Most Major Wins in Men’s Golf: The All-Time List
Four times a year the whole of golf points at the same tournament, and careers are measured by what happens next. The major championship count is the sport’s ultimate scoreboard — and its most stable one, because the same rare profile keeps rising to the top of it. Here is the all-time list, the story behind the biggest tallies, and what golf’s greatest roll of honour tells a punter about betting the majors.
If you want the equivalent for a single major, our most Open Championship wins guide breaks down the Claret Jug specifically. This one covers all four.
Most Majors Won — The All-Time Leaders
| Player | Majors | Masters | US Open | The Open | PGA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Nicklaus | 18 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Tiger Woods | 15 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Walter Hagen | 11 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Gary Player | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Ben Hogan | 9 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Tom Watson | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Gene Sarazen | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Sam Snead | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Harry Vardon | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Arnold Palmer | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Professional major totals. The Masters began in 1934, so pre-war and turn-of-the-century greats such as Hagen and Vardon accumulated their majors across the other three.
The Two Who Broke Away
Jack Nicklaus (18) is the number every great player has chased for half a century. What sets the Golden Bear apart isn’t just the wins — it’s the 19 runner-up finishes alongside them. Nicklaus contended in majors for a quarter of a century, the ultimate expression of a repeatable, bomb-and-manage game and an ice-cold temperament.
Tiger Woods (15) compressed his greatness into ferocious peaks. From 1997 to 2008 he redefined what dominance looked like, and his 2019 Masters — 11 years after his previous major and following multiple back surgeries — is one of the most improbable wins the sport has seen. The gap from Woods to Hagen’s 11 tells you how far clear the top two are.
What the List Tells You About Betting the Majors
- Majors reward a profile, not a hot week. The names at the top were elite ball-strikers who could grind par when a course bared its teeth. When you bet a major, start from tee-to-green class on the Statz Leaders table, not last week’s winner.
- Multiple-major winners cluster. Once a player proves they can win one, they tend to win more — temperament and big-stage nerve are real, repeatable edges. Proven major pedigree deserves weight in your shortlist.
- The field is huge, so prices are generous. Even the best players start majors at double-figure odds, which is why each-way betting is the sensible way in. And because 40/1+ winners happen, the majors are also home to some of the biggest longshot wins in history.
- Course specialists matter. Nicklaus’ six Masters and Watson’s five Opens weren’t accidents — some venues suit some games. Cross-reference the field with course fit before every major.
The Modern Chasers
No active player is close to Nicklaus or Woods, but the leaderboard of this generation is where the next multiple-major names are being written. Scottie Scheffler has stacked majors with the kind of relentless tee-to-green dominance that historically travels to the biggest weeks. Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth have each assembled the bulk of a career grand slam, while Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa and Jon Rahm all sit among the modern multiple-major winners.
Whether any of them threatens the record is a question of longevity as much as brilliance. Track how their major form is trending on the Trending page and line them up head-to-head with the Compare tool as each major approaches.
Most Major Wins FAQ
Who has won the most majors in golf?
Jack Nicklaus has won the most professional majors with 18 — six Masters, four US Opens, three Opens and five PGA Championships. Tiger Woods is second on 15. No other player in the modern era has reached double figures except Walter Hagen, who won 11.
How many majors did Tiger Woods win?
Tiger Woods has won 15 professional majors: five Masters, three US Opens, three Opens and four PGA Championships. His pursuit of Nicklaus’ record of 18 was one of the defining storylines of modern golf, and his 2019 Masters win at the age of 43 was among the great comebacks in sport.
What are the four majors in men’s golf?
The four men’s majors, in calendar order, are the Masters (April, at Augusta National), the PGA Championship (May), the US Open (June) and The Open Championship (July). Winning all four in a career is the career grand slam; winning all four in a single year is the calendar grand slam, which no man has achieved in the modern era.
Who has won the most of each major?
Jack Nicklaus holds the record for the Masters (6) and shares or leads several others. Harry Vardon won a record six Opens. Nicklaus won five PGA Championships (tied with Walter Hagen). Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Nicklaus share the US Open record with four apiece.
Has anyone won the calendar grand slam?
No man has won all four professional majors in the same calendar year. Ben Hogan won three in 1953 but could not play the PGA due to a scheduling clash with The Open. Tiger Woods held all four titles at once across 2000–2001 — the “Tiger Slam” — but not within a single calendar year.
Why does major-winning history matter for betting?
The roll of honour is a filter. Majors reward a repeatable profile — elite ball-striking, temperament and the ability to peak four times a year — which is why the same names recur. When you bet the majors, weighting proven major performers and elite tee-to-green form beats chasing whoever won last week.