Grab a coffee and settle in, because this is one of those golf debates that never really gets old. Ask ten different golf fans who the greatest player of the century has been, and you will probably get ten different answers wrapped around the same handful of names. But if we strip away the opinions and just look at the trophies, one name sits well above the rest.

Since the turn of the millennium, the four majors in golf, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championship, have crowned dozens of winners. Some names show up once and fade. Others keep showing up, year after year, like clockwork. So who has actually won the most? Let's break it down properly, with real numbers and real context, not just hot takes.

Tiger Woods Still Leads the Pack Since 2000

Tiger Woods has won 13 majors since 2000, more than any other golfer in the modern era. His run began with the legendary 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and stretched all the way to a tearful, career defining win at the 2019 Masters after years of injury and doubt.

The Numbers Behind Tiger's Dominance

Between 2000 and 2008, Woods won 12 of his 13 post 2000 majors, an absurd stretch by any measure. He completed the so called Tiger Slam, holding all four major trophies at once heading into 2001, something no one had done in the modern era of golf.

The 2019 Masters Comeback

If you were watching golf that Sunday in April 2019, you probably remember exactly where you were. Woods had not won a major in over a decade, his body battered by multiple back surgeries. Then he walked up the 18th fairway at Augusta to a roar that shook the pines, closing out his fifth Green Jacket and 15th career major. It remains one of the most emotional scenes in modern sports history.

Phil Mickelson Built a Legacy of His Own

Phil Mickelson has won six majors since 2000, and every single one of them came after the calendar flipped past Y2K. Lefty's story is different from Tiger's. He was the perennial bridesmaid before finally breaking through, and once he did, he never looked back.

From Near Misses to Major Champion

Mickelson finished runner up at majors so many times early in his career that fans genuinely wondered if he would ever win one. His breakthrough at the 2004 Masters, where he sank a curling birdie putt on the 18th green, finally silenced the doubters and opened the floodgates.

A Career Grand Slam Almost Completed

Mickelson picked up wins at the Masters three times, the PGA Championship twice, and the Open Championship once. The only major missing from his cabinet is the U.S. Open, where he famously finished runner up six times. That gap remains one of golf's great what ifs.

Rory McIlroy Has Quietly Climbed the List

Rory McIlroy has won six majors since 2000, matching Mickelson's tally and cementing his place among the true greats of this era. What makes McIlroy's story stand out is the long gap between his early major wins and his more recent surge, including back to back Masters titles.

An Explosive Start in His Twenties

McIlroy won four majors before he turned 26, starting with a dominant U.S. Open win in 2011 and following it up with victories at the PGA Championship and the Open Championship. For a while, it looked like he might chase down Tiger's total.

The Long Wait and the Big Return

After 2014, McIlroy went through a lengthy stretch without a major title, a drought that lasted roughly a decade before he broke through again at the 2025 Masters, completing the career Grand Slam. He backed it up with another green jacket the following year, proving that patience in golf really can pay off.

Brooks Koepka Made His Mark in a Hurry

Brooks Koepka has won five majors since 2017, a remarkably fast rise for a player who once flew under the radar on the European Tour before making his name in the United States. Koepka has a well earned reputation for peaking exactly when it matters most.

A Specialist in Big Moments

Koepka has three PGA Championship titles and two U.S. Open crowns. Unlike some players who chase consistency across every event, Koepka openly admits he treats regular tour events differently from majors, saving his sharpest form for the four biggest weeks of the year.

Other Notable Names Since 2000

Golf history since 2000 is not just about the top four names. Plenty of talented players have carved out their own multi major legacies, even if they have not reached double digits. These are the golfers casual fans sometimes forget but hardcore followers always remember.

Padraig Harrington's Open Championship Run

Harrington won three majors in a short window, taking back to back Open Championships in 2007 and 2008, then adding a PGA Championship later that same summer. It was one of the most underrated hot streaks of the 2000s.

Jordan Spieth and the Career Grand Slam Chase

Spieth burst onto the scene with three majors by age 24, including a dominant Masters win and a U.S. Open title in the same season. He still needs a PGA Championship to complete the career Grand Slam, and golf fans are watching closely every May.

Scottie Scheffler's Rapid Rise

Scheffler has already claimed four majors, including two Masters titles and a memorable Open Championship win at Royal Portrush. Given his current form, many analysts believe his name could realistically climb much higher on this list within the next few years.

Why Major Wins Matter More Than Regular Tour Titles?

A player can win twenty regular tournaments and still be judged primarily on how many majors sit in the trophy case. That is just how golf works. The four majors in golf carry tougher fields, harder setups, and far more pressure, which is exactly why winning even one changes a career forever.

Full List of Golfers With the Most Majors Since 2000

Here is a quick reference table so you can see the leaderboard at a glance:

• Tiger Woods, 13 majors

• Phil Mickelson, 6 majors

• Rory McIlroy, 6 majors

• Brooks Koepka, 5 majors

• Scottie Scheffler, 4 majors

• Padraig Harrington, 3 majors

• Jordan Spieth, 3 majors

This list will keep shifting as the current crop of stars, especially Scheffler and McIlroy, continue chasing more hardware in the years ahead.

Conclusion

So, who has won the most majors since 2000? The answer is Tiger Woods, and it is not particularly close. His 13 major titles in this stretch alone would rank him among the top five golfers of all time even without a single win from the previous century. But golf is a sport built on momentum, and names like McIlroy, Scheffler, and Koepka are proving that the next great chapter of major championship history is still being written. Whether you grew up idolizing Tiger's red shirt on Sunday or you are just now discovering Scheffler's calm dominance, one thing is certain. Majors will always be the true measuring stick of greatness in golf, and this leaderboard is far from finished.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who has won the most majors since 2000?

Tiger Woods has won the most majors since 2000, with 13 titles spanning from the 2000 U.S. Open to the 2019 Masters, making him the clear leader of the modern era.

2. How many majors has Rory McIlroy won since 2000?

Rory McIlroy has won six majors since 2000, including back to back Masters victories in 2025 and 2026, which completed his career Grand Slam.

3. Did Phil Mickelson ever win a U.S. Open?

No, Phil Mickelson never won a U.S. Open despite finishing runner up six times, which remains the most heartbreaking gap in an otherwise stellar six major career.

4. How many majors has Scottie Scheffler won so far?

Scottie Scheffler has won four majors as of 2026, including two Masters titles, a PGA Championship, and an Open Championship, and his total is widely expected to grow.

5. What are the four golf majors?

The four majors in golf are the Masters Tournament, the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championship, each held once every year at different courses around the world.

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