Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 major championships has stood since 1986. Tiger Woods spent 13 years chasing it before falling 3 short.
How to Play: Guess if the golfer on the right has MORE or FEWER major championship wins than the one on the left.
Name A
Name B
Top 10 Career Major Winners
The four men’s majors are the Masters, US Open, Open Championship (British), and PGA Championship. Career majors is the most prestigious career metric in golf.
| # | Name | Major Championships Won | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack Nicklaus | 18 | majors |
| 2 | Tiger Woods | 15 | majors |
| 3 | Walter Hagen | 11 | majors |
| 4 | Ben Hogan | 9 | majors |
| 5 | Gary Player | 9 | majors |
| 6 | Tom Watson | 8 | majors |
| 7 | Bobby Jones | 7 | majors |
| 8 | Sam Snead | 7 | majors |
| 9 | Arnold Palmer | 7 | majors |
| 10 | Gene Sarazen | 7 | majors |
How Majors Are Counted
The four men’s majors have been the standard since the 1930s: Masters (April), PGA (May), US Open (June), Open Championship (July). Career majors is the gold standard for greatness.
Tiger Woods came within 3 of Nicklaus before injuries and personal issues derailed him in 2009-2017. He won the 2019 Masters at age 43 — his 15th major and likely his last.
Pre-1934 ‘majors’ included British and US Amateur championships. Bobby Jones’s career grand slam in 1930 used those. The modern ‘big four’ definition starts ~1934 with the Masters’ founding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most golf majors ever?
Jack Nicklaus at 18, set 1986. Tiger Woods at 15 is closest active threat.
Did Tiger pass Nicklaus?
No. Tiger stalled at 15 due to injury and other career challenges. Nicklaus’s record still stands.
Who has the most active majors?
Brooks Koepka at 5 (LIV Golf). Rory McIlroy at 4. Both could push for 6-8.
Why is Bobby Jones at 7?
Jones won 4 of the modern majors plus 3 amateur championships — at the time considered majors. Modern accounting credits him with 7 by historical standards.
Note: Career majors won as recognized by PGA and historical records.
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