Thursday 9 July 2015 12:24, UK
Jordan Spieth moved a step closer to claiming golf’s Grand Slam with US Open victory, becoming only the sixth player in history to win the first two majors of the year. Here’s how those who matched Speith’s start to the year fared in their quest to claim all four.
1941 – Craig Wood
With no Open Championship due to World War Two, Wood was unable to follow on from his only two major titles and complete a calendar Grand Slam.
Back then, the PGA Championship was spread over six days, with 36 holes of match play whittling down the field before a straight stroke play knock-out.
Wood made an early exit at Cherry Hills, as Vic Ghezzi claimed a shock triumph over Byron Nelson in the final.
1951 – Ben Hogan
Hogan defied medical opinion to recover from a near-fatal car crash and earned an overdue Masters title with a two-shot win over Skee Riegel, before going on to defend his US Open title a month later.
Hogan's injuries did limit the number of tournaments he featured in, with the American deciding not to feature at both the Open and the PGA Championship that year.
1953 – Ben Hogan
It was a year to remember for Hogan, who set a tournament record collated score on his way to a first Masters victory before defending his US Open title a few weeks later at Oakmont.
Both the PGA Championship and the Open Championship being played around the same time, meantHogan couldn't tackle all four in one year and was left to decide whether to tee it off stateside or in the UK.
Already a two-time PGA Championship winner, Hogan chose Scotland over Michigan and left as the first player to ever claim “the triple crown”, getting off to a strong start in the final round on his way to a four-stroke victory.
1960 – Arnold Palmer
With a second Masters title already in the bag, Palmer overturned a seven shot first round deficit to sneak a narrow victory in one of the most memorable US Open’s of all time, finishing ahead of fellow hall of famers Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan down the stretch.
Palmer came closing to adding a third major of the year at St Andrews, finishing one stroke short of Australia's Kel Nagle despite a final round 68. The American then held the first round lead at the PGA Championship, only to end the week five shots adrift.
1972 – Jack Nicklaus
After a wire-to-wire victory at Augusta was followed by a dominant seven shot win at the US Open, Nicklaus was the odds-on favourite to continue his run of majors at the Open. He almost did.
Beginning the final round six shots off the pace, Nicklaus produced a course record-equalling 66 to give himself a chance, although Lee Trevino's 71 was enough for him to take the title.
There was no winning return at the PGA Championship either, as the defending champion ended the week tied-13th, although The Golden Bear would go on to claim the win a year later.
2002 – Tiger Woods
Having eased to three-shot wins at Augusta and Bethpage, the then world No 1 was very much in the mix heading into the weekend at the Open before a career-worst round ended his Grand Slam hopes.
A bogey-filled third round 81 did the damage, his highest ever until this year’s Phoenix Open, with Woods finishing in a tie for 28th.
Woods came far closer to PGA Championship glory a month later, ending the week one shot short at Hazeltine as Sky Sports’ very own Rich Beem claimed his solitary maiden victory.
