How many golfers have completed a career grand slam?

When Rory McIlroy strode out to the first tee on the final day of the Open at St Andrew’s two years ago alongside Viktor Hovland with a share of the lead at -16, the Northern Irishman did so on the cusp of making history. A win at the Old Course would have given McIlroy a second Open victory, placing him on a list of greats to have won the venerable tournament more than once – a feat he has already achieved at the PGA Championship – as well as moving him up the list of all-time major winners to level with Seve Ballesteros, Peter Thompson, Byron Nelson, John Henry Taylor, and James Braid. Ultimately, he had to settle for third, with Cameron Smith taking the Claret Jug in some style.

Few have achieved golf’s career grand slam

McIlroy’s chance this year has flown by, as the Northern Irishman failed to take the win at the Masters once again; his tenth straight attempt to fall short. He lacks only that tournament to complete his quest, but for now, all eyes in the golfing world turn to Jordan Spieth, who lacks only the PGA Championship to round out a career slam. A win at Valhalla would see Spieth become only the sixth player in history to capture all four professional majors.

The first player to win a career grand slam, and the only player to have done so in a calendar year, was Bobby Jones in 1930. The US Amateur won the original grand slam by claiming the Open Championship, the US Open, the US Amateur, and the British Amateur in the same year.

In the modern era, the career slam consists of winning the four current majors: the Open, the Masters, the PGA Championship, and the US Open. No player has ever matched Jones’ feat of a calendar year slam, but five have managed a career slam: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. Only Woods and Nicklaus have achieved multiple career slams in that select group, and both players have completed the set thrice. Woods also completed the “Tiger Slam” in 2000-01, when the US great held all four majors simultaneously during his pomp.

Which players are still on for a career grand slam?

As well as McIlroy and Spieth, there is one other golfer who lacks only one win to complete the grand slam. Phil Mickelson has three Masters, two PGA Championships, and an Open to his name, lacking only the US Open to claim a career grand slam.