How many golfers have completed a career grand slam?

Rory McIlroy unceremoniously bowed out of the British Open after shooting four-over-par 75 on Friday, bringing another fruitless season to an end for the Northern Irishman.

McIlroy battles against the wind at Royal Troon

“That four-hole stretch at the start of the round was unfortunate in the worst of the wind. The wind died down on the back nine and it became more manageable for me,” he told Sky Sports. “‘I’ve had 14 holes to deal with everything. After the eight on four, I resigned myself to the fact I wouldn’t be here for the weekend”.

After regularly featuring in the top 10 world ranking, it’s now been a decade since he won a major tournament.

When 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, he did so on the cusp of making history. A win at the Old Course would have given Rory 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 players have achieved golf’s career grand slam

McIlroy’s chance this year has once again 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.

All eyes in the golfing world were focused on Jordan Spieth, who lacks only the PGA Championship to round out a career slam. However, fell short at Valhalla, finishing six under to tie 43rd - a disappointing result for a player who could 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.