Since the Masters was first played in 1934, only five players have claimed what is now known as the career Grand Slam.
Beginning with Rory McIlroy this week at Augusta National, two men — and possibly a third — will make bids to complete that lofty achievement this year.
McIlroy captured the last two Grand Slam events of 2014, the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool and the PGA Championship at Valhalla, to go with his titles in the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional and the 2012 PGA at Kiawah Island.
“I think every year there’s always such buildup and hype toward Augusta,” said McIlroy, 25. “I think that hasn’t changed. I just think that this year at least for now, I’m the buildup, the center of that hype. …
“I’ve got a chance to go to Augusta and do something very few players in this game have done before, so that adds a little bit of spice to it, but I don’t feel any extra pressure. … I feel the extra attention, but no extra pressure on this side going to Augusta this year.”
In June, Phil Mickelson will make his second attempt to wrap up the career Grand Slam when he plays the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay near Seattle. He tied for 28th a year ago at Pinehurst No. 2 in his first bid.
Mickelson owns five major championships, including the one it seemed would be the most difficult for him to win, the Open Championship, which he captured at Muirfield in 2013. He is a three-time Masters champ, and he won 2005 PGA at Baltusrol.
“If it rains (at Pinehurst), I have really good action there,” Mickelson said last year. “I’ll probably end up winning my first Open. And if it doesn’t (rain), I might have to wait until Chambers Bay next year.”
It didn’t rain during the tournament. A downpour Thursday night softened the No. 2 course, but Mickelson still did not come close to winning.
Martin Kaymer of Germany was in control almost from the outset, starting with 65-65 en route to an eight-stroke victory over Rickie Fowler and Eric Compton.
Kaymer, who also captured the 2010 PGA at Whistling Straits, is the wild card in this story, because if he gets his game together and wins his first Masters this week, he would go for the career Grand Slam in July at St. Andrews.
“If Martin Kaymer remains as comfortable on courses as uncomfortable as Pinehurst No. 2 and the TPC Sawgrass Stadium (where he won the Players Championship last year), he’ll win all the majors over the next 10 years,” the Golf Channel’s Randall Mell said.
Bobby Jones, founder of Augusta National and the Masters, famously captured golf’s original Grand Slam in 1930, winning the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, the U.S. Open at Interlachen, the British Amateur at St. Andrews and the U.S. Amateur at Merion.
Gene Sarazen, who won seven major titles, wrapped up the first modern career Grand Slam by winning the 1935 Masters in a playoff over Craig Wood for his only Green Jacket.
Ben Hogan, who wound up with nine titles in the major championships, finished off his Slam by scoring a four-stroke victory over Antonio Cerda or Argentina and Dai Rees of Wales in the Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1953, when he won the first three majors of the year.
Gary Player of South Africa wrapped up his Slam by beating Kel Nagle of Australia in a playoff in the 1965 U.S. Open at Bellerive.
Jack Nicklaus, the all-time leader with 18 victories in the Grand Slam events, was next when he won the 1966 Open Championship by one shot over Dave Thomas of Wales and Doug Sanders.
And Tiger Woods, second with 14 major titles, became the youngest player to complete the career Grand Slam at 24 when he coasted to an eight-stroke victory over Thomas Bjorn of Denmark and Ernie Els of South Africa in the 2000 Open Championship at St. Andrews.
Woods, who makes his return to competitive golf this week, claimed the last three majors that year and added the 2001 Masters to complete what became known as the Tiger Slam.
Should McIlroy win this week, he would have a chance to equal that feat in June at Chambers Bay.
Mickleson and McIlroy both have stories about the one that got away, or they already would own the career Grand Slam.
Mickleson has six runner-up finishes in the U.S. Open, the most notable in 2006, when he had a one-stroke lead while standing on the 18th tee at Winged Foot and was trying to match Hogan and Woods as the only players to win three consecutive majors.
Without a 3-wood in his bag, he went with driver instead and pushed his tee shot so far to the left that it hit a hospitality tent. His next shot hit a tree, and his third found a greenside bunker. Eventually, he made a double-bogey 6 to finish one stroke behind Geoff Ogilvy of Australia.
“I am such an idiot,” Mickelson said afterward.
McIlroy took a four-stroke lead to the final round of the 2011 Masters, but he closed with an 8-over-par 80 that is the worst final round by any third-round leader at Augusta National. He finished in a tie for 15th.
“Even though I was one ahead going into the back nine, there was a lot of guys coming after me,” McIlroy recalled. “It was the first time I had ever been in that situation in a major and at Augusta. It all got a little too much.”
In the same position this time, it is more likely that he would Slam the door.
