Masters champion Rory McIlroy reacts during the Green Jacket Presentation Ceremony after winning the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. Photo / Getty Images
With his Masters win at Augusta, Rory McIlroy joined Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as Grand Slam winners but who could be next to join the prestigious list? Cameron McMillan looks at eight possible contenders.
Jordan Spieth - Needs PGA Championship
Spieth has three majors to his name - the Masters and US Open in 2015 and the Open in 2017 - which he won in pretty quick time. Since that impressive run, which also included a second placing at the PGA, he’s been chasing the slam. The closest Spieth’s come is a tie for third in 2019 - though it was six shots back from winner Brooks Kopeka. Spieth has dropped to 58th in the world and the 31-year-old hasn’t won a PGA Tour event since 2022 but is still an outside chance at each major. Next month’s PGA Championship is at Quail Hollow, where McIlroy is a four-time winner and a big favourite to block Spieth from joining him in the slam list.
Phil Mickelson - Needs US Open
The 54-year-old has seven majors including three Masters but he’s 0-33 at the US Open with six runner-up finishes. Another major might be beyond the LIV Golf player but some may have thought that four years ago when he won the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. This year’s US Open is at Oakmont, a course he has struggled at in the past, missing the cut the last two times (2007 and 2016) - and that was during his prime. Next year it’s at Shinnecock Hills where he had one of his second placings, albeit 22 years by the time he tees up, if in the field.
Brooks Koepka - Needs Masters, The Open
Koepka has an impressive five majors, two US Opens and three PGA Championships, the last of which at Oak Hill two years ago came after he joined LIV Golf. He held a two-shot lead going into the final round of the 2023 Masters only to shoot a 75 and finish second to Jon Rahm. This year an eight on the last saw him miss the cut. Koepka has four top 10s at the Open, including a sixth at Royal Birkdale which hosts the event next year. But his form at the majors has been inconsistent the last two years as he hasn’t made the top 20 at the last six including the missed cut at the Masters.
Dustin Johnson - Needs The Open, PGA Championship
Another LIV Golf player who is hard to judge on form but Johnson has shown in the past he’s got the goods to complete the slam. He’s finished second twice at the PGA Championship (2019 and 2020) and was runner-up at 2011 Open. He has six top 10s at the PGA and five at the Open. However, four missed cuts in his last six majors hint that LIV might not be the best for his major hopes.
Jon Rahm - Needs The Open, PGA Championship
The former world No 1 shocked the golfing world when he joined the LIV Golf tour at the end of 2023 and he hasn’t been in contention at any of the four majors he’s appeared in since. But the 30-year-old has plenty of major appearances left in him and he has a great record at the Open with three top 10s in the last four years. Royal Portrush this year should suit him as he shot two 68s there in 2019.
Collin Morikawa - Needs Masters, US Open
Morikawa is the youngest on this list and wouldn’t be surprised if he wins a major in 2025, though it may be one he already has. The PGA and Open champion has been on a great run at majors of late with five straight top 16 finishes including a third at last year’s Masters. The 28-year-old has two top-five finishes at both the Masters and the US Open, the two titles that elude him.
Scottie Scheffler - Needs PGA Championship, US Open, The Open
He needs to collect three of the four but the world No 1 will be favourite, or at least joint-favourite with McIlroy, at the remaining majors this year and likely for the many majors after. The two-time Masters champion has runner-up finishes at the US Open (2022) and the PGA Championship (2023). He’s only played in four Open Championships and made the top 25 every time. There’s no doubt Scheffler will win more majors, possibly doubling his tally this year.
Xander Schauffele - Needs Masters, US Open
Schauffele started 2024 with zero majors but after finally claiming his first at the PGA Championship, it was quickly followed with a second at Royal Troon. With those two wins he has the confidence to claim more. After a tie for eighth at the Masters he’s had five straight top 10s in majors, including the two wins. Expect him to be in contention in his PGA defence at Quail Hollow next month where he has performed well.
There’s a strong chance he heads to Augusta next year in the same shoes as McIlroy, needing the green jacket to complete the slam. He’s finished top 10 at Augusta the last three years, was second in 2019 and third in 2021.