Who’s most likely to complete the next career Grand Slam? We rank the contenders

If ever there was a list of golfers who are now known for a phenomenal achievement it is this one. After Rory McIlroy’s heart-stopping heroics we now have six men who have completed the career Grand Slam.

Gene Sarazen was the first in 1935 to capture the Masters, PGA, US Open and Open titles, not that anyone knew it then, followed by Ben Hogan (1953), Gary Player (1965), Jack Nicklaus (1966) and Tiger Woods (2000).

This question has been a constant since 2014 and McIlroy was always one of the go-to answers. To look at who might be next then we’ll consider those who have at least two different Majors already in the bank – a good answer might be Ludvig Aberg though he’s only played in six in total. The chances are that one of the below, if that, will pull this off.

(In alphabetical order)

Dustin Johnson (2) – Needs the PGA and Open
He’s still only 40 and built out of granite but you’d be hard pressed to suggest that there’s much left in Johnson’s Major hopes. He’s won 24 times on the PGA Tour and began life on LIV cleaning up with his 4 Aces team but he’s now down in 182nd spot on the DG rankings – you don’t even want to know where is on the OWGR… (801st). There will always be questions about his appetite, anyone who knows or works with him will tell you that he’s absolutely meticulous in his practice but he’s not even part of the Major conversation these days.

Chances: 0/10

Brooks Koepka (5) – Needs the Masters and Open
Koepka is currently ranked 80th in the world (Data Golf) and he remains a very different animal to most in the game. He has nine wins on the PGA Tour and five of them are Majors. Numbers wise on LIV Golf everything seems fine with five victories (Bryson has three) but the gap seems to be widening in the Majors despite what happened in 2023. Then he semi threw away the Masters but then won the PGA at Oak Hill. Everything does seem set up nicely for lots of runs at Augusta where he’s had two second places which leaves the Open. Again, he’s got the skills to contend but the move to LIV and injuries has certainly had a big impact – in his last eight Majors his best finish is T17 and he’s missed the cut in both this year.

Chances: 4/10

Phil Mickelson (6) – Needs the US Open
He’s 54 and is a six-time runner-up at the US Open which is just ridiculous. The first one came back in the last century, his first appearance was in 1990, and, in among the mess-ups, he’s played some incredible golf only to be outplayed by Tiger and co. He’s already the oldest Major champion at 50, to do anything now would be off the charts.

Chances: 1/10

Collin Morikawa (2) – Needs the Masters and US Open
Morikawa won the 2020 PGA and 2021 Open on his debut in both championships which still isn’t talked about enough. At Augusta his worst finish in his last five starts is 18th, at the US Open his last four efforts have been 4-5-14-14. He’s still in his twenties and, quite rightly, much is made of his iron play. Morikawa ranks 7th for SG: Approach this season although Scheffler is in a different stratosphere to everyone else.

Chances: 4/10

Jon Rahm (2) – Needs the PGA and Open
The Spaniard’s return to Major form was very welcome at Quail Hollow as he ‘rolled back the years’ (at the age of 30). A lot of nonsense has been spoken about Rahm – he’s still one of the best five players on the planet and he’ll be another player who’ll be licking his lips at the prospect of Portrush. He was 11th last time and he’s won two Irish Opens on links courses – in 2017 he finished 24-under at Portstewart in a remarkable display.

Chances: 7/10

Jordan Spieth (3) – Needs the PGA
Numbers wise, the most likely now is Spieth as he just needs the one and he’s not in his fifties. He’s still only 31, his age always coming as a bit of a surprise, and his form is back on the up. He’s currently ranked 29th on the Data Golf rankings – Aberg is 26th – which gives us something. His last Major win came at Royal Birkdale in 2017 so we’re now into our eighth season without one which, like McIlroy, is unthinkable after what happened from 2015-17. His form in the PGA – one 2nd and 3rd always presents some hope though it does feel like he’s been overtaken by several and is a world away from Scottie Scheffler and McIlroy. But, if anyone can turn it on for a week, it’s Spieth.

Chances: 4/10

Xander Schauffele (2) – Needs the Masters and US Open
Schauffele has a neat Major record with half his 32 starts finishing in top 10s. Coming into the 2024 season he was talked about as the best player yet to win a Major. Then, in the space of two months, he polished off half the Grand Slam. His Masters record is fantastic, likewise US Open which reads 5-6-3-5-7-14-10-7. So in eight starts he’s only once finished outside the top 10 – roll on Oakmont.

Chances: 7/10

Scottie Scheffler (3) – Needs the US Open and Open
This is where the head kicks in – he could actually polish it off this year. The American is 28 and there’s plenty of talk about him reaching double figures. His Wikipedia page is a sea of yellow for Major top 10s along with those three Ws. There isn’t a course on the planet where he won’t be a threat and he’s so far out there – you can already picture him hoisting the Claret Jug aloft at Portrush. One alarming stat for the rest of the field is that he is now ranked 15th for SG: Putting (to go alongside all the 1sts elsewhere).

Chances: 9/10

NB: As two-time Major winners Martin Kaymer and Zach Johnson also qualify but the prospect of adding another two Majors, or indeed any wins, seems pretty remote.