In Gee Chun has a chance to join golf’s most elite club this weekend at the Chevron Championship in THE WOODLANDS, Texas. Just two weeks after Rory McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam, Chun could achieve the same remarkable feat.
There’s a key difference, though.
While the PGA Tour recognizes four majors, the LPGA has five: the Chevron Championship, U.S. Women’s Open, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Amundi Evian Championship and AIG Women’s Open.
But here’s the thing – Chun only needs to win four different majors to achieve the career Slam, not all five. The LPGA defines the career Grand Slam as winning four different major championships during a player’s career. Those who win all five earn the “super career Grand Slam.”
Chun already has three different majors on her resume. She burst onto the scene by winning the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open as a non-member, immediately taking up tour membership. A year later, she dominated the Amundi Evian, shooting 21 under par – the lowest winning total in LPGA major history. In 2022, Chun captured the third leg with her victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA at Congressional Country Club.
“I always think that means a lot,” Chun said about potentially winning the career Grand Slam. “That’s why I’m here and keep grinding and keep working hard.”
Chun entered the weekend at 3 under par, four strokes off the lead.
“I really struggled with my game last year, so I don’t want to make myself more pressure on me,” Chun said. “But I want to just trust my process because I had good winter training with my new coach. I just believe everything we’re doing is in the right direction. Staying present is my goal this week.”
That new coach represents a significant change. In 2024, Chun split with her longtime swing coach, Won Park, who had been her instructor since she was 16. She’s now working with Songhee Kim, a former LPGA Tour player who won five times on the Epson Tour. Chun appreciates that Kim can relate to what she’s experiencing on the road, though she still maintains a relationship with Park, who now serves as one of her agents.
“My previous coach gave me a lot of good lessons,” Chun explained. “I felt it was time to move on and I want to learn something new from another person, too.”
Kim suggested Chun take a break to regroup after a decade competing on the LPGA Tour. Last year, Chun cut her season short, making her final start at the U.S. Women’s Open in May before returning nine months later at the Founders Cup this February. During that time, she worked with Kim on retooling her swing while also hitting the gym to address ongoing back pain that’s plagued her career. Now, she’s playing pain-free.
Anna Nordqvist also came into the Chevron with a chance to complete the career Grand Slam but will need a miraculous weekend after barely making the cut at 2 over par. Nordqvist could also win the U.S. Women’s Open this year to earn a fourth different major title.
Nordqvist and Chun aren’t alone in their quest. Lydia Ko could win either the U.S. Women’s Open or the KPMG Women’s PGA to secure her fourth different major. Yani Tseng needs the U.S. Women’s Open or a victory at the Amundi Evian Championship.
The career Grand Slam is one of golf’s rarest achievements. Only seven players have done it on the LPGA Tour, with Inbee Park being the most recent when she won the AIG Women’s Open in 2015. Karrie Webb stands alone as the only player who has achieved the super career Grand Slam by winning five different major championships.
Which LPGA players have won the career Grand Slam?
- Louise Suggs (1957)
- Mickey Wright (1962)
- Pat Bradley (1986)
- Juli Inkster (1999)
- Karrie Webb (2001)
- Annika Sorenstam (2003)
- Inbee Park (2015)
