Major Championships in Golf: A Look at the Record Books
The world of golf is abuzz with the news of Scottie Scheffler’s recent victory at the PGA Championship, his third major tournament win. The 28-year-old Texan, currently ranked World No. 1, has been making waves in the golfing community with his impressive performances. According to NBCDFW.com, Scheffler’s win at the PGA Championship is a significant milestone in his career, and it has sparked a renewed interest in the record books.
As reported by NBCDFW.com, golf’s four major tournaments are the Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and Open Championship. These events are considered the most prestigious in the sport, and winning all four is a rare achievement known as a career grand slam. Only six players have accomplished this feat, with Rory McIlroy being the most recent to do so, winning the 2025 Masters Tournament.
The Four Major Golf Tournaments
The Masters Tournament, held in April at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, kicks off the major season. The PGA Championship follows, rotating sites throughout the country, typically on the weekend before Memorial Day. The U.S. Open is held on Father’s Day weekend at various venues, often with challenging scoring conditions. Finally, The Open Championship is played at different coastal links courses across the United Kingdom in mid-July. As NBCDFW.com notes, these tournaments are the most highly anticipated events in the golfing calendar.
Has Anyone Ever Held All Four Majors in Golf?
While six players have won all four majors throughout their careers, none have achieved the rare feat of winning them in the same year. Tiger Woods and Ben Hogan came closest, each winning three of the four majors in a given year. Woods, in 2000, finished fifth in the Masters before winning the U.S. Open, The Open, and the PGA Championship. He is the only player to have completed the "Tiger Slam," winning four consecutive majors, albeit not within the same calendar year. As quoted in NBCDFW.com, Woods’ achievement is a testament to his exceptional skill and dedication to the sport.
Active Golfers with the Most Major Wins
Scheffler, with his three major wins, still has a way to go to join the likes of Tiger Woods, who leads all active golfers with 15 major championships. NBCDFW.com reports that Woods, unfortunately, has not played this year due to a ruptured Achilles injury suffered in February. The active players with multiple major wins are:
- Tiger Woods, 15
- Phil Mickelson, 6
- Rory McIlroy, 5
- Brooks Koepka, 5
- Ernie Els, 4
- Scottie Scheffler, 3
- Jordan Spieth, 3
- Pádraig Harrington, 3
- Vijay Singh, 3
Who Has the Most Majors in Golf?
Jack Nicklaus stands atop the record books with 18 major championships, a feat yet to be matched by any other golfer. Woods is close behind with 15, while Walter Hagen has 11. The full list of players with at least four majors in golf, as per NBCDFW.com, is:
- Jack Nicklaus, 18
- Tiger Woods, 15
- Walter Hagen, 11
- Ben Hogan, 9
- Gary Player, 9
- Tom Watson, 8
- Harry Vardon, 7
- Bobby Jones, 7
- Gene Sarazen, 7
- Sam Snead, 7
- Arnold Palmer, 7
In conclusion, Scottie Scheffler’s recent victory at the PGA Championship is a significant milestone in his career, and it has sparked a renewed interest in the record books. As NBCDFW.com reports, the world of golf is eager to see who will be the next to join the exclusive club of major championship winners. With the next major tournament just around the corner, golf fans will be keeping a close eye on the leaderboard, waiting to see who will emerge victorious.
