Career Grand Slam Legends in Golf: Every PGA and LPGA Player Who Achieved the Impossible

In golf, greatness isn’t defined by a single tournament or even one extraordinary season. True legends are measured by their ability to succeed repeatedly, across different courses, eras, and conditions. No achievement captures that standard better than the career Grand Slam — winning every major championship recognized during a player’s era.

On both the PGA and LPGA Tours, only a small group of golfers have managed to complete this demanding feat. Their names stand apart in golf history, not simply because they won majors, but because they conquered all of them. This guide explores every PGA and LPGA player who achieved a career Grand Slam, explains what the accomplishment truly means, and highlights why it remains one of the most respected milestones in the sport.

What Does “Career Grand Slam” Mean in Golf?

The idea of a Grand Slam in golf has evolved significantly over time. Originally, it referred to winning all major championships within a single calendar year. That version of the Grand Slam was achieved only once, in 1930, by Bobby Jones — and under a very different major structure than today.

Modern professional golf recognizes four majors for men:

• The Masters Tournament
  

• The U.S. Open
  

• The Open Championship
  

• The PGA Championship
  
  

Winning all four in the same year has never happened in the modern era. The combination of intense competition, varying course styles, and physical demands makes it extraordinarily difficult. As a result, the standard shifted to the career Grand Slam, which requires winning each major at least once over the course of a career.

This definition rewards longevity, adaptability, and sustained excellence rather than short-term dominance.

PGA Tour Players Who Completed the Career Grand Slam

Only six men have completed the career Grand Slam on the PGA Tour. Each did so in a unique way, shaped by their era and playing style.

Gene Sarazen

Gene Sarazen was one of the earliest players to dominate professional golf. His major victories spanned more than a decade, and his win at the Masters in 1935 completed the career Grand Slam. Sarazen’s innovation and consistency helped shape professional golf during its formative years.

Ben Hogan

Ben Hogan’s legacy is built on precision and discipline. Known for his meticulous approach to the swing, Hogan overcame early struggles and a near-fatal car accident to claim all four majors by 1953. His career Grand Slam remains one of the most admired achievements in golf due to the adversity he faced.

Gary Player

Gary Player’s success extended far beyond trophies. He won majors on different continents, adapting to vastly different playing conditions. His career Grand Slam symbolized golf’s expansion into a truly global sport and showcased the importance of fitness and preparation long before those concepts became standard.

Jack Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus set the gold standard for championship golf. With 18 major titles, he not only completed the career Grand Slam but did so with sustained dominance across multiple decades. Nicklaus proved that greatness in golf is as much about consistency as it is about talent.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods transformed the game. His career Grand Slam was completed at a historically young age, and he later achieved the “Tiger Slam” by holding all four majors at the same time across two seasons. His influence reshaped training methods, athletic expectations, and the global popularity of golf.

Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy’s journey to the career Grand Slam tested patience and resilience. After winning three majors early in his career, the Masters remained elusive for more than a decade. His breakthrough victory in 2025 finally completed the Grand Slam and became one of the most emotional moments in modern golf history.

PGA Stars Who Fell One Major Short

Several elite players have built Hall of Fame careers without completing the career Grand Slam, highlighting just how unforgiving the achievement is.

• Phil Mickelson won every major except the U.S. Open, finishing runner-up multiple times.
  

• Jordan Spieth captured three majors quickly but continues to chase a PGA Championship.
  

• Scottie Scheffler, despite modern dominance, still seeks a U.S. Open title.
  
  

Their near-misses reinforce that talent alone is not enough — timing, opportunity, and mental endurance all play decisive roles.

How the LPGA Career Grand Slam Works

Unlike the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour’s list of major championships has changed over time. This makes the women’s career Grand Slam more complex but no less impressive. The LPGA recognizes seven players who completed the career Grand Slam based on the majors available during their competitive years.

LPGA Players Who Achieved the Career Grand Slam

Louise Suggs

Louise Suggs was a trailblazer for women’s professional golf. As a founding member of the LPGA, she dominated the early years of the tour and became the first woman to complete the career Grand Slam. Her success helped legitimize women’s golf at the professional level.

Mickey Wright

Mickey Wright’s swing is still considered one of the finest in golf history. Her major victories during the 1950s and 1960s showcased both power and precision. Completing the career Grand Slam confirmed her status as one of the most naturally gifted players the sport has seen.

Pat Bradley

Pat Bradley rose to prominence in the 1980s, an era of increasing depth and competition. Her ability to win different majors under varying conditions demonstrated adaptability and mental strength — key traits of any Grand Slam champion.

Juli Inkster

Juli Inkster’s career was defined by longevity and competitiveness. Her major wins stretched across many years, and she consistently performed at her best when the stakes were highest. Completing the career Grand Slam highlighted her resilience and elite competitive mindset.

Karrie Webb (Super Career Grand Slam)

Karrie Webb stands alone in LPGA history. Because she won five different majors during periods of change in the LPGA schedule, she achieved what is often called a super career Grand Slam. This distinction makes her accomplishment unmatched in women’s golf.

Annika Sörenstam

Annika Sörenstam dominated women’s golf in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Her career Grand Slam was achieved during a highly competitive era, and her consistency redefined excellence on the LPGA Tour.

Inbee Park

Inbee Park became the most recent LPGA player to complete the career Grand Slam. Her victories came across different major formats, proving her adaptability and calm under pressure. Her success reflects the modern global depth of women’s golf.

LPGA Players Still Chasing the Dream

Several current stars remain just one major victory away from completing the career Grand Slam:

• Lydia Ko
  

• Anna Nordqvist
  

• In Gee Chun
  
  

Their pursuits add long-term storylines to LPGA majors and keep the Grand Slam conversation alive every season.

Comparing Career Grand Slams: PGA vs LPGA

While the structure of majors differs between tours, the core challenge remains the same: sustained excellence across golf’s biggest stages.

Both tours celebrate Grand Slam winners as symbols of complete mastery.

Why the Career Grand Slam Matters So Much

Winning a career Grand Slam represents:

• Versatility across different courses and conditions
  

• Longevity in a physically and mentally demanding sport
  

• Mental strength in high-pressure situations
  
  

It is a measure of greatness over time, not just peak performance.

Final Reflection

The career Grand Slam Golf stands as one of golf’s rarest and most respected achievements. From Gene Sarazen’s early dominance to Rory McIlroy’s long-awaited triumph, and from Louise Suggs’ pioneering success to Karrie Webb’s unmatched super slam, these players didn’t just win majors — they mastered the game.

Their stories remind us why golf values patience, precision, and perseverance above all else. In a sport where perfection is impossible, the career Grand Slam comes closer than anything else to defining what true golfing greatness looks like