If ever there was an inventory of golfers who at the moment are recognized for an exceptional achievement it’s this one. After Rory McIlroy’s heart-stopping heroics we now have six males who’ve accomplished the profession Grand Slam.
Gene Sarazen was the primary in 1935 to seize the Masters, PGA, US Open and Open titles, not that anybody knew it then, adopted by Ben Hogan (1953), Gary Participant (1965), Jack Nicklaus (1966) and Tiger Woods (2000).
This query has been a relentless since 2014 and McIlroy was all the time one of many go-to solutions. To have a look at who may be subsequent then we’ll contemplate those that have a minimum of two totally different Majors already within the financial institution – a very good reply may be Ludvig Aberg although he’s solely performed in six in whole. The possibilities are that one of many beneath, if that, will pull this off.
(In alphabetical order)
Dustin Johnson (2) – Wants the PGA and OpenHe’s nonetheless solely 40 and constructed out of granite however you’d be exhausting pressed to counsel that there’s a lot left in Johnson’s Main hopes. He’s received 24 instances on the PGA Tour and commenced life on LIV cleansing up together with his 4 Aces staff however he’s now down in 182nd spot on the DG rankings – you don’t even need to know the place is on the OWGR… (801st). There’ll all the time be questions on his urge for food, anybody who is aware of or works with him will let you know that he’s completely meticulous in his observe however he’s not even a part of the Main dialog nowadays.
Possibilities: 0/10
Brooks Koepka (5) – Wants the Masters and Open Koepka is at present ranked eightieth on the earth (Information Golf) and he stays a really totally different animal to most within the sport. He has 9 wins on the PGA Tour and 5 of them are Majors. Numbers smart on LIV Golf all the pieces appears fantastic with 5 victories (Bryson has three) however the hole appears to be widening within the Majors regardless of what occurred in 2023. Then he semi threw away the Masters however then received the PGA at Oak Hill. Every thing does appear arrange properly for plenty of runs at Augusta the place he’s had two second locations which leaves the Open. Once more, he’s acquired the abilities to contend however the transfer to LIV and accidents has definitely had a big effect – in his final eight Majors his greatest end is T17 and he’s missed the minimize in each this 12 months.
Possibilities: 4/10
Phil Mickelson (6) – Wants the US OpenHe’s 54 and is a six-time runner-up on the US Open which is simply ridiculous. The primary one got here again within the final century, his first look was in 1990, and, in among the many mess-ups, he’s performed some unbelievable golf solely to be outplayed by Tiger and co. He’s already the oldest Main champion at 50, to do something now could be off the charts.
Possibilities: 1/10
Collin Morikawa (2) – Wants the Masters and US OpenMorikawa received the 2020 PGA and 2021 Open on his debut in each championships which nonetheless isn’t talked about sufficient. At Augusta his worst end in his final 5 begins is 18th, on the US Open his final 4 efforts have been 4-5-14-14. He’s nonetheless in his twenties and, fairly rightly, a lot is fabricated from his iron play. Morikawa ranks seventh for SG: Strategy this season though Scheffler is in a unique stratosphere to everybody else.
Possibilities: 4/10
Jon Rahm (2) – Wants the PGA and OpenThe Spaniard’s return to Main kind was very welcome at Quail Hole as he ‘rolled again the years’ (on the age of 30). Plenty of nonsense has been spoken about Rahm – he’s nonetheless among the finest 5 gamers on the planet and he’ll be one other participant who’ll be licking his lips on the prospect of Portrush. He was eleventh final time and he’s received two Irish Opens on hyperlinks programs – in 2017 he completed 24-under at Portstewart in a outstanding show.
Possibilities: 7/10
Jordan Spieth (3) – Wants the PGANumbers smart, the more than likely now could be Spieth as he simply wants the one and he’s not in his fifties. He’s nonetheless solely 31, his age all the time coming as a little bit of a shock, and his kind is again on the up. He’s at present ranked twenty ninth on the Information Golf rankings – Aberg is twenty sixth – which provides us one thing. His final Main win got here at Royal Birkdale in 2017 so we’re now into our eighth season with out one which, like McIlroy, is unthinkable after what occurred from 2015-17. His kind within the PGA – one 2nd and third all the time presents some hope although it does really feel like he’s been overtaken by a number of and is a world away from Scottie Scheffler and McIlroy. However, if anybody can flip it on for per week, it’s Spieth.
Possibilities: 4/10
Xander Schauffele (2) – Wants the Masters and US OpenSchauffele has a neat Main file with half his 32 begins ending in high 10s. Coming into the 2024 season he was talked about as the perfect participant but to win a Main. Then, within the area of two months, he polished off half the Grand Slam. His Masters file is implausible, likewise US Open which reads 5-6-3-5-7-14-10-7. So in eight begins he’s solely as soon as completed exterior the highest 10 – roll on Oakmont.
Possibilities: 7/10
Scottie Scheffler (3) – Wants the US Open and OpenThis is the place the pinnacle kicks in – he may really polish it off this 12 months. The American is 28 and there’s loads of speak about him reaching double figures. His Wikipedia web page is a sea of yellow for Main high 10s together with these three Ws. There isn’t a course on the planet the place he received’t be a risk and he’s thus far on the market – you may already image him hoisting the Claret Jug aloft at Portrush. One alarming stat for the remainder of the sector is that he’s now ranked fifteenth for SG: Placing (to go alongside all of the 1sts elsewhere).
Possibilities: 9/10
NB: As two-time Main winners Martin Kaymer and Zach Johnson additionally qualify however the prospect of including one other two Majors, or certainly any wins, appears fairly distant.
READ MORE: Revealed: Why does Scottie Scheffler, the king of iron play, use a ProV1 ball?
