The Grand Slam in golf is the pinnacle of achievement for professional golfers, a testament to their exceptional talent, determination, and consistency. It is the feat of winning all four major championships—The Masters, the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championship—in the same calendar year. Only a handful of players have come close to achieving this prestigious accomplishment, and just a few have successfully etched their names in the annals of golf history.

In this article, we pay homage to golf’s Grand Slam winners, looking back at their careers and the incredible moments that defined their legacies.

Bobby Jones (1930)

The first golfer to achieve the Grand Slam, Bobby Jones is a true golfing legend. In 1930, Jones made history by winning the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, the U.S. Amateur, and the British Amateur. Although the modern Grand Slam now consists of four professional majors, Jones’s accomplishment in the pre-Masters era remains one of the most impressive feats in golf history.

An amateur golfer his entire career, Jones co-founded the Masters Tournament in 1934, which later replaced the U.S. Amateur and British Amateur in the modern definition of the Grand Slam.

Ben Hogan (1953)

While Ben Hogan did not win all four majors in a single year, his remarkable performance in 1953, when he won the Masters, the U.S. Open, and the Open Championship, is often referred to as the “Hogan Slam.” Hogan did not compete in the PGA Championship that year, as it conflicted with the Open Championship.

Despite the missed opportunity, Hogan’s three consecutive major victories are a testament to his incredible skill and determination. His legendary ball-striking and perseverance in overcoming a near-fatal car accident in 1949 further cemented Hogan’s status as one of golf’s all-time greats.

Tiger Woods (2000-2001)

Tiger Woods’s extraordinary career includes the unique achievement of holding all four major championship titles at the same time, albeit not in the same calendar year. This feat, known as the “Tiger Slam,” began in 2000 when Woods won the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championship. He completed the slam in April 2001 by winning the Masters.

Woods’s dominance during this period was unmatched, and his impact on the game has been profound, inspiring a new generation of golfers and elevating the sport to new heights.

Honorable Mentions: Near Grand Slam Winners

Several other golfers have come tantalizingly close to achieving the Grand Slam, winning three of the four major championships in a single year:

• Jack Nicklaus (1972): Masters, U.S. Open, and British Open
• Arnold Palmer (1960): Masters, U.S. Open, and British Open
• Gary Player (1965): Masters, U.S. Open, and British Open
• Jordan Spieth (2015): Masters, U.S. Open, and British Open

The Grand Slam in golf represents the ultimate test of skill, mental fortitude, and consistency. While only a select few have come close to achieving this monumental feat, the legends who have managed to conquer the challenge will forever be celebrated as the epitome of golfing greatness.