Men’s professional golf has established four modern major championships, which define the sport from Augusta National to St Andrews. These events represent the highest level of competition and the ultimate test of skill, nerve, and longevity in the sport. 234 men have won at least one major championship, yet only a select few have become dominant players who controlled the game throughout different time periods and competed for the most golf major wins.
The article examines elite athletes who won three or more major titles, which established the standards for measuring contemporary greatness. The Golfers with most major championship wins, in many ways, defined entire periods, leaving their mark on the sport’s narrative and setting the benchmarks for today’s champions. Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Walter Hagen are just a few of the most distinguished golf major winners in this select group, their accomplishments still representing the ultimate in major-championship achievement.
The Men With The Most Majors – Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus won a record of 18 major championships, which is unmatched in golf history, from the span of 1962 to 1986 as the ‘Golden Bear’ won major championships in three decades. Jack Nicklaus won multiple majors in a single year on five occasions: 1963, 1966, 1972, 1975, and 1980. He won at least one major in four consecutive years from 1970-1973, and rattled off seven of his 18 major triumphs in six years from 1970-75. Nicklaus’s dominance was further highlighted by his performance throughout the 1970s, where he finished in the top 10 in 35 of 40 major championships.
Jack Nicklaus stands alone as the only golfer to have claimed each major title at least once across two different decades. He also shares a rare distinction: three Career Grand Slams. In addition, he holds the records with 19 runner-up finishes and 73 top-five finishes in major championships, more than double the total of his nearest competitor.
Jack Nicklaus Major Wins Breakdown
- 6 Masters Tournament (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986)
- 5 PGA Championships (1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980)
- 4 U.S. Opens (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980)
- 3 Open Championship (1966, 1970, 1978)
Second Most Majors Wins – Tiger Woods
Despite a few major titles short of Jack Nicklaus, many golf fans consider Tiger Woods the best golfer of all time. He absolutely dominated his tour by winning 14 of his 15 majors in the span of just 12 years, i.e., from 1997 to 2008. He became the only player to hold all four major professional titles simultaneously and is now referred to as ‘Tiger Slam’, when he won the PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship in 2000, and followed it up with the Masters win in early 2001.
Tiger is also the Youngest Master Champion (21 in 1997) and the youngest to complete the Career Grand Slam (24 in 2000). He also tied with Sam Sead for the most PGA Tour wins (82). He won the 2008 U.S. Open with a broken leg, and perhaps added his most impressive major championship victory by winning the 2019 Masters, 22 years after his maiden major win. Having turned 50 this birthday on December 30, 2025, is now qualified for the PGA Tour Champions. He remains focused on making history, aiming to break Sam Snead’s record as the oldest player to win a PGA Tour event.
Tiger Woods Major Wins Breakdown
- 5 Master Tournament (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019)
- 4 PGA Championship (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007)
- 3 U.S. Open (2000, 2002, 2008)
- 3 Open Championship [aka British Open] (2000, 2005, 2006)
Third Most Major Wins – Walter Hagen
Placing him third all-time behind Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, Walter Hagen won all 11 of his major championships before the fourth major, the Masters, even existed. Walter’s final major triumph came at the 1929 Open Championship, five years before the Masters was played. Although he competed in six Masters Tournaments in his career, his best finish was T11, and he was unable to accomplish what today is known as the career grand slam in golf.
Hagen was the first American to win the British Open in 1922 and also won the Western Open five times, when it held near-major status, as some historians believe it should be added to his major tally. Hagen did, however, win four consecutive PGA Championships from 1924 to 1927 and rack up 11 major championships in the era when only three majors were contested each year.
Walter Hagen Major Wins Breakdown
- 5 PGA Championship (1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927)
- 4 Open Championship (1922, 1924, 1928, 1929)
- 2 U.S. Open (1914, 1919)
Elite Golfers With Three or More Major Championship Wins
All golfers with at least three wins in men’s major championships are listed here:
| Ranks | Name | Country | Winning Span | Masters | U.S. Open | The Open | PGA | Total Majors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack Nicklaus | United States | 1962-1986 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 18 |
| 2 | Tiger Woods | United States | 1997-2019 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 15 |
| 3 | Walter Hagen | United States | 1914-1929 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 11 |
| 4 | Ben Hogan | United States | 1946-1953 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| 4 | Gary Player | South Africa | 1959-1978 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| 6 | Tom Watson | United States | 1975-1983 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
| 7 | Harry Vardon | Jersey | 1896-1914 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 7 |
| 7 | Bobby Jones | United States | 1923-1930 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| 7 | Gene Sarazen | United States | 1922-1935 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 7 | Sam Snead | United States | 1942-1954 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 7 | Arnold Palmer | United States | 1958-1964 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 12 | Lee Trevino | United States | 1968-1984 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 12 | Nick Faldo | England | 1987-1996 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 12 | Phil Mickelson | United States | 2004-2021 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 15 | James Braid | Scotland | 1901-1910 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 15 | John Henry Taylor | England | 1894-1913 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 15 | Byron Nelson | United States | 1937-1945 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 15 | Peter Thomson | Australia | 1954-1965 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 15 | Seve Ballesteros | Spain | 1979-1988 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 15 | Brooks Koepka | United States | 2017-2023 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| 15 | Rory Mcllory | Northern Ireland | 2011-2025 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 22 | Tom Morris Sr. | Scotland | 1861-1867 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 22 | Tom Morris Jr. | Scotland | 1868-1872 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 22 | Willie Park Sr. | Scotland | 1860-1875 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 22 | Willie Anderson | Scotland | 1901-1905 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 22 | Jim Barnes | England | 1916-1925 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 22 | Bobby Locke | South Africa | 1949-1957 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 22 | Raymond Floyd | United States | 1969-1986 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 22 | Ernie Els | South Africa | 1994-2012 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 22 | Scottie Scheffler | United States | 2022-2025 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 31 | James Anderson | Scotland | 1877-1879 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 31 | Bob Ferguson | Scotland | 1880-1882 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 31 | Tommy Armour | Scotland | 1927-1931 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 31 | Denny Shute | United States | 1933-1937 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 31 | Ralph Guldahl | United States | 1937-1939 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 31 | Henry Cotton | England | 1934-1948 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 31 | Jimmy Demaret | United States | 1940-1950 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 31 | Cary Middlecoff | United States | 1949-1956 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 31 | Julius Boros | United States | 1952-1968 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 31 | Bily Casper | United States | 1959-1970 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 31 | Larry Nelson | United States | 1981-1987 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 31 | Hale Irwin | United States | 1974-1990 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 31 | Nick Price | Zimbabwe | 1992-1994 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 31 | Payne Stewart | United States | 1989-1999 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 31 | Vijay Singh | Fiji | 1998-2004 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 31 | Pádraig Harrington | Ireland | 2007-2008 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 31 | Jordan Spieth | United States | 2015-2017 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Notable Records & Achievements
Here are some mentioned records and achievements of men’s golf:
Youngest Major Winners
Tom Morris Jr., who won the 1868 Open Championship, is the youngest golfer to win a major championship at the age of 17 years, 5 months, and 8 days. Along with modern-era major golf wins for the U.S. Open, Johnny McDermott won at the age of 19 in 1911, and Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters at the age of 21.
Oldest Major Winners
Phil Mickelson, who won the 2021 PGA Championship at the age of 50, set a new record by surpassing Julius Boros, who won the 1968 PGA Championship at the age of 48. Phil’s historic win at Kiawah Island made him the oldest player to ever win any of the 4 majors in golf championships.
Multiple Majors in a Single Year
Winning multiple major championships in a single calendar year is extremely rare in men’s professional golf, achieved only 16 times by 15 different players since 1925. Although no player has won all four majors in one modern era season, 22 golfers have secured two or more majors within a single year, including legends like Ben Hogan in 1953 (Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship) and Tiger Woods in 2000 (U.S. Open, Open Championship, PGA Championship). Scottie Scheffler (2025) also achieved this by winning the PGA Championship and Open Championship.
Other notable seasons with multiple majors include those of Jack Nicklaus, Xander Schauffele, and Walter Hagen, underscoring the rarity and significance of this accomplishment. These milestones highlight the rarity and prestige of golf major championship winners.
Career Grand Slam Winners
Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Rory Mcllory are the six men who completed the golf career grand slam by winning all four major championships which include the Masters and PGA Championships, and the U.S. Open and Open Championship. Mcllory completed the achievement in 2025 as the latest player to win all four major championships.
Longest Streak of Major Wins
Tiger Woods established the most extended period of consecutive major victories in men’s golf when he achieved four consecutive major titles through his “Tiger Slam” which included the 2000 U.S. Open and 2000 Open Championship and 2000 PGA Championship and 2001 Masters.
Most Masters Wins
Jack Nicklaus holds the record for the most Masters wins with six green jackets. Tiger Woods follows him with five wins and Arnold Palmer won the tournament four times. The tournament has been won three times by other legends who include Sam Snead, Gary Player, Phil Mickelson, and Nick Faldo.
Most US Open Wins
Four golfers share the record of the most US Open wins, with four victories each: Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus, who each won four times between 1901 and 1980. Hale Irwin and Tiger Woods are next with three wins each.
Most Open Championship Wins
Harry Vardon holds the record for the most Open Championship wins in golf with six victories in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, and 1914, followed by James Braid, John Henry Taylor, Peter Thomson, and Tom Watson with five wins each.
Most PGA Championship Wins
Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen share the record for the most PGA Championship wins with five titles each, followed by Tiger Woods with four and Brooks Koepka with three. Nicklaus’ wins spanned the stroke play era (1963-1980), while Hagen’s were during the match play era (1921-1927).
Conclusion
The professional golf measuring system identifies major championships as the highest standard, which distinguishes exceptional players from legendary athletes. Although numerous golfers achieved major tournament victories, only a select number maintained their performance level to become dominant players throughout different time periods. The professional paths of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Walter Hagen demonstrate the extreme challenge that people encounter when trying to maintain athletic performance throughout multiple seasons. Their records continue to shape how greatness is defined and why discussions around the golfers with most major championship wins remain so compelling. Through their complete historical milestones and modern achievements, these accomplishments establish the core foundation that supports golf’s extensive heritage. The new golfers who emerge to pursue their historical goals find that past golf major winners establish both their inspiration and their proof of how exceptional golf dominance actually is.
FAQs
What golfer won 11 tournaments in a row?
Byron Nelson is the golfer who won a record of 11 consecutive tournaments in 1945, a dominant streak that included his PGA championship win and was part of an incredible season where he won a total of 18 events.
Who is the youngest golfer to win all 4 majors?
Tiger Woods is the youngest golfer to complete the career grand slam by winning all four major championships at the age of 24, by winning the Open Championship in 2000 and completing the set at the Masters in 2001.
Who is considered the greatest golfer ever?
Jack Nicklaus is considered the best golfer of all time, as his records 18 major championships with remarkable consistency, but Tiger Woods is a close second, often debated for his peak dominance and 15 majors.
How many majors has Trevino won?
Lee Trevino won six major championships during his career; 2 U.S. Opens (1968, 1971), 2 Open Championships (1971, 1972), and 2 PGA Championships (1974, 1984).
How many majors has Scheffler won?
Scottie Scheffler has won four major championships; 2 Masters (2022 and 2024), the 2025 PGA Championship, and the 2025 Open Championship, making him just one major short of the career Grand Slam, with the U.S. Open being the only championship he hasn’t won yet.
