The record for most men's major championship wins is kept in two different ways. The most commonly quoted numbers are from the list of professional majors only. But numbers from the combined list of professional and amateur majors are also frequently quoted. We've provided below a lengthy list showing the golfers with the most men's professional major titles, and below that a shorter list that includes amateur championships, too.
Most Professional Majors
Jack Nicklaus - 18
Tiger Woods - 14
Walter Hagen - 11
Ben Hogan - 9
Gary Player - 9
Tom Watson - 8
Bobby Jones - 7
Arnold Palmer - 7
Gene Sarazen - 7
Sam Snead - 7
Harry Vardon - 7
Nick Faldo - 6
Lee Trevino - 6
Seve Ballesteros - 5
James Braid - 5
Phil Mickelson - 5
Byron Nelson - 5
J.H. Taylor - 5
Peter Thomson - 5
Willie Anderson Jr. - 4
Jim Barnes - 4
Ernie Els - 4
Raymond Floyd - 4
Bobby Locke - 4
Rory McIlroy - 4
Tom Morris Jr. - 4
Tom Morris Sr. - 4
Willie Park Sr. - 4
Jamie Anderson - 3
Tommy Armour - 3
Julius Boros - 3
Billy Casper - 3
Henry Cotton - 3
Jimmy Demaret - 3
Bob Ferguson - 3
Ralph Guldahl - 3
Padraig Harrington - 3
Hale Irwin - 3
Cary Middlecoff - 3
Larry Nelson - 3
Nick Price - 3
Denny Shute - 3
Vijay Singh - 3
Payne Stewart - 3
Note: The four professional majors that are counted are The Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship.
Most Majors - Amateur & Professional
Jack Nicklaus - 20
Tiger Woods - 17
Bobby Jones - 13
Walter Hagen - 11
John Ball - 9
Ben Hogan - 9
Gary Player - 9
Arnold Palmer - 8
Tom Watson - 8
Note: The two amateur majors that are counted at the U.S. Amateur and British Amateur championships.
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