Five who were the Grand Slam giants

FIVE players have won golf’s Career Grand Slam, with American Jordan Spieth hoping to become the sixth to complete by winning the PGA Championship this week at Quail Hollow:

The American legend, 77, won a record 18 majors and was a major runner-up 19 times. He completed his Career Grand Slam with a one-stroke victory in the 1966 British Open at Muirfield. A victory at the 1971 PGA made the “Golden Bear” the first to win each major at least twice and a win at the 1978 British Open made Nicklaus the first to win each three times.

Sidelined for the rest of the season by a nagging back injury, Woods, 41, has won 14 major titles. He won four majors in a row from the 2000 US Open to the 2001 Masters, a run known as the Tiger Slam. A 2005 British Open win at St Andrews gave him at least two of every major title. His win at the 2008 US Open and gave him at least three wins in each major tournament.

The South African, 81, captured nine major titles and was 29 when he won his fourth major title at the 1965 US Open to become the only golfer from outside the US to complete the Career Grand Slam. He won his first major title at the 1959 British Open and his last at the 1978 Masters.

Hogan won nine career major titles to match Player for fourth on the all-time list and completed his Career Grand Slam with his lone British Open crown in 1953. He also won four US Opens and the Masters and PGA twice each. The “Wee Iceman” died in 1997 aged 84.

The “Squire” captured seven major titles in his career, taking the 1935 Masters to complete his Grand Slam. He had help winning the second major at Augusta National by a double eagle (albatross) at the par-5 15th hole in the final round, the so-called “Shot Heard Round the World”. The American died in 1999 at age 97. — AFP