Our great national controversy is over. The LPGA has released a statement that finally puts the question of what constitutes the “Grand Slam.” Sort of.
With the LPGA’s history of changing sponsors and now naming five different championships as majors the debate whether the Grand Slam is now five majors rather than the traditional four has reached critical mass.
With Inbee Park’s win at the Women’s British Open she has been correctly credited with the career grand slam. But the LPGA has now stepped in and added the” Super Grand Slam” which is winning all five of the current major championships.
It’s confusing but here is the LPGA’s statement that they think should put the controversy to rest. Sort of.
The LPGA endeavors to maintain fair comparisons – as they relate to major championships and grand slams – from generation to generation. Despite the dictionary definition of grand slam, when translated to golf it has been widely understood that accomplishing the grand slam has been to win all four major championships.
The term grand slam was translated to golf 20 years before the LPGA was founded and the LPGA has not always had four majors. We began our major history with three. In some years we competed for two, in some years three, in some years four and now five.
The LPGA did not add a fifth major championship to change history, alter discussion or make the accomplishment of a “grand slam” more difficult. We added a fifth major to create an incremental opportunity for the women’s game.
For players (active or retired) who have won four different majors available in their careers, the LPGA has and will continue to acknowledge them as having accomplished a Career Grand Slam.
And for players (active or retired) who have won five different majors available in their careers, the LPGA has and will continue to acknowledge them as having accomplished a Super Career Grand Slam.
Likewise for players who win four consecutive majors in a single season, the LPGA will acknowledge them as having accomplished a Grand Slam.
And for players who win five majors in a single season, the LPGA will acknowledge them as having accomplished a Super Grand Slam.
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