You know that feeling when a sports debate gets heated at the local pub? Usually, it's about the GOAT. In golf, that conversation starts and ends with one specific number. If you're looking for the short answer to who won most golf majors, it's Jack Nicklaus. The "Golden Bear" bagged 18 professional major championships.
But honestly, the "who" is easy. The "how" and the "what if" are where things get juicy.
For decades, we’ve watched Tiger Woods chase that number like a man possessed. He’s sitting at 15. Then you've got the legends like Walter Hagen and Ben Hogan, whose names sound like they belong in a black-and-white movie but whose stats are still terrifyingly relevant in 2026. If we're being thorough, we can't just talk about the men. Patty Berg holds a record that even Jack hasn't touched.
The Mount Rushmore of Men’s Golf
Let’s look at the heavy hitters. Jack Nicklaus is the king of the hill with those 18 titles. He won his first at the 1962 U.S. Open and his last—the legendary 1986 Masters—at the age of 46. People forget he also had 19 runner-up finishes. Nineteen! If three or four of those putts had dropped, he’d be sitting on 22 or 23 majors, and we wouldn't even be having a debate.
Tiger Woods is the only one who ever made people think 18 was vulnerable. He reached 14 majors by the time he was 32. Then, the wheels sort of came off with the injuries and the personal stuff. His 2019 Masters win was probably the most emotional moment in sports history, but it left him three short of Jack.
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Here is how the men's leaderboard looks for the top tier:
- Jack Nicklaus: 18 (Masters: 6, U.S. Open: 4, Open Champ: 3, PGA: 5)
- Tiger Woods: 15 (Masters: 5, U.S. Open: 3, Open Champ: 3, PGA: 4)
- Walter Hagen: 11 (Mostly PGA Championships and Open Championships)
- Ben Hogan: 9 (A master of the U.S. Open)
- Gary Player: 9 (The original fitness nut of golf)
Hagen is a weird one because he won his titles in the 1910s and 20s. Back then, the Masters didn't even exist. He won the Western Open five times, which many historians basically count as majors. If you count those, he’s technically tied with Jack. But the "official" record books aren't that kind.
The Women Who Outplayed Everyone
If we’re strictly talking about who won most golf majors regardless of the tour, the conversation shifts to the LPGA. This is where Patty Berg enters the room.
Berg won 15 majors between 1937 and 1958. That’s a massive number. Mickey Wright is right on her heels with 13. Wright is often cited by purists (and even Ben Hogan himself) as having the greatest golf swing to ever exist.
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Then you have Annika Sorenstam. She dominates the modern era conversation with 10 majors. Annika was so dominant in the early 2000s that it felt like she was playing a different game. She even shot a 59. Think about that for a second.
Why the "Major" Definition is Kinda Messy
The concept of a "major" hasn't always been what it is today. Nowadays, it’s the Masters, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship (British Open), and the PGA Championship. Simple.
But back in Bobby Jones’ era, the "Grand Slam" meant winning the U.S. Open, the U.S. Amateur, the British Open, and the British Amateur. Jones won 13 "majors" by that count, but if you only count the ones professionals play today, his number drops significantly. It’s all about context.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Count
A lot of folks think the PGA Tour win count is the same as the major count. It’s not. Sam Snead and Tiger Woods are tied for the most total PGA Tour wins with 82 each. Jack Nicklaus "only" has 73.
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So, why do we care more about the 18? Because majors are where the pressure is. It’s where the courses are set up to be brutally difficult. It's where you're playing against every single top player in the world at the same time. Winning a random tournament in Milwaukee is great, but winning at Augusta National is what gets you a statue.
The Current Landscape in 2026
As of early 2026, the active players are still trying to climb the ladder. Brooks Koepka has five. Rory McIlroy finally broke his decade-long drought by snagging the 2025 Masters, bringing his total to five as well. They are great, but they aren't Jack or Tiger. Not yet.
The gap between "great" and "legendary" is about ten majors wide. That is a canyon that very few people will ever cross again. The depth of talent in the game right now is so high that one person dominating and winning two majors a year for a decade is almost statistically impossible.
Actionable Insights for Golf Fans
If you're following the quest for the most majors, here is how to track the greatness:
- Watch the "Big Four" carefully: The Masters (April), PGA Championship (May), U.S. Open (June), and The Open (July). These are the only ones that move the needle on the all-time list.
- Respect the Runner-Ups: Look at Jack's 19 second-place finishes. When evaluating a player's "closeness" to greatness, look at how often they are in the top five on Sunday afternoon.
- Don't ignore the LPGA: The history of women's majors is rich and often has higher win totals because of the dominance of players like Berg and Wright.
- Contextualize the Era: Understand that Ben Hogan missed years of his prime due to World War II and a near-fatal car accident. Numbers don't always tell the whole story of talent.
Knowing who won the most majors gives you the framework, but watching the current crop of players try to chase those ghosts is what makes being a golf fan worth it.