CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — At the youthful age of 24, Tiger Woods made history as the youngest player to complete the career Grand Slam in golf. Walking across the iconic Swilcan Bridge in St. Andrews, Woods didn’t just step into the record books; he redefined them. Back then, speculations about potential successors felt premature, as challengers seemed far off in the distance.
However, the dynamics of the sport have evolved dramatically since then.
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It was an exhilarating moment when Rory McIlroy finally slipped on the coveted green jacket after enduring 17 years filled with ups and downs. In that moment of joy, he not only confronted his past struggles but also solidified his place among the elite of golf. “Welcome to the club, kid,” Woods texted, echoing the camaraderie of the sport.
This landmark achievement raises the question: Who might follow in McIlroy’s footsteps?
Jordan Spieth is currently in the spotlight, with aspirations of clinching the Grand Slam since his last attempt at the PGA Championship in 2017 at Quail Hollow. Despite his unwavering commitment, Spieth has yet to come closer than six strokes in his previous eight attempts.
Reflecting on his experiences, Spieth remarked on Tuesday, “There have been years when my pursuit of the PGA Championship hasn’t even made headlines. It varies, and if it weren’t for the story, it might not even come up for me.”
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Spieth may find himself overshadowed by McIlroy and Phil Mickelson, who has been chasing the elusive Grand Slam since triumphing at the U.S. Open in 2014. This year could represent his final shot, as his five-year exemption from that victory nears its end.
Xander Schauffele, a rising star on the circuit, stated, “I’d put my money on Jordan being the next one.”
Despite their talent, predicting success in golf is notoriously unpredictable, even for these elite players, particularly when just one major title separates them from this monumental accomplishment.
Consider the legends of yesteryears—almost sixty years ago, the golfing world witnessed a remarkable sequence of back-to-back career Grand Slam achievements, with Gary Player claiming his at the 1965 U.S. Open, followed shortly by Jack Nicklaus in 1966. Eyes then turned toward Arnold Palmer, just a PGA Championship win away from the same honor.
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Palmer, as he prepared for the 1966 PGA Championship at Firestone, expressed, “The drive is certainly there. I feel fantastic; it’s time to step up.”
But destiny had other plans. That year, Palmer fell short of the Grand Slam, and he wouldn’t take the PGA Championship until his final one at age 64 in 1994. Icons like Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, and Raymond Floyd also found themselves on the brink of greatness but were unable to break through.
Following Nicklaus’ achievement, Woods completed his Grand Slam 34 years later, and McIlroy matched that feat 25 years subsequently.
“Will it be another 25 years before we see this again? It’s a valid question,” Scottie Scheffler reflected. “With four majors already, Jordan definitely has the capability of completing the Grand Slam. Rory did it in five tournaments, and I believe in Jordan’s prowess.”
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In recent years, Scheffler has emerged as a formidable competitor, winning the Masters in both 2022 and 2024, while holding onto the No. 1 ranking longer than all but Woods.
“While I’ve only captured one major so far, it’s a different angle,” Scheffler acknowledged. “I’ve been performing well, but the search for more continues.”
As the PGA Championship is set to commence this Thursday, with the U.S. Open at Oakmont and the British Open at Royal Portrush on the horizon, the stakes are higher than ever for shaping the upcoming narrative of the season.
If Jon Rahm secures either the PGA Championship or British Open, or if Schauffele or Collin Morikawa clinches the U.S. Open, we could see a broader field of players nearing an achievement that has only been reached by Woods and McIlroy in the past 59 years.
Nevertheless, the path to victory is fraught with challenges. Claiming two major titles is merely the beginning; reaching that illusive third title complicates the journey considerably, evidenced by how many players have secured two legs of the Grand Slam without advancing further.
Nick Price celebrated his victory at the PGA Championship in 1992, adding a British Open win in 1994. “The dream of that Grand Slam has always lingered since I won my first PGA,” Price reminisced. “It’s the pinnacle for any golfer. I’ve wrestled with Augusta’s greens, and combats in the U.S. Open have plagued my career.”
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Discussions often evoke names like Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo, Fuzzy Zoeller, and Larry Nelson—all tantalizingly close yet never grasping that final chance. Even Seve Ballesteros had two legs of the Grand Slam by the time he turned 23.
Faldo, boasting six majors—three each from the British Open and Masters—holds the record for the titles most coveted among those who narrowly missed the Grand Slam.
“Reaching the brink is no minor achievement, yet arriving at that point doesn’t guarantee a leap beyond,” Scheffler shared, reflecting on the struggle of securing two legs. “Believe me, hitting that threshold is truly an enormous challenge.”
The relentless passage of time only heightens the difficulty. The modern concept of the Grand Slam traces back to Palmer’s mention in 1960, while pioneers like Gene Sarazen (1935) and Ben Hogan (1953) paved the way for future generations. Their accomplishments continue to resonate in history.
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Player (29), Nicklaus (26), and Woods were all in their twenties when they secured their final leg. McIlroy’s emotional triumph at Augusta at 35 remains a memory that lingers as he revels in his success. Meanwhile, Johnson, now 40, faces obstacles since joining LIV Golf, while Koepka, who turned 35 last month, encounters a challenging stretch with seven consecutive majors without a top-10 finish since his victory at the 2023 PGA Championship.
As for Spieth, now 31 and without a win in three years, he still appears to be in his prime. If he doesn’t emerge as the next victor, attention will undoubtedly shift to discover who might claim that honor instead.
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