Golf
Golfers with the Most Major Wins
SportsBoom takes a look at golfers who boast the most major wins and have their name etched in golfing folklore and history!
Tiger Woods of the United States celebrates after sinking a 4 feet putt to win the US Masters Golf Tournament /Getty Images
What are the majors in golf? While golfing bodies around the world host a number of competitive tournaments, the major tournaments largely refer to The Masters, The Open Championship, the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship.
These tournaments are essentially the crème de al crème of the golfing world. The impact of winning one of these cannot be understated. This is where careers are defined, and legacies are created!
Golfers with the Most Major Wins
| Player Name | Additional Achievements |
| Jack Nicklaus | 18 Major Championships (most in history), 73 PGA Tour wins, 6-time Masters Champion, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient |
| Tiger Woods | 15 Major Championships, 82 PGA Tour wins (tied for most in history), 5-time Masters Champion, Career Grand Slam, PGA Tour Player of the Year 11 times |
| Walter Hagen | 11 Major Championships, 45 PGA Tour wins, 5-time PGA Championship winner, first American-born golfer to win The Open Championship |
| Gary Player | 9 Major Championships, Career Grand Slam, 165 professional wins worldwide, known for global influence in golf and fitness advocacy |
Golfers with the Most Major Wins
Here is a close look at golfers who have the most major wins in their career.
Jack Nicklaus
Often referred to as the ‘Golden Bear’, Nicklaus holds the record for the most major championship victories in golf history. Winning a total of six Masters, four US Opens, three Open Championships and five PGA Championships, he is simply golfing royalty.
Tiger Woods
Amassing four Masters titles, three US Open Championships and five PGA Championships, Tiger Woods is another modern legend of the game. Winning his first Masters in 1997 at the age of 21, he then went on to become the only player to hold all four professional majors simultaneously – dubbing it the Tiger Slam.
This is a player who held the number one ranking position for 683 weeks! His talent is simply outstanding.
Walter Hagen
Hagen was a pioneer who played during the early 1920s and into the 1930s. Winning 11 major titles – at a time before the Masters – he became the first native American to win the Open Championship.
Often credited with contributing to seeing the game grow in popularity, Hagen would become the first player to earn a million dollars from the sport.
Gary Player
The South African would win four Masters titles, three Open Championships, two PGA Championships and one US Open in his illustrious career. He is one of just five players to complete the golfing career Grand Slam and never seemingly stopped golf around the world.
Along with others, Player would have a major role in securing initial popularity in the game through a global audience and worldwide success.
Notable Mentions
These current players stand out as the most likely to add to their major championship totals, even though they don’t necessarily top the major’s list right now.
Rory McIlroy has 26 career PGA Tour titles at the time of writing, but he is always one of the favourites when seen standing on the first tee-box. He has only won four majors thus far, but the area of concern for the Irish international might be the fact that his last was more than ten years ago.
Brooks Koepka made the jump to the LIV Golf Tour, but he will no doubt be wanting to add to his five majors. A runner-up twice at the Masters, Koepka has managed to secure three PGA Championship titles and two US Opens.
Bryson DeChambeau is an eccentric golfer who often divides opinion. Winning the US Open title in 2020 and 2024, he is always a threat with a powerful game and impenetrable belief in himself.
Trends & Records
The so-called ‘Big Three’ of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player not only assisted in seeing golf become a global game – they also dominated from 1950 – 1975. Tiger Woods would then become golf’s prince between 1997 and 2013, playing the game with a perfect blend of power and mental dominance.
The modern game, however, is arguably more competitive than ever before. There are challenges from all sides making it virtually impossible for any one player to dominate the game.
Conclusion
The majors in golf will always be the most sought-after prize in the game. They define a players career and offer an incredible platform for the installation of a legacy. Whether or not we will see another period of domination by a single player remains to be seen, but there is no questioning the competitiveness and global reach the sport now holds.
Let us know who is your G.O.A.T.
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.