Men's major golf championships

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Tiger Woods; currently ranked the number one male golfer in the world

The men's major golf championships, often referred to simply as "the majors", are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf. In order of their playing date, the current majors are:

Contents

[edit] Importance

Alongside the biennial Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup team competitions, the majors are golf's marquee events. Elite players from all over the world participate in them, and the reputations of the greatest players in golf history are largely based on the number of major championship victories they accumulate. The top prizes are not actually the largest in golf, being surpassed by the Players Championship, three of the four World Golf Championships events (the HSBC Champions, newly promoted to WGC status in 2009, has a top prize comparable to that of the majors), and one or two invitational events, but winning a major boosts a player's career far more than winning any other tournament. If he is already a leading player, he will probably receive large bonuses from his sponsors and may be able to negotiate better contracts. If he is an unknown, he will immediately be signed up. Perhaps more importantly, he will receive an exemption from the need to annually requalify for a tour card on his home tour, thus giving a tournament golfer some security in an unstable profession. Currently, the PGA Tour gives a five-year exemption to all major winners.

Three of the four majors take place in the United States. The Masters (often known as the "U.S. Masters" outside North America) is played at the same course, Augusta National Golf Club, every year, while the other three rotate courses (the Open Championship, however, is always played on a links course). Each of the majors has a distinct history, and they are run by four different golf organizations, but their special status is recognized worldwide. Major championship winners receive the maximum possible allocation of 100 points from the Official World Golf Rankings, which are endorsed by all of the main tours, and major championship prize money is official on the three richest regular (ie under-50) golf tours, the PGA Tour, European Tour and Japan Golf Tour.

In recent years, the Players Championship, which was held two weeks before the Masters, has started to be called "the fifth major" by elements of the American media. This has not been publicly encouraged by golf authorities, but the tournament does attract a similar strength of field. With "The Players" move to mid-May in 2007, some people believe that the Players should be considered a de facto major championship, even if it's not considered part of "the grand slam". However, the idea of increasing the number of recognised "majors" from four to five has never attracted any popularity - possibly because tennis, from which the concept of the "Grand Slam" was copied - has only ever retained its own four "Grand Slam" championships. In addition to the TPC, three World Golf Championship events were established in 1999 and a fourth WGC individual event was added in 2009, bringing to nine the total number of events in which all of the world's top 50 players compete against each other every year, but so far none but the four established "majors" have been recognised as such either in prestige or in recognition (ie invitations to future events), despite the prize money available.

[edit] History

The majors originally consisted of the Open Championship, the British Amateur or The Amateur Championship, the U.S. Open, and the U.S. Amateur. With the introduction of the Masters Tournament in 1934, and the rise of professional golf in the late 1940s and 1950s, the term "major championships" eventually came to describe the Masters, the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the (U.S.) PGA Championship. It is difficult to determine when the definition changed to include the current four tournaments, although many trace it to Arnold Palmer's 1960 season, when after winning the Masters and the U.S. Open to start the season he remarked that if he could win the Open Championship and PGA Championship to finish the season, he would complete "a grand slam of his own" to rival Bobby Jones's 1930 feat. Until that time, many U.S. players also considered the Western Open as one of golf's "majors", and the British PGA Matchplay Championship was as important to British and Commonwealth professionals as the PGA Championship was to Americans. During the 1950s, the short-lived World Championship of Golf was certainly viewed as a "major" by its competitors, as its first prize was worth almost ten times any other event in the game, and it was the first event whose finale was televised live on U.S. television.

The oldest of the majors is The Open Championship, which is usually referred to as the "British Open" outside the United Kingdom. Dominated by American champions in the 1920s and 1930s, the comparative explosion in the riches available on the U.S. Tour from the 1940s onwards meant that the lengthy overseas trip needed to compete in the event became increasingly prohibitive for the leading American professionals and their regular participation dwindled after the war years (Ben Hogan, for example, entered just once after the war, winning in 1953). However, in 1960, Arnold Palmer entered in an attempt to emulate Hogan's 1953 feat of winning on his first visit, and although unsuccessful, began competing regularly thereafter, restoring the event's prestige (and with it the prize money that once again made it an attractive prospect to other American pros). The advent of transatlantic jet travel in that period also helped to boost American participation in The Open. A discussion between Palmer and Pittsburgh golf writer Bob Drum led to the concept of the modern Grand Slam of Golf.[1]

[edit] Television coverage

Because none of the majors falls under the direct jurisdiction of any professional golf tour, television rights are negotiated separately from those of the tours, and were not affected by the new deals involving the PGA Tour that took effect in 2007.

The U.S. Open is shown on NBC and ESPN under a contract that ends in 2010. ESPN on ABC and TNT will show The Open Championship until 2009. Starting in 2010, ESPN will have exclusive U.S. rights to The Open Championship, marking the first time in the television era that a major championship will not be aired on one of the country's major over-the-air broadcast networks. CBS and TNT have long-term deals for the PGA Championship. The Masters operates under one-year contracts; CBS has been the main TV partner every year since 1956, with ESPN televising the first and second rounds effective with the 2008 tourney, replacing USA Network, which had shown the event since the early 1980s. ABC and USA no longer carry any other men's pro golf tournaments, and TNT shows no other events.

In the United Kingdom, the BBC is the exclusive TV home of the Masters Tournament and the Open Championship. The U.S. Open and PGA Championship are shown on Sky Sports, however, PGA Tour events are shown on British Eurosport.

[edit] Distinct characteristics of majors

Because each major developed and is run by different organizations, they each have different characteristics that set them apart. These involve the character of the courses used, the composition of the field, and other idiosyncrasies.

  • The Masters is the only major that is played at the same course every year (Augusta National), being the invitational tournament of that club. The Masters invites the smallest field of the majors, generally under 100 players (although, like all the majors, it now ensures entry for all golfers among the World's top 50 prior to the event). Former champions have a lifetime invitation to compete, and also included in the field are the current champions of the major amateur championships, and the previous year's PGA Tour winners. The traditions of Augusta, such as the awarding of a green jacket to the champion, create a distinctive character for the tournament, as does the course itself, with its lack of rough but severely undulating fairways and greens, and punitive use of lakes and creeks on several key holes on the back nine.
  • The U.S. Open is notorious for being played on difficult courses that have tight fairways, challenging greens, demanding pin positions and thick and high rough, placing a great premium on accuracy, especially with driving and approach play. The U.S. Open is rarely won with a score much under par (although it is often played around courses where the severity of the test might suggest par itself has been set at a punitively low level). The event is the championship of the USGA, and in having a very strict exempt qualifiers list - made up of recent major champions, professionals currently ranked high in the world rankings or on the previous year's money lists around the world, and leading amateurs from recent USGA events - about half of the 156-person field still enters the tournament through open qualification events, mostly held in the U.S. but also in Europe and Japan. The U.S. Open has no barrier to entry for either women or junior players, as long as they meet the entry criteria for the qualifying sections. As of 2009, however, no female golfer has yet to qualify for the U.S. Open. Also, the U.S. Open has a unique playoff system in that it requires all tied players to play an additional full round of golf (the other majors have three- or four-hole playoffs, and most regular events have simple sudden death playoffs.)
  • The Open Championship is organised by The R&A, an offshoot of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, and has always been played on a links-style course in Britain or Northern Ireland (all of the courses on the current planned "rota" are in Scotland and England). It carries the prestige of being the original "Open" championship (although ironically the very first event was held only for British professionals) and is respected for maintaining the tradition of links play that dates back to the very invention of the game, in Scotland. This is typified by courses that, being coastal, tend to be flat and often very windswept, with the fairways cut through very high dune grass and gorse bushes that make up the "rough", and have very deep bunkers. As well as exempting from qualifying recent professional major and amateur champions and leading players from the world rankings, the R&A ensures that leading golfers from around the globe are given the chance to enter by holding qualifying events on all continents, as well as holding final qualifying events around the UK in the weeks prior to the main tournament. Several recent champions have been relatively unknown players who came through one of these qualifying routes. The champion receives (and has his name inscribed on the base of) the famous "Claret Jug", a trophy that dates back to 1872 (champions from 1860 until 1871 received instead a championship "belt", much like a champion professional boxer's belt nowadays) and the engraving of the champions' name on the trophy prior to them receiving it is, in itself, one of the traditions of the closing ceremony of the championship, as is the award of the "silver medal" to the leading amateur player to have made the cut to play the last 36 holes.
  • The PGA Championship is traditionally played at a parkland club in the United States, and the courses chosen tend to be as difficult (although not set up quite as punitively) as those chosen for the U.S. Open, with several, such as Oakland Hills and Winged Foot, having hosted both. The PGA of America generally enters into a profit-sharing agreement with the host club. As well as inviting recent professional major champions and leading professionals from the world rankings (the PGA has tended in recent years to extend invitations to all players among the world's top 100) the PGA Championship field is completed by qualifiers held among members of the PGA of America, the organization of club and teaching professionals that are separate from the members of the PGA Tour. Amateur golfers would not normally feature in the PGA, unless their success in other events had lifted them high enough in the world rankings (there is no qualifying section open to amateurs). One particular feature of the PGA tends to be the testing weather conditions - not the wind and rain that often accompany an Open Championship held in Scotland in July, but the high heat and humidity that characterize the American climate in August.

[edit] Major championship winners

For each golfer with more than one major championship victory, his total number of wins and the place of each win in his sequence are shown in parentheses. For example, Tiger Woods' win in the 2005 Masters was the ninth of his 14 major titles to date. There is a more detailed table for each tournament in its own article.

Year The Masters U.S. Open The Open Championship PGA Championship
2009 Flag of Argentina Ángel Cabrera (2/2) Flag of the United States Lucas Glover Flag of the United States Stewart Cink August 13-16 Hazeltine
2008 Flag of South Africa Trevor Immelman Flag of the United States Tiger Woods (14/14) Flag of Ireland Pádraig Harrington (2/3) Flag of Ireland Pádraig Harrington (3/3)
2007 Flag of the United States Zach Johnson Flag of Argentina Ángel Cabrera (1/2) Flag of Ireland Pádraig Harrington (1/3) Flag of the United States Tiger Woods (13/14)
2006 Flag of the United States Phil Mickelson (3/3) Flag of Australia Geoff Ogilvy Flag of the United States Tiger Woods (11/14) Flag of the United States Tiger Woods (12/14)
2005 Flag of the United States Tiger Woods (9/14) Flag of New Zealand Michael Campbell Flag of the United States Tiger Woods (10/14) Flag of the United States Phil Mickelson (2/3)
2004 Flag of the United States Phil Mickelson (1/3) Flag of South Africa Retief Goosen (2/2) Flag of the United States Todd Hamilton Flag of Fiji Vijay Singh (3/3)
2003 Flag of Canada Mike Weir Flag of the United States Jim Furyk Flag of the United States Ben Curtis Flag of the United States Shaun Micheel
2002 Flag of the United States Tiger Woods (7/14) Flag of the United States Tiger Woods (8/14) Flag of South Africa Ernie Els (3/3) Flag of the United States Rich Beem
2001 Flag of the United States Tiger Woods (6/14) Flag of South Africa Retief Goosen (1/2) Flag of the United States David Duval Flag of the United States David Toms
2000 Flag of Fiji Vijay Singh (2/3) Flag of the United States Tiger Woods (3/14) Flag of the United States Tiger Woods (4/14) Flag of the United States Tiger Woods (5/14)
1999 Flag of Spain José María Olazábal (2/2) Flag of the United States Payne Stewart (3/3) Flag of Scotland Paul Lawrie Flag of the United States Tiger Woods (2/14)
1998 Flag of the United States Mark O'Meara (1/2) Flag of the United States Lee Janzen (2/2) Flag of the United States Mark O'Meara (2/2) Flag of Fiji Vijay Singh (1/3)
1997 Flag of the United States Tiger Woods (1/14) Flag of South Africa Ernie Els (2/3) Flag of the United States Justin Leonard Flag of the United States Davis Love III
1996 Flag of England Nick Faldo (6/6) Flag of the United States Steve Jones Flag of the United States Tom Lehman Flag of the United States Mark Brooks
1995 Flag of the United States Ben Crenshaw (2/2) Flag of the United States Corey Pavin Flag of the United States John Daly (2/2) Flag of Australia Steve Elkington
1994 Flag of Spain José María Olazábal (1/2) Flag of South Africa Ernie Els (1/3) Flag of Zimbabwe Nick Price (2/3) Flag of Zimbabwe Nick Price (3/3)
1993 Flag of Germany Bernhard Langer (2/2) Flag of the United States Lee Janzen (1/2) Flag of Australia Greg Norman (2/2) Flag of the United States Paul Azinger
1992 Flag of the United States Fred Couples Flag of the United States Tom Kite Flag of England Nick Faldo (5/6) Flag of Zimbabwe Nick Price (1/3)
1991 Flag of Wales Ian Woosnam Flag of the United States Payne Stewart (2/3) Flag of Australia Ian Baker-Finch Flag of the United States John Daly (1/2)
1990 Flag of England Nick Faldo (3/6) Flag of the United States Hale Irwin (3/3) Flag of England Nick Faldo (4/6) Flag of Australia Wayne Grady
1989 Flag of England Nick Faldo (2/6) Flag of the United States Curtis Strange (2/2) Flag of the United States Mark Calcavecchia Flag of the United States Payne Stewart (1/3)
1988 Flag of Scotland Sandy Lyle (2/2) Flag of the United States Curtis Strange (1/2) Flag of Spain Seve Ballesteros (5/5) Flag of the United States Jeff Sluman
1987 Flag of the United States Larry Mize Flag of the United States Scott Simpson Flag of England Nick Faldo (1/6) Flag of the United States Larry Nelson (3/3)
1986 Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (18/18) Flag of the United States Raymond Floyd (4/4) Flag of Australia Greg Norman (1/2) Flag of the United States Bob Tway
1985 Flag of Germany Bernhard Langer (1/2) Flag of the United States Andy North (2/2) Flag of Scotland Sandy Lyle (1/2) Flag of the United States Hubert Green (2/2)
1984 Flag of the United States Ben Crenshaw (1/2) Flag of the United States Fuzzy Zoeller (2/2) Flag of Spain Seve Ballesteros (4/5) Flag of the United States Lee Trevino (6/6)
1983 Flag of Spain Seve Ballesteros (3/5) Flag of the United States Larry Nelson (2/3) Flag of the United States Tom Watson (8/8) Flag of the United States Hal Sutton
1982 Flag of the United States Craig Stadler Flag of the United States Tom Watson (6/8) Flag of the United States Tom Watson (7/8) Flag of the United States Raymond Floyd (3/4)
1981 Flag of the United States Tom Watson (5/8) Flag of Australia David Graham (2/2) Flag of the United States Bill Rogers Flag of the United States Larry Nelson (1/3)
1980 Flag of Spain Seve Ballesteros (2/5) Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (16/18) Flag of the United States Tom Watson (4/8) Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (17/18)
1979 Flag of the United States Fuzzy Zoeller (1/2) Flag of the United States Hale Irwin (2/3) Flag of Spain Seve Ballesteros (1/5) Flag of Australia David Graham (1/2)
1978 Flag of South Africa Gary Player (9/9) Flag of the United States Andy North (1/2) Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (15/18) Flag of the United States John Mahaffey
1977 Flag of the United States Tom Watson (2/8) Flag of the United States Hubert Green (1/2) Flag of the United States Tom Watson (3/8) Flag of the United States Lanny Wadkins
1976 Flag of the United States Raymond Floyd (2/4) Flag of the United States Jerry Pate Flag of the United States Johnny Miller (2/2) Flag of the United States Dave Stockton (2/2)
1975 Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (13/18) Flag of the United States Lou Graham Flag of the United States Tom Watson (1/8) Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (14/18)
1974 Flag of South Africa Gary Player (7/9) Flag of the United States Hale Irwin (1/3) Flag of South Africa Gary Player (8/9) Flag of the United States Lee Trevino (5/6)
1973 Flag of the United States Tommy Aaron Flag of the United States Johnny Miller (1/2) Flag of the United States Tom Weiskopf Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (12/18)
1972 Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (10/18) Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (11/18) Flag of the United States Lee Trevino (4/6) Flag of South Africa Gary Player (6/9)
1971 Flag of the United States Charles Coody Flag of the United States Lee Trevino (2/6) Flag of the United States Lee Trevino (3/6) Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (9/18)
1970 Flag of the United States Billy Casper (3/3) Flag of England Tony Jacklin (2/2) Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (8/18) Flag of the United States Dave Stockton (1/2)
1969 Flag of the United States George Archer Flag of the United States Orville Moody Flag of England Tony Jacklin (1/2) Flag of the United States Raymond Floyd (1/4)
1968 Flag of the United States Bob Goalby Flag of the United States Lee Trevino (1/6) Flag of South Africa Gary Player (5/9) Flag of the United States Julius Boros (3/3)
1967 Flag of the United States Gay Brewer Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (7/18) Flag of Argentina Roberto DeVicenzo Flag of the United States Don January
1966 Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (5/18) Flag of the United States Billy Casper (2/3) Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (6/18) Flag of the United States Al Geiberger
1965 Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (4/18) Flag of South Africa Gary Player (4/9) Flag of Australia Peter Thomson (5/5) Flag of the United States Dave Marr
1964 Flag of the United States Arnold Palmer (7/7) Flag of the United States Ken Venturi Flag of the United States Tony Lema Flag of the United States Bobby Nichols
1963 Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (2/18) Flag of the United States Julius Boros (2/3) Flag of New Zealand Bob Charles Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (3/18)
1962 Flag of the United States Arnold Palmer (5/7) Flag of the United States Jack Nicklaus (1/18) Flag of the United States Arnold Palmer (6/7) Flag of South Africa Gary Player (3/9)
1961 Flag of South Africa Gary Player (2/9) Flag of the United States Gene Littler Flag of the United States Arnold Palmer (4/7) Flag of the United States Jerry Barber
1960 Flag of the United States Arnold Palmer (2/7) Flag of the United States Arnold Palmer (3/7) Flag of Australia Kel Nagle Flag of the United States Jay Hebert
1959 Flag of the United States Art Wall, Jr. Flag of the United States Billy Casper (1/3) Flag of South Africa Gary Player (1/9) Flag of the United States Bob Rosburg
1958 Flag of the United States Arnold Palmer (1/7) Flag of the United States Tommy Bolt Flag of Australia Peter Thomson (4/5) Flag of the United States Dow Finsterwald
1957 Flag of the United States Doug Ford (2/2) Flag of the United States Dick Mayer Flag of South Africa Bobby Locke (4/4) Flag of the United States Lionel Hebert
1956 Flag of the United States Jack Burke, Jr. (1/2) Flag of the United States Cary Middlecoff (3/3) Flag of Australia Peter Thomson (3/5) Flag of the United States Jack Burke, Jr. (2/2)
1955 Flag of the United States Cary Middlecoff (2/3) Flag of the United States Jack Fleck Flag of Australia Peter Thomson (2/5) Flag of the United States Doug Ford (1/2)
1954 Flag of the United States Sam Snead (7/7) Flag of the United States Ed Furgol Flag of Australia Peter Thomson (1/5) Flag of the United States Chick Harbert
1953 Flag of the United States Ben Hogan (7/9) Flag of the United States Ben Hogan (8/9) Flag of the United States Ben Hogan (9/9) Flag of the United States Walter Burkemo
1952 Flag of the United States Sam Snead (6/7) Flag of the United States Julius Boros (1/3) Flag of South Africa Bobby Locke (3/4) Flag of the United States Jim Turnesa
1951 Flag of the United States Ben Hogan (5/9) Flag of the United States Ben Hogan (6/9) Flag of England Max Faulkner Flag of the United States Sam Snead (5/7)
1950 Flag of the United States Jimmy Demaret (3/3) Flag of the United States Ben Hogan (4/9) Flag of South Africa Bobby Locke (2/4) Flag of the United States Chandler Harper
1949 Flag of the United States Sam Snead (3/7) Flag of the United States Cary Middlecoff (1/3) Flag of South Africa Bobby Locke (1/4) Flag of the United States Sam Snead (4/7)
1948 Flag of the United States Claude Harmon Flag of the United States Ben Hogan (2/9) Flag of England Henry Cotton (3/3) Flag of the United States Ben Hogan (3/9)
1947 Flag of the United States Jimmy Demaret (2/3) Flag of the United States Lew Worsham Flag of Northern Ireland Fred Daly Flag of Australia Jim Ferrier
1946 Flag of the United States Herman Keiser Flag of the United States Lloyd Mangrum Flag of the United States Sam Snead (2/7) Flag of the United States Ben Hogan (1/9)
1945 No tournament (World War II) No tournament (World War II) No tournament (World War II) Flag of the United States Byron Nelson (5/5)
1944 No tournament (World War II) No tournament (World War II) No tournament (World War II) Flag of the United States Bob Hamilton
1943 No tournament (World War II) No tournament (World War II) No tournament (World War II) No tournament (World War II)
1942 Flag of the United States Byron Nelson (4/5) No tournament (World War II) No tournament (World War II) Flag of the United States Sam Snead (1/7)
1941 Flag of the United States Craig Wood (1/2) Flag of the United States Craig Wood (2/2) No tournament (World War II) Flag of the United States Vic Ghezzi
1940 Flag of the United States Jimmy Demaret (1/3) Flag of the United States Lawson Little No tournament (World War II) Flag of the United States Byron Nelson (3/5)
1939 Flag of the United States Ralph Guldahl (3/3) Flag of the United States Byron Nelson (2/5) Flag of England Richard Burton Flag of the United States Henry Picard (2/2)
1938 Flag of the United States Henry Picard (1/2) Flag of the United States Ralph Guldahl (2/3) Flag of England Reg Whitcombe Flag of the United States Paul Runyan (2/2)
1937 Flag of the United States Byron Nelson (1/5) Flag of the United States Ralph Guldahl (1/3) Flag of England Henry Cotton (2/3) Flag of the United States Denny Shute (3/3)
1936 Flag of the United States Horton Smith (2/2) Flag of the United States Tony Manero Flag of England Alf Padgham Flag of the United States Denny Shute (2/3)
1935 Flag of the United States Gene Sarazen (7/7) Flag of the United States Sam Parks, Jr Flag of England Alf Perry Flag of the United States Johnny Revolta
1934 Flag of the United States Horton Smith (1/2) Flag of the United States Olin Dutra (2/2) Flag of England Henry Cotton (1/3) Flag of the United States Paul Runyan (1/2)
1933 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Johnny Goodman Flag of the United States Denny Shute (1/3) Flag of the United States Gene Sarazen (6/7)
1932 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Gene Sarazen (4/7) Flag of the United States Gene Sarazen (5/7) Flag of the United States Olin Dutra (1/2)
1931 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Billy Burke Flag of the United States Tommy Armour (3/3) Flag of the United States Tom Creavy
1930 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Bobby Jones (6/7) Flag of the United States Bobby Jones (7/7) Flag of the United States Tommy Armour (2/3)
1929 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Bobby Jones (5/7) Flag of the United States Walter Hagen (11/11) Flag of the United States Leo Diegel (2/2)
1928 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Johnny Farrell Flag of the United States Walter Hagen (10/11) Flag of the United States Leo Diegel (1/2)
1927 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Tommy Armour (1/3) Flag of the United States Bobby Jones (4/7) Flag of the United States Walter Hagen (9/11)
1926 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Bobby Jones (2/7) Flag of the United States Bobby Jones (3/7) Flag of the United States Walter Hagen (8/11)
1925 Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Willie MacFarlane Flag of the United States Jim Barnes (4/4) Flag of the United States Walter Hagen (7/11)
1924 Not yet founded Flag of England Cyril Walker Flag of the United States Walter Hagen (5/11) Flag of the United States Walter Hagen (6/11)
1923 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Bobby Jones (1/7) Flag of England Arthur Havers Flag of the United States Gene Sarazen (3/7)
1922 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Gene Sarazen (1/7) Flag of the United States Walter Hagen (4/11) Flag of the United States Gene Sarazen (2/7)
1921 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Jim Barnes (3/4) Flag of the United States Jock Hutchison (2/2) Flag of the United States Walter Hagen (3/11)
1920 Not yet founded Flag of Jersey Ted Ray (2/2) Flag of Scotland George Duncan Flag of the United States Jock Hutchison (1/2)
1919 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Walter Hagen (2/11) No tournament (World War I) Flag of the United States Jim Barnes (2/4)
1918 Not yet founded No tournament (World War I) No tournament (World War I) No tournament (World War I)
1917 Not yet founded No tournament (World War I) No tournament (World War I) No tournament (World War I)
1916 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Chick Evans No tournament (World War I) Flag of the United States Jim Barnes (1/4)
1915 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Jerome Travers No tournament (World War I) Not yet founded
1914 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Walter Hagen (1/11) Flag of Jersey Harry Vardon (7/7) Not yet founded
1913 Not yet founded Flag of the United States Francis Ouimet Flag of England John Henry Taylor (5/5) Not yet founded
1912 Not yet founded Flag of the United States John McDermott (2/2) Flag of Jersey Ted Ray (1/2) Not yet founded
1911 Not yet founded Flag of the United States John McDermott (1/2) Flag of Jersey Harry Vardon (6/7) Not yet founded
1910 Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Alex Smith (2/2) Flag of Scotland James Braid (5/5) Not yet founded
1909 Not yet founded Flag of England George Sargent Flag of England John Henry Taylor (4/5) Not yet founded
1908 Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Fred McLeod Flag of Scotland James Braid (4/5) Not yet founded
1907 Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Alec Ross Flag of France Arnaud Massy Not yet founded
1906 Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Alex Smith (1/2) Flag of Scotland James Braid (3/5) Not yet founded
1905 Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Willie Anderson (4/4) Flag of Scotland James Braid (2/5) Not yet founded
1904 Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Willie Anderson (3/4) Flag of Scotland Jack White Not yet founded
1903 Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Willie Anderson (2/4) Flag of Jersey Harry Vardon (5/7) Not yet founded
1902 Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Laurie Auchterlonie Flag of Scotland Sandy Herd Not yet founded
1901 Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Willie Anderson (1/4) Flag of Scotland James Braid (1/5) Not yet founded
1900 Not yet founded Flag of Jersey Harry Vardon (4/7) Flag of England John Henry Taylor (3/5) Not yet founded
1899 Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Willie Smith Flag of Jersey Harry Vardon (3/7) Not yet founded
1898 Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Fred Herd Flag of Jersey Harry Vardon (2/7) Not yet founded
1897 Not yet founded Flag of England Joe Lloyd Flag of England Harold Hilton (2/2) Not yet founded
1896 Not yet founded Flag of Scotland James Foulis Flag of Jersey Harry Vardon (1/7) Not yet founded
1895 Not yet founded Flag of England Horace Rawlins Flag of England John Henry Taylor (2/5) Not yet founded
1894 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of England John Henry Taylor (1/5) Not yet founded
1893 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Willie Auchterlonie Not yet founded
1892 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of England Harold Hilton (1/2) Not yet founded
1891 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Hugh Kirkaldy Not yet founded
1890 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of England John Ball, Jnr Not yet founded
1889 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Willie Park, Jnr (2/2) Not yet founded
1888 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Jack Burns Not yet founded
1887 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Willie Park, Jnr (1/2) Not yet founded
1886 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland David Brown Not yet founded
1885 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Bob Martin (2/2) Not yet founded
1884 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Jack Simpson Not yet founded
1883 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Willie Fernie Not yet founded
1882 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Bob Ferguson (3/3) Not yet founded
1881 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Bob Ferguson (2/3) Not yet founded
1880 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Bob Ferguson (1/3) Not yet founded
1879 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Jamie Anderson (3/3) Not yet founded
1878 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Jamie Anderson (2/3) Not yet founded
1877 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Jamie Anderson (1/3) Not yet founded
1876 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Bob Martin (1/2) Not yet founded
1875 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Willie Park, Snr (4/4) Not yet founded
1874 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Mungo Park Not yet founded
1873 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Tom Kidd Not yet founded
1872 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Tom Morris, Jnr (4/4) Not yet founded
1871 Not yet founded Not yet founded Not played Not yet founded
1870 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Tom Morris, Jnr (3/4) Not yet founded
1869 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Tom Morris, Jnr (2/4) Not yet founded
1868 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Tom Morris, Jnr (1/4) Not yet founded
1867 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Tom Morris, Snr (4/4) Not yet founded
1866 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Willie Park, Snr (3/4) Not yet founded
1865 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Andrew Strath Not yet founded
1864 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Tom Morris, Snr (3/4) Not yet founded
1863 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Willie Park, Snr (2/4) Not yet founded
1862 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Tom Morris, Snr(2/4) Not yet founded
1861 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Tom Morris, Snr(1/4) Not yet founded
1860 Not yet founded Not yet founded Flag of Scotland Willie Park Snr (1/4) Not yet founded

[edit] Major champions by nationality

The table below shows the number of major championships won by golfers from various countries. Tallies are also shown for major wins by golfers from Europe and from the "Rest of the World" (RoW), i.e. the world excluding Europe and the United States. The United States plays Europe in the Ryder Cup and an International Team representing the Rest of the World in the Presidents Cup. The table is complete through the 2009 Masters.

Decade Total ARG AUS CAN ENG FJI FRA GER NZL NIR IRL SCO ZAF ESP USA WAL ZWE EUR RoW
Total 408 3 15 1 38 3 1 2 2 1 3 55 19 7 254 1 3 108 46
2000s 37 2 1 1 - 2 - - 1 - 3 - 4 - 23 - - 3 11
1990s 40 - 4 - 4 1 - 1 - - - 1 2 2 21 1 3 9 10
1980s 40 - 2 - 2 - - 1 - - - 2 - 4 29 - - 9 2
1970s 40 - 1 - 1 - - - - - - - 4 1 33 - - 2 5
1960s 40 1 2 - 1 - - - 1 - - - 4 - 31 - - 1 8
1950s 40 - 4 - 1 - - - - - - - 4 - 31 - - 1 8
1940s 26 - 1 - 1 - - - - 1 - - 1 - 22 - - 2 2
1930s 36 - - - 6 - - - - - - - - - 30 - - 6 -
1920s 30 - - - 3 - - - - - - 2 - - 25 - - 5 -
1910s 15 - - - 4 - - - - - - 2 - - 9 - - 6 -
1900s 20 - - - 5 - 1 - - - - 14 - - - - - 20 -
1890s 15 - - - 10 - - - - - - 5 - - - - - 15 -
1880s 10 - - - - - - - - - - 10 - - - - - 10 -
1870s 9 - - - - - - - - - - 9 - - - - - 9 -
1860s 10 - - - - - - - - - - 10 - - - - - 10 -

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Harig, Bob (2008-04-07). "Golf's professional Grand Slam has developed over time". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/masters08/columns/story?columnist=harig_bob&id=3330050. Retrieved on 2008-04-07. 

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Major Golf Championships
Former Majors: British Amateur · U.S. Amateur Related Events South African Open  · Canadian Open See also: Grand Slam · Triple Crown
v • d • e
Male golfers who have won 2 or more major championships in one year
1922 Gene Sarazen (2) · 1924 Walter Hagen (2) · 1926 Bobby Jones (2) · 1930 Bobby Jones (2) · 1932 Gene Sarazen (2) · 1949 Sam Snead (2) · 1951 Ben Hogan (2) · 1953 Ben Hogan (3) · 1960 Arnold Palmer (2) · 1962 Arnold Palmer (2) · 1963 Jack Nicklaus (2) · 1966 Jack Nicklaus (2) · 1971 Lee Trevino (2) · 1972 Jack Nicklaus (2) · 1974 Gary Player (2) · 1975 Jack Nicklaus (2) · 1977 Tom Watson (2) · 1980 Jack Nicklaus (2) · 1982 Tom Watson (2) · 1990 Nick Faldo (2) · 1994 Nick Price (2) · 1998 Mark O'Meara (2) · 2000 Tiger Woods (3) · 2002 Tiger Woods (2) · 2005 Tiger Woods (2) · 2006 Tiger Woods (2) · 2008 Pádraig Harrington (2)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_major_golf_championships"
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