the most recognizable golfer in history, and he’s also the most influential. He also happens to be one of the most successful golfers ever. Bursting onto the scene as a young prodigy, Woods turned pro in 1996 and quickly took the golf world by storm.

His remarkable story of learning to play with twigs when he was a young kid inspired millions of people around the world, and he’s tied with Nicklaus for the most career Grand Slams won; three. However, he only has 15 major titles to his name, compared to Nicklaus’ 18.

By the age of 24, Woods had already achieved the coveted career Grand Slam, making him the youngest golfer to win the Grand Slam. Throughout his career, he has claimed a total of 15 major championships, including four Masters, three US Opens, three Open Championships, and five PGA Championships.

Despite his success on the links, Woods suffered some major personal struggles and scandals in 2009. It was revealed that Woods had cheated on his wife, was struggling with addiction, and, in addition to this, he was also arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Many commentators assumed it was the end of Woods’ career, but he made a surprising comeback, and as recently as 2019, won the Masters Tournament for the fifth time.

Ben Hogan’s Triumphs

Ben Hogan was one of the greatest golfers of all time, and his influence on the sport is still felt today.

Born on August 13, 1912, in Stephenville, Texas, Hogan began his golf career as a caddie, but quickly made a name for himself as one of the most talented players of his generation. He claims that during his time as a caddie, he studied the techniques of golfers and was able to form a visual representation of how the “perfect shot” could be consistently played.

After Hogan started playing, it became apparent that his “theory” held up; his swing, known for its accuracy and consistency, helped him win nine major championships, including four US Opens, two Masters, two PGA Championships, and one Open Championship. In 1953, Hogan completed his career Grand Slam with an incredible win at Carnoustie, making it one of the most memorable years in golf history.

In addition to his success on the course, Hogan was also a pioneer of teaching golf. He wrote several books, including “Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf,” which is still regarded as one of the most important golf instruction books ever written. As one of only five golfers to win the Grand Slam, Hogan’s legacy will always be remembered, and he remains one of the sport’s true icons today.

Gary Player’s Success

Gary Player, from South Africa, was born in 1935 and turned pro in 1953. Nicknamed the Black Knight for his signature all-black outfit on the course, Player is famed for his incredible success.

Player’s career boasts nine major championship titles, including three Masters, three Open Championships, two PGA Championships, and one US Open. He achieved his career Grand Slam in 1965, becoming the first non-American golfer to do so. He is still the only player from outside the US to hold this honor.

According to many, Player is one of the best golfers in history, and his track record makes this pretty hard to disagree with. Despite being 87 years old, Player still occasionally plays, although the latter stages of his life have largely been spent running The Player Foundation, an initiative that aims to help underprivileged children gain access to vital education around the world.

Gene Sarazen’s Impact

Gene Sarazen, born in 1902, was a pioneer of golf who displayed immense talent and innovation throughout his career. Known as the Squire, Sarazen’s beginnings in golf as a caddie eventually led him to a successful professional career that started in the early 1920s.

Sarazen’s major achievements include seven major championships, with two US Opens, three PGA Championships, one Masters, and one Open Championship. In 1935, he completed his career Grand Slam, becoming the first golfer to achieve this feat.

Beyond his success on the course, Sarazen made a significant contribution to the sport with his invention of the modern sand wedge. This game-changing innovation improved bunker play and transformed how golfers approached shots around the greens. Gene Sarazen’s impact on golf, both as a player and an innovator, is a feat not many can claim, and he’s held in incredibly high respect by golfers all around the world to this day.

Frequently Asked Questions

As you can see, the number of golf Grand Slam winners is small, as only five golfers have won career Grand Slams. To wrap up this post, we're going to be answering a few commonly asked questions readers may have about the Grand Slam and the players we've talked about.

What is a Career Grand Slam in golf?

A career Grand Slam in golf is a rare accomplishment where a golfer wins all four major championships, which are the Masters, the US Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship, at least once in their career. Achieving a career Grand Slam is pretty much the ultimate achievement in golf, and only five golfers have achieved it to date.

Who are some of the most famous Career Grand Slam winners?

Some of the most notable career Grand Slam winners in golf history are Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Gene Sarazen. In fact, these are the only winners, as there are only five golfers who have won all four major tournaments!

How many major titles did Jack Nicklaus win?

Jack Nicklaus is known for being one of the greatest golfers of all time, and he won 18 majors in his career. This incredible feat includes all four majors required for a career Grand Slam. It's unlikely we'll see his record broken any time soon, as even Tiger Woods couldn't win more championships than Nicklaus.

How did Tiger Woods change the face of golf?

Tiger Woods' impact on golf is, to some, immeasurable. He inspired a generation of golfers, brought the sport to a much wider, global audience, and dominated the game for years. He's also regularly praised for getting more people of color involved in the sport than ever before, becoming a role model for many.

What is Gene Sarazen known for besides his career grand slam?

Gene Sarazen is not only a career Grand Slam winner but he also made a huge contribution to golf by inventing the modern sand wedge. This club invention changed the way golfers around the world played from the bunker, and his innovation is used by every golfer in the world today.
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