It took a quarter of a century to add a sixth member to the list of golfers who have won the career grand slam. In April, Rory McIlroy joined the likes of Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player by winning the Masters. But could it take just four weeks to add a seventh player to that immortal list?
Who is trying to win the career grand slam?
Jordan Spieth is trying to recreate the history McIlroy made at Augusta. He just needs the PGA Championship to join the group. At 31 years old, this week’s tournament at Quail Hollow Club will mark his 9th attempt at golf’s career grand slam.
“If I could only win one tournament for the rest of my life, I’d pick this one for that reason. Obviously, watching Rory win after giving it a try for a number of years was inspiring,” Spieth said Tuesday.
Spieth burst onto the scene in 2015, winning the Masters and the U.S. Open. Two years later, he won the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, England. Since then, he’s won just twice on the PGA Tour, fighting a wrist injury. He had surgery in August 2024.
It’s been a tough road, but he is playing much better this season. He has six top-20 finishes in 11 events, including a tie for 14th at the Masters. He also has a good game plan for Quail Hollow, where he went 5-0 during the 2022 Presidents Cup.
“I don’t feel like I have to learn where all the pins are and where all the misses are,” Spieth said. “You can ask me the hole location on any green around this place right now, and I can tell you how I’m going to play the hole and where I’m going to try to hit it.”
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Six players have won golf’s career grand slam: Gene Sarazen (1935), Ben Hogan (1953), Gary Player (1965), Jack Nicklaus (1966), Tiger Woods (2000), Rory McIlroy (2025)
Who could challenge him for the Wanamaker Trophy?
His challengers are many. There’s Spieth’s good friend Justin Thomas, who won the first of his two PGA Championships at Quail Hollow in 2017. Like Spieth, Thomas knows from experience that familiarity with Charlotte can help tremendously.
“I feel like there’s something about it,” Thomas said. “I think that when you’re able to get yourself in contention again, obviously it’s going to differ from who is there. But I will always be able to say if I’m coming down the stretch and trying to win the tournament, I can tell myself I’ve literally done this before here.”
And don’t forget the top three players in the game. Xander Schauffele, ranked third in the world, is the defending PGA champion. Rory McIlroy, ranked second in the world, is playing some of the best golf of his career and hoping to win back-to-back majors. And Scottie Sheffler, ranked first in the world, who has two Masters green jackets and won two weeks ago in Texas.
All three will play in the same group on Thursday and Friday. Combined, they have won four of the last five major championships.
“It should be a lot of fun,” Scheffler said. “I’ve seen that pairing before, and we have a good time out there, and it’s competitive. I think when I look back on my career, these will be some of the fondest memories I have: getting to play with some of the best players in the world, and compete to try and win tournaments.”
How is Rory McIlroy approaching the PGA Championship?
Wednesday, May 14, McIlroy said winning at Augusta lifted a burden he’s been carrying for 14 years. There’s no more pressure. Putting aside the fact that he’s won four times in his career at Quail Hollow, including last year at the Truist Championship, he feels he can play free.
“I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do in the game,” McIlroy said. “I dreamed as a child of becoming the best player in the world and winning all the majors. I’ve done that. So, everything beyond this for however long I decide to play the game competitively is a bonus.”
Spieth, you can bet, wants that same feeling. It all gets underway Thursday, May 15, in Charlotte, North Carolina. That marquee pairing with the top three players in the world tees off at 8:22 EST.
