Which Would Be More Impressive: An Amateur Winning the Open, or a Grand Slam?

[Golfingdad]

Given the quality of top amateur play these days, the GS seems much more difficult, and less likely.

I agree. Consider that in the last 14 years ;) nobody has even won the first 3 legs of the grand slam and yet in the last 3 + years there have been at least two times where an amateur was within 18 decent holes of winning s major. Dunne last week, and Beau Hossler at the 2012 U.S. Open where he started the final round T8 +3 (4 shots behind the leader and tied with the eventual winner) Fun fact I just learned about that tourney: after he struggled to a closing 76 he lost out on low am honors to none other than ... Jordan Spieth. ;)

[mchepp]

I agree. Consider that in the last 14 years ;) nobody has even won the first 3 legs of the grand slam and yet in the last 3 + years there have been at least two times where an amateur was within 18 decent holes of winning s major. Dunne last week, and Beau Hossler at the 2012 U.S. Open where he started the final round T8 +3 (4 shots behind the leader and tied with the eventual winner)

Fun fact I just learned about that tourney: after he struggled to a closing 76 he lost out on low am honors to none other than ... Jordan Spieth. ;)

Your examples actually show how hard it is for an amateur to win. Once in contention we have seen a number of amateurs fall back.

Still, I think it is easier for an amateur to "luck" into a win at a US Open or something where all sorts of madness ensued. They will of course had to play well for four days, but as you mentioned it is not unheard of. Winning four majors in a row is no luck.