Most major wins in golf history: Tiger Woods close behind legendary name, one non-American in top five

In golf, it’s all about winning majors, and we have seen some prolific champions over the years.

Players with one or two major victories will have enjoyed a brilliant career but these legends of the game turned the biggest tournaments into their bread and butter.

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Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are two of golf’s greatest ever playersCredit: Getty
Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are the players still competing at the top level who could yet break into this list.

All four will hope for glory at the upcoming 2025 Masters and move a step closer to the all-time greats.

Tiger Woods, who looks set to miss all the big events this summer through injury, has won 15 majors.

But even ‘The Big Cat’ can’t match golf’s most prolific champion.

Top ten golf majors winners

5. Tom Watson – Eight Majors

Masters: 1977, 1981, US Open: 1982, The Open: 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983

During the 1970s and 80s, Watson was one of the leading golfers in the world.

The American was born in Kansas City but The Open proved to be his favoured tournament.

He is the joint-second most successful player at that particular event, winning it five times and was appreciated for his longevity.

In 2009, he nearly won The Open again but lost in a four-hole play-off to Stewart Cink.

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Tom Watson finally retired in 2019

4= Ben Hogan – Nine Majors

Masters: 1951, 1953, PGA Championship: 1946, 1948, US Open: 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953, The Open: 1953

Hogan is among the few players to complete the Career Grand Slam, winning each major at least once.

But what makes that achievement even better is that he only competed in The Open once.

‘The Hawk’ was a fearsome competitor born in Texas who served in the US military and suffered a near-fatal car accident, but none of that stopped him.

His peak moment came in 1953 when he claimed the Triple Crown for winning the US Open, Open and Masters all in 12 months.

4= Gary Player – Nine Majors

Masters: 1961, 1974, 1978, PGA Championship: 1962, 1972, US Open: 1965, The Open: 1959, 1968, 1974

Another Grand Slam legend, South African star Player is the only non-American on this list.

Born in Johannesburg, Player secured 159 career wins during his stunning career, including nine majors.

He has said many times that The Open is his favourite tournament and he has a trio of wins on British soil.

He also secured a hat-trick at Augusta and completed his career Grand Slam by clinching US Open victory at Bellerive.

3. Walter Hagen – 11 Majors

PGA Championship: 1921, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, US Open: 1914, 1919, The Open: 1922, 1924, 1928, 1929

Hagen is considered the ‘father of professional golf’ and is regarded as one of the best golfers ever.

Born in New York to a family of German descent, he went on to be a Ryder Cup captain six times.

Plus, unlike some of the others on this list, his 11 majors came across 15 years, showing he remained at the top of his game for a very long time.

Hagen also helped spread golf around the world by taking part in exhibition tours to bring the game to people across the globe.

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Woods won his fifth green jacket in 2019Credit: Getty

2. Tiger Woods – 15 Majors

Masters: 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019, PGA Championship: 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007, US Open: 2000, 2002, 2008, The Open: 2000, 2005, 2006

Despite coming towards the end of his career, Woods is still the biggest name in modern-day golf because of his incredible achievements.

He has won each major at least three times, including The Masters on five occasions.

The American is still playing the odd tournament these days, but he dominated golf during the 2000s.

And then, after dealing with plenty of stuff away from the course, he defied all the odds to win at Augusta one more time in 2019, 22 years after his first victory there.

Woods is undoubtedly one of America’s greatest sportspeople, never mind golfers.

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Nicklaus was almost unbeatable at times

1. Jack Nicklaus – 18 Majors

Masters: 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986, PGA Championship: 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980, US Open: 1962, 1967, 1972, 1980, The Open: 1966, 1970, 1978

Nicklaus, or ‘The Golden Bear’, is the most successful golfer in history, and it’s hard to see how his achievements will ever be matched.

What makes him stand out compared to many others is his longevity, as he won majors in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

He has won the most Masters and is a Career Grand Slam member.

The American is still going strong and now spends his time designing other golf courses through his company, Nicklaus Design.