Top 10 Most Golf Majors Winners
Many golfers have achieved greatness over the years, but who won the most? To answer a question like this, we are examining the golfers with the most major championship victories. To keep this list as accurate as possible, we are only looking for players who won the four major golf tournaments by today’s standards. The U.S. and British Amateur no longer count as majors in our eyes.
Usually, there are ten entries when doing a list like this. However, in professional golf, several players share the same number of victories. That means there are 11 golfers in the top ten because of ties. This may sound confusing, but it’s straightforward. There are four majors available for golfers to win each year. Including the Master, U.S. Open, PGA Championship, and Open Championship.
We are focusing on players who have won multiple majors throughout their careers, including grand slams. There have been five players in golf history to achieve career grand slams. All five are present in our top ten. If you love golf, we have plenty of other exciting lists for you to enjoy at Bet Station. We have covered the 15 best golfers of all time and the 15 best commentators and announcers. If you are planning a luxury golf trip, check out the current 15 best golf courses in the world.
11. Arnold Palmer
Starting our list, we have one of the best golfers of all time, Arnold Palmer. Palmer turned professional in 1954 and he managed 95 professional wins in his career. He racked up 62 wins on the PGA tour, leaving him fifth on the all-time wins lists behind the likes of Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus. He won seven majors in his career, including four Masters, two Open Championships, and one U.S. Open. Palmer nearly completed a career grand slam on three occasions, coming tied for second place on three occasions at the PGA Championship.
Palmer was a golfing icon because of his humble attitude and modest upbringing. He was the first golf superstar of the TV era, and he helped disprove the notion of golf being reserved for the elites. Palmer, alongside Nicklaus, and Gary Player, known as “the Big Three”, popularized and then commercialized golf around the world. There is no doubt without the efforts of Palmer, golf would not be the sport we know and love to this day.
- Number of Majors: 7
- Masters Wins: 4
- PGA Championship Wins: 0
- U.S. Open Wins: 1
- Open Championship Wins: 2
- PGA Tour Wins: 62
10. Sam Snead
Next on our list, also with seven majors, is Sam Snead. Another one of the best golfers of all time, Snead turned pro in 1934 and managed 143 wins. On the PGA Tour, Snead is first alongside Tiger Woods on the all-time wins list with 82. He won three Masters, three PGA Championships, and one Open Championship. Unfortunately, he also narrowly missed out on a career grand slam by coming second or tied for second at the U.S. Open on four occasions.
Snead was at the top of golf for over four decades thanks to his remarkable swing. Many players of the time tried to imitate his swing, but none rivaled his contagious personality. His consistent and impressive swing drew admirers and records. He was the first golfer to win an event 17 times, the West Virginia Open. He was also the first to win a golfing event across six decades and the oldest player to make the cut at a major. Lastly, Snead was the first player on the PGA Tour to shoot his age, 67 in the 1979 Quad Cities Open.
I don’t think there’s any question in my mind that Sam Snead had the greatest golf swing of any human being that ever lived.
- Gary Player
Snead was not just a fan-favorite throughout his career, but his fellow golf professionals admired him. Few players in golf history have commanded as much respect as Sam Snead, and we will remember him as one of golf’s greatest players.
- Number of Majors: 7
- Masters Wins: 3
- PGA Championship Wins: 3
- U.S. Open Wins: 0
- Open Championship Wins: 1
- PGA Tour Wins: 82
9. Harry Vardon
Harry Vardon is the first player from outside the United States on our list of most major victories. Vardon was born in Jersey, a small island country off the coast of France. He turned pro in 1890, making him the oldest player on the list by some margin. It’s hard to imagine what golf was like in the prime of Snead’s career, let alone 50 years prior. Even with a disapproving father, Vardon would make history in his career with seven major championships.
The Open Championship was the first major event in golf, and that began in 1860. It wasn’t until 1895 that they introduced the second major, the U.S. Open, to the calendar. In 1916, they introduced the PGA Championship, and it wasn't until 1934 that they held the first Masters. Even with fewer majors and golfing events, Vardon won six Open Championships, the most by any player in golf history. He also won the U.S. Open at the turn of the century. Unfortunately, thanks to tuberculosis, Vardon was no longer at his best when the other majors made it to the calendar.
- Number of Majors: 7
- Masters Wins: 0
- PGA Championship Wins: 0
- U.S. Open Wins: 1
- Open Championship Wins: 6
- PGA Tour Wins: N/A
8. Bobby Jones
The next player on our list was also present in our countdown of the best golfers of all time. He came in at 11th on that list, but also seventh for the most golf majors in history. Jones turned pro in 1930 and only won nine events on the PGA Tour. He never played at the PGA Championships and his highest finish at the Masters was joint 13th in 1934. To make up for what seems like an unimpressive professional career, Jones won the U.S. Open four times and the Open Championship on three occasions.
If we were to count the U.S. Amateur and British Amateur events, he would have six more majors to his name. Unfortunately, those events are no longer in the same league as the other majors, so his five U.S. Amateurs do not help him climb any more places. Jones was the most successful amateur in golf history. He was a lawyer by trade and competed at golf events on a part-time basis only. He retired from golf at 28 but helped design one of the best golf courses in the world, Augusta. Who knows how great his career could have been if he had focused full-time on golf? Plus, if we counted his unique grand slam, he would be up there with the best golfers of all time.
- Number of Majors: 7
- Masters Wins: 0
- PGA Championship Wins: 0
- U.S. Open Wins: 4
- Open Championship Wins: 3
- PGA Tour Wins: 9
7. Gene Sarazen
Now that we are edging toward the top end of the list, we can talk about some truly special golfers. Gene Sarazen was one of the best golfers of all time and was a dominant player in the 20s and 30s. He turned pro in 1920 and won 38 events on the PGA Tour. Although he was only around 5ft5in, Sarazen was a giant in the game and even revolutionized the sand wedge, a club design that players across the world use to this day.
He is the fifth player on our list tied at the seventh spot, as he also has seven major victories. However, Sarazen achieved something none of the players so far have managed. Sarazen completed a grand slam by winning the second-ever Masters Tournament in 1935. This was the last major he won, but it was the jewel in his crown. He won the PGA Championship three times, the U.S. Open Twice, and the Open Championship in 1932. Perhaps his most iconic moment was at the Masters in 1935 with “the shot heard ‘round the world”. Sarazen was three down on the leader but scored a double eagle on the 15th by holing out from 232 yards. Many believe it was that shot that put Augusta on the map.
- Number of Majors: 7
- Masters Wins: 1
- PGA Championship Wins: 3
- U.S. Open Wins: 2
- Open Championship Wins: 1
- PGA Tour Wins: 38
6. Tom Watson
Unsurprisingly, Tom Watson has the sixth most major win of any golfer in history. Watson, who is also on our list of the best golf players ever, also came close to a career grand slam. He won eight majors, including five Open Championships. In 1978, Watson came tied for second at the PGA Championship after a playoff. Unfortunately, he led the first three rounds outright but missed out on the opportunity of winning the only major that eluded him in his career.
Watson had 70 professional wins since he turned pro in 1971. That includes 39 on the PGA, which puts him as the joint tenth-best player on the all-time win list. Few careers have been as successful or as long as Watson’s. Nearly 26 years after his last major victory, he led the second and third rounds at the 2009 Open Championship. However, at 59 years of age, it proved to be one major too many as he missed his chance to win and lost the playoff. Watson was at his best in the late 70s and early 80s, winning the PGA Player of the Year award six times and the Vardon Trophy three times.
- Number of Majors: 8
- Masters Wins: 2
- PGA Championship Wins: 0
- U.S. Open Wins: 1
- Open Championship Wins: 5
- PGA Tour Wins: 39
5. Gary player
The golfer tied for fourth place on the all-time major win list is Gary Player. Player has nine major championship victories in his career, including a grand slam. He is one of five golfers to complete a grand slam and the only non-American to do so. Having turned pro in 1953, Player had a long and impressive career across multiple tours. He won 159 professional events, including 24 on the PGA Tour and 22 on the PGA Senior Tour.
Player won nine majors, including three Masters, three Open Championships, two PGA Championships, and one U.S. Open in 1965. He is the only player in the 20th century to win the Open Championship in three different decades. Player won in 1959, 1968, and 1974; the same year he won his second green jacket. He set a plethora of records throughout his career, most of which rival players have equaled or eclipsed. Originally, at 29 years of age, he was the youngest golfer to complete a career grand slam. However, Nicklaus and Woods set new records at 26 and 24, respectively.
Player was a controversial figure, unlike many of the golfers we have covered already. The golfers above all seemed to bring people together for the love of the game. Whereas Player’s fiery personality often divided fans and drew criticism from his peers. Whether or not you are a fan of Player, nothing can take away his fantastic winning record across his golfing career.
- Number of Majors: 9
- Masters Wins: 3
- PGA Championship Wins: 2
- U.S. Open Wins: 1
- Open Championship Wins: 3
- PGA Tour Wins: 24
4. Ben Hogan
With the same number of major wins as Gary Player, Ben Hogan is in joint fourth place on the golf major wins list. Although he turned pro in 1930, it wasn’t until 1946 that he won his first major. Since then, he has won four U.S. Opens, two Masters, two PGA Championships, and one Open Championship. In 1953 Hogan was at his best, winning all but the PGA Championship that year. He achieved a career grand slam even though he only played in one Open Championship in his career.
Hogan is also in fourth place on the PGA Tour wins list. He managed 64 wins on the tour, only trailing Snead, Woods, and Nicklaus. Many consider Hogan to be the greatest golfer of all time, especially since he served in WWII and nearly died in a car accident. The injuries he sustained from the accident hampered his playing career. That is why he could not enter the PGA Championship throughout the later stages of his career.
You hear stories about me beating my brains out practicing, but I was enjoying myself. I couldn’t wait to get up in the morning, so I could hit balls. When I’m hitting the ball where I want, hard and crisply, it’s a joy that very few people experience.
- Ben Hogan
Hogan gained a reputation for practicing way more than the competition. His obsession with golf made him one of the first players to assign clubs to yardages and reference points around the course. He is most famous for his book, Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf. It remains to this day one of the most popular books for new players learning the components of a proper golf swing.
- Number of Majors: 9
- Masters Wins: 2
- PGA Championship Wins: 2
- U.S. Open Wins: 4
- Open Championship Wins: 1
- PGA Tour Wins: 64
3. Walter Hagen
Third on the all-time list of golf major winners is Walter Hagen. For those of you who don’t know, they credit Hagen for being the father of professional golf. He brought prestige, prize money, and publicity to the sport, growing the sport to what we all know to this day. Hagen is an 11-time winner of major golfing events and he managed 58 professional wins during his career. He is joint eighth on the PGA Tour win list, alongside Phil Mickelson.
Hagen turned pro in 1912 and he was at his best until around 1930. Unfortunately, the first Masters’ event was not until 1934, so he missed out on the chance of completing a career grand slam. His best finish at the Masters was 11th in 1936. Hagen won five PGA Championships, including four in a row between 1924 and 1927. He also won four Open Championships and the U.S. Open twice in his career. He was the first American-born winner of the Claret Jug, and he captained the Ryder Cup team on six occasions.
When Hagen was a golf pro, many golf clubs refused him entry into the clubhouse. They also treated competing players poorly by today’s standards. Hagen changed that notion, something his fellow golfers appreciated even years later. Gene Sarazen knew the impact Hagen had on the sport. He said:
All the professionals should say a silent thanks to Walter Hagen each time they stretch a check between their fingers. It was Walter who made professional golf what it is.
- Gene Sarazen
Although Hagen missed out on completing a career grand slam, the impact he had on golf is far greater than any of us can imagine. Without Hagen’s efforts to popularize the sport, who knows where it would be?
- Number of Majors: 11
- Masters Wins: 0
- PGA Championship Wins: 5
- U.S. Open Wins: 2
- Open Championship Wins: 4
- PGA Tour Wins: 45
2. Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods might be the best golfer of all time, but he is only second on the list of having the most majors. He has 15 majors to his name, winning each of the four biggest prizes in golf at least three times. That means Woods has completed a career grand slam on three occasions. His first major came in 1997, where he won the Masters by a record 12 strokes. Poetically, his most recent success at a major was also at the Masters, winning for the fifth time in 2019.
Woods turned pro in 1996 and less than a year later, he was the number-one ranked golfer in the world. He would dominate the sport over the next decade, holding the top spot several times, including multiple record-setting streaks. He is tied for first on the PGA Tour win list with 82 and is third in the European Tour all-time win list. Woods has 110 professional wins in his career and a variety of records and achievements. That includes winning the PGA Player of the Year award 11 times, the Vardon Trophy nine times, and the FedEx Cup twice.
Looking at his major victories, he has won five Masters, four PGA Championships, three U.S. Opens, and three Open Championships. As well as dominating on the professional stage, Tiger was a force to be reckoned with as a child. He first broke 80 when he was eight years old and then broke 70 before his thirteenth birthday. However, his career was full of injuries and controversy, meaning it is very unlikely we will see him move up to first on this list. Even when watching an injured Woods play, there is something about a tournament when he is in it.
- Number of Majors: 15
- Masters Wins: 5
- PGA Championship Wins: 4
- U.S. Open Wins: 3
- Open Championship Wins: 3
- PGA Tour Wins: 82
1. Jack Nicklaus
The golfer with the most major championship victories is Jack Nicklaus. Across his lengthy playing career, Nicklaus won 18 majors, the first player to win a double and triple career grand slam. At 26, he was the youngest grand slam winner in golf history until Tiger Woods took the title at age 24. Across his career, Nicklaus won six Masters, five PGA Championships, four U.S. Opens, and three Claret Jugs.
Nicklaus managed 117 professional wins across his career, 73 of which were on the PGA Tour. That puts him third on the PGA Tour win list, behind Snead and Woods who share first on 82. On top of his wins, Nicklaus was an eight-time PGA Tour leading money winner and five-time recipient of the PGA Player of the Year award. He was also the first player to win consecutive Masters Tournaments in 1965 and 66.
Perhaps the best part of Nicklaus’ game was the rivalries he created. When he started on the PGA, he was competing with Arnold Palmer for majors. Then he rivaled Gary Player and Lee Trevino, who are both on our list of the greatest golfers of all time. Who knows how many more majors Nicklaus could have won if the competition between players was not so strong? However, many believe Nicklaus brought out the best in his rivals. Whatever you think of Nicklaus, one thing you cannot take away is that he has the most major wins in history with 18.
- Number of Majors: 18
- Masters Wins: 6
- PGA Championship Wins: 5
- U.S. Open Wins: 4
- Open Championship Wins: 3
- PGA Tour Wins: 73
Honorable Mentions
If this is your first time visiting Bet Station, we always pay tribute to players who narrowly missed out on being included in the list. Usually, this is to help ease the controversy around our picks, but this list requires no opinion from us. Instead, we are talking about certainty, the players listed below miss out because they do not have enough major wins.
If you want to see some of our other lists, we have the 15 best golf courses in the world and the ten highest-paid golfers this year.
- Lee Trevino
- Nick Faldo
- Phil Mickelson
- James Braid
- John Henry Taylor
- Byron Nelson
- Peter Thomson
- Seve Ballesteros
- Brooks Koepka
