The 10 Youngest Major Championship Winners In Golf History

In professional golf, any win is huge for a golfer but winning a major championship is something every pro dreams of. It is the goal they are chasing every single season. The vast majority of pro golfers never win a major championship but for a lucky few they win before they are even old enough to rent a car.

Below is a list of the youngest major winners in golf history. The stats are interesting because a hundred plus years ago golfers competing in major championships were significantly younger than they are today. So the rankings are skewed older. For that reason I have broken it out into two lists. First are the youngest major winners in the modern era and second are the youngest major championship winners of all-time.

The Youngest Major Winners In Golf History

There are quite a few names on this list that appear more than once. Golf is funny like that, where players go streaks for years at a time and might spend decades without playing as hot. Tiger, Jack, and Seve are three of the greatest of all time and well represented below.

1. Tiger Woods: 1997 Masters

In the modern era of golf, no major champion is younger than Tiger Woods at the 1997 Masters. He was 21 years, 3 months, and 14 days old when he won his first green jacket at Augusta National. Many have come close but Tiger’s record remains intact.

2. Jordan Spieth: 2015 Masters

Jordan Spieth hit the pro golf world like a hurricane. He is the second-youngest major champion behind Tiger Woods, winning the 2015 Masters at just 21 years and 8 months old. Jordan is actually on this list twice as you’ll soon see!

3. Jordan Spieth: 2015 U.S. Open

It did NOT take long for Jordan Spieth to win his second major championship. After winning The Masters in 2015, Jordan followed it up with 2015 U.S. Open win. In doing so, he became both the second and third youngest major champion in golf behind Tiger Woods, winning the 2015 U.S. Open at 21 years, 10 months, and 25 days old.

4. Seve Ballesteros: 1979 British Open

The legendary Spaniard Seve Ballesteros was for the longest time, until Tiger Woods came along, the youngest major champion in golf. His first major championship was the 1979 British Open (Open Championship). Seve was 22 years, 3 months, and 12 days old at the time.

5. Jack Nicklaus, 1962 U.S. Open

Of the many records held by Jack Nicklaus is him being the fifth youngst major champion in golf. Jack won his first major, the 1962 U.S. Open, at just 22 years and 5 months old.

6. Seve Ballesteros: 1980 Masters

Seve Ballesteros is on this list twice, of course. As are a few others… Seve’s second major was the 1980 masters at 23 years and 4 days old.

7. Jack Nicklaus: 1963 Masters

Jack won his first green jacket at the 1963 Masters. He became the youngest Masters winner at the time at just 23 years, 2 months, and 17 days old. He would go on to dominate golf for decades after that.

8. Rory McIlroy: 2012 PGA Championship

The reigning back-to-back Master champion, Rory McIlroy, won his first major championship at 23 years, 3 months, and 8 days old. He took down the 2012 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island and solidified his name in the record books.

9. Jack Nicklaus: 1963 PGA Championship

Jack’s third appearance on this list is proof that he was truly miles ahead of his competition at the time. Nicklaus won the 1963 PGA Championship at the Blue Course of Dallas Athletic Club in Dallas, Texas at just 23 years and 6 months old.

10. Tiger Woods: 1999 PGA Championship

Tiger Woods wa son top of the world in 1999. He took down the 81st PGA Championship, winning the Wannamaker Trophy at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois at just 23 years and 7 months old.

The Youngest Winners Of All-Time

Now that we have made it through the modern era, here are the all-time records. Young Tom Morris was an absolute beast of his time!

1. Young Tom Morris: 1868 British Open: 17 years and 5 months old.

2. Young Tom Morris: 1869 British Open: 18 years and 4 months old.

3.Young Tom Morris: 1870 British Open: 19 years and 4 months old.

4. Johnny McDermott: 1911 U.S. Open: 19 years, 9 months and 14 days old.

5. Francis Ouimet: 1913 U.S. Open: 20 years, 4 months and 12 days old.

>6. Gene Sarazen: 1922 U.S. Open: 20 years, 4 months, and 18 days old.

7. Gene Sarazen: 1922 PGA Championship: 20 years, 5 months, 22 days

8. Tom Creavy: 1931 PGA Championship: 20 years, 7 months and 17 days old.

9. Johnny McDermott: 1912 U.S. Open: 20 years, 11 months and 21 days old.