What a Sunday it was for Rory McIlroy at the 2025 Masters.
It took a playoff, but he beat Justin Rose with a birdie on the first playoff hole to win his first green jacket and complete the career grand slam, becoming the sixth golfer all-time to win all four major championships at least once. He did so by earning his first major title in 11 years and breaking down with an emotional celebration on the 18th green at Augusta National Golf Club.
McIlroy is only the second golfer in the modern era to complete the career grand slam and first in 25 years.
Back in the day, the grand slam used to consist of the U.S. Amateur, British Amateur, U.S. Open and Open Championship. The terminology changed in the 1950s to drop the ams and include the Masters and PGA Championship.
Who are the golfers who have won the career grand slam?
Gene Sarazen
Sarazen was the first to complete it, though the term was hardly used in 1935 when he won the Masters to complete the modern grand slam. It was his seventh major title.
Ben Hogan
Hogan was the second to complete it, winning the Masters, U.S. Open and PGA Championship in the same year to finish it, his U.S. Open victory clinching what is known as the modern slam.
Gary Player
Player won the U.S. Open once in his career, coming in 1965, and it clinched him the slam, becoming the third player to do so.
Jack Nicklaus
Nicklaus, who has the all-time record with 18 major titles, clinched the slam a year later when he won the Open Championship. Nicklaus has actually won each of the four majors three times, giving him three slams.
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods completed the slam when he won the 2000 Open Championship. He also is the only player to hold all four major titles at the same time, completing the Tiger Slam when he won the 2001 Masters. Woods also has three career slams.
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy had to wait 11 years after he won his third different major title, but he finally broke through, beating Justin Rose in a playoff to win at Augusta National and finally get his green jacket.
Women's grand slam winners
Seven women have won the career grand slam, though the criteria has changed numerous times. The seven women's grand slam winners are: Mickey Wright, Louise Suggs, Karrie Webb, Annika Sorenstam, Juli Inkster, Pat Bradley and Inbee Park. The LPGA currently has five majors on its schedule.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: How many golfers have won the career grand slam?
