The men who have won the most of golf's four professional majors, led by Jack Nicklaus and his record 18.
Quick answer: 1. Jack Nicklaus, 2. Tiger Woods, 3. Walter Hagen, 4. Ben Hogan, 5. Gary Player, 6. Tom Watson, 7. Harry Vardon, 8. Gene Sarazen, 9. Bobby Jones, 10. Sam Snead.
In men's professional golf, greatness is measured in majors — the four championships (the Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and PGA Championship) that define a career. This list ranks the golfers who have amassed the most major titles across the sport's history, from the pre-war pioneers to the modern era. At the top sit two names every fan knows — Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods — but the list runs deep with legends like Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, and Gary Player. It's for anyone settling a debate about who the true kings of the majors are, and how their wins break down across the four crowns.
The undisputed all-time leader with 18 professional majors — a record that has stood for decades. He won all four majors multiple times, completing the career Grand Slam three times over.
Second on the all-time list with 15 majors and the most dominant player of the modern era. His most recent came at the 2019 Masters, one of the great comeback stories in sport.
A pre-war icon with 11 majors, including five PGA Championships (tied with Nicklaus for the most) and four Open Championships. He never won the Masters, which was founded too late in his prime.
Tied for fourth with nine majors, six of them won after a near-fatal 1949 car crash. His 1953 season saw him take the Masters, U.S. Open, and Open Championship in a single year.
Tied for fourth with nine majors and one of only six men to complete the career Grand Slam by winning all four. His global career made him one of golf's first true international stars.
Sixth with eight majors, including five Open Championships — the most of the post-WWII era. His rivalry with Nicklaus produced some of golf's most memorable duels.
Tied for seventh with seven majors, anchored by a record six Open Championship titles that have never been surpassed. The Vardon grip he popularized is still used by most golfers today.
Tied for seventh with seven majors and the first man to complete the career Grand Slam of all four modern majors. His famous double eagle at the 1935 Masters helped cement the tournament's legend.
Tied for seventh with seven wins in the modern professional majors (four U.S. Opens, three Open Championships), all achieved as an amateur. His broader career tally is often cited as 13 when the U.S. and British Amateurs are included.
Tied for seventh with seven majors, but famously never won the U.S. Open despite four runner-up finishes — leaving him one leg short of the career Grand Slam. He holds the record for most PGA Tour victories overall.
| # | Name | Masters | U.S. Open | The Open | PGA Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack Nicklaus | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| 2 | Tiger Woods | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | Walter Hagen | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| 4 | Ben Hogan | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 5 | Gary Player | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 6 | Tom Watson | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | Harry Vardon | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 8 | Gene Sarazen | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 9 | Bobby Jones | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | Sam Snead | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
Golfers are ranked by total career wins in the four men's professional major championships — the Masters Tournament, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship (British Open), and the PGA Championship. Only wins in these four modern majors count; amateur championships (such as the U.S. and British Amateurs, sometimes included in older Bobby Jones tallies) and any senior/women's majors are excluded. Ties in total majors are listed together and broken alphabetically for display. Figures reflect the historical record as maintained by the sport's major-championship record-keepers and are current as of the date shown.
Jack Nicklaus holds the record with 18 professional major championships, ahead of Tiger Woods with 15. Nicklaus's total spans six Masters, four U.S. Opens, three Open Championships, and five PGA Championships.
The four men's professional majors are the Masters Tournament, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship (also called the British Open), and the PGA Championship. Winning all four in a career is known as the career Grand Slam.
Six men have won all four modern majors during their careers: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy. Sarazen was the first to do it, and McIlroy the most recent — completing the slam with his win at the 2025 Masters.
Tiger Woods has 15 major championships, second on the all-time list. His most recent came at the 2019 Masters, breaking an 11-year major drought.