When Rory McIlroy won The Masters back in April, many were wondering just how realistic it would be for the Northern Irishman to go on and end up winning all four majors in the same year.
Rory McIlroy won The Masters, while the PGA Championship was held at Quail Hollow – a course on which he had won four times previously. Meanwhile, The Open Championship will be played at Royal Portrush. And of course, McIlroy had finished second at the US Open in both 2023 and 2024.
Ultimately, McIlroy would fall at the second hurdle. The wait for the same player to win all four of the current majors in one year continues.
The Tiger Slam saw Tiger Woods win the final three majors in 2000 before clinching The Masters in 2001. But no player has won The Masters, the US Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship in the same calendar year.
However, nearly 40 years ago, one player gave themselves a golden opportunity to make history by leading all four majors after 54 holes – before going on to win just one major that year.
The player who led all four majors after 54 holes in the same year before going on to only win one
One of the players who immediately comes to mind for many when asked to think of someone who should have won many more majors is Greg Norman. It is almost remarkable that the Australian only won two Open Championships given his talent.
Norman finished second three times at The Masters, and second twice at both the US Open and the PGA Championship. And two of those runner-up finishes came in 1986.
With 18 holes to play, Norman had led at Augusta National by one over Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Nick Price and Donnie Hammond. But of course, it would be Jack Nicklaus who would end up winning the green jacket, with Norman making a bogey on the last to miss out on a playoff.
Norman led by three at the halfway stage at Shinnecock at the US Open. By the end of Saturday’s round, the advantage was down to one shot. Hal Sutton and Lee Trevino were the pair just behind the Shark.
On that occasion, it was Raymond Floyd who triumphed. Norman meanwhile, missed out on the top 10 after posting a 75 on Sunday in New York.
The Open Championship would bring a first major title to Norman. He led from the second round, and ended up finishing five shots clear of Gordon J. Brand at Turnberry.
But the joy was short-lived.
The question which upset Greg Norman after he lost out at the 1986 PGA Championship
Norman led by four after rounds two and three at the PGA Championship at Inverness. However, a two shot swing on the 72nd hole saw Bob Tway win by two. Tway managed to chip in from the bunker on the 18th hole to leave Norman needing to chip in to force a playoff.
Norman was asked afterwards by the media whether the monkey was back on his back given that he had led by four with eight holes remaining in Toledo. It is safe to say that he did not take the question well.
“I don’t understand you guys,” bemoaned Norman, as reported by the Guardian. “Don’t go saying the monkey’s back on my back.”
The achievement of leading all four majors in 1986 after three rounds became known as the Saturday Slam.
And perhaps it may help explain why Norman was so keen for LIV Golf events to be played over 54 holes rather than 72.
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