Field weighs in on slam for Woods
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Zach Johnson was the only person in the world last year who could entertain the thought.
The grand slam and his chances of winning it, however, didn't enter the realm of serious discussion with the reigning Masters Tournament champion.
"If it even crossed my mind -- and I'm sure it probably did -- it was in my mind briefly," he said. "I'm pretty realistic about things."
So is Tiger Woods, and he has been seriously talking for more than four months about how real his chances are of winning all four majors in 2008. Ever since he issued the "easily within reason" missive in his season-opening newsletter, it's been one of the most talked-about things in golf.
Nobody is laughing it off.
"He's already done it, hasn't he?" said Geoff Ogilvy, referring to the wrap-around "Tiger Slam" that ran from the 2000 U.S. Open through the 2001 Masters. "It's definitely not a preposterous question. It's definitely in the cards."
Woods didn't back down from his original "easily within reason" statement Tuesday at Augusta National Golf Club.
"You have to understand why I said that, because I've done it before," he said. "I've won all four in a row. ... I think this is my 12th or 13th season out here, and nine of those years I've won five or more tournaments. So (I) just got to win the right four. That's what it boils down to."
Saying that and doing that are extremely different things. A gust of wind on the 12th hole wrecked his chances of winning the Masters in 2000. A horrid draw with the weather derailed his bid at Muirfield in 2002 after he won the first two majors of the year. Players such as Rich Beem, Michael Campbell, Angel Cabrera and Johnson have stymied him at various majors.
As great a player as Woods is, luck plays a huge role in trying to do something so extraordinary.
"A lot of things have to come together in order to win a championship and, more so, major championships," Woods said. "One break where you hit a tree and it goes out of play and didn't come back in, or it happens to catch the right slope or catches the right gust of winds -- all of these little factors that come in just one time is the difference between winning and losing.
"It really is hard to quantify that to people. Even as knowledgeable as Hank (Haney) is -- he's seen me play umpteen holes -- even he can't always pick it up. Steve (Williams) is the only one; you ask all of the players and the caddies, they are the only ones who really understand the difference between winning and losing, how fine that is. That's what makes this game so great, is that you have to find a way."
Few in history have found a way more often than Woods. He's won 64 times on the PGA Tour, behind only Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead on the all-time list. He has won 13 majors, behind only Nicklaus' 18.
His winning percentage is astronomical. Since winning the 2006 British Open, Woods has won 17 times worldwide in 31 starts (54.8 percent) with five seconds. He has won 16 of his past 26 on the PGA Tour (61.5 percent) and eight of his past 10 (80 percent).
"If Tiger finishes out of the top 10 of any tournament, he's had a horrendous tournament," Stuart Appleby said. "He knows even if he makes a mistake, he thinks he can still win. Very few players have the ability to make mistakes and win."
Arnold Palmer defined the modern professional Grand Slam after winning the first two majors in 1960. Nicklaus embraced it almost to the point of distraction.
"When I went into every season, that was my goal," Nicklaus said. "About 1965 on, I felt that I had the ability. If I lost the Masters, I felt like my year was shot. It was gone. ... I don't remember what year it was that I sort of kicked myself in the rear end because I sort of wasted a couple of other majors. That's kind of an unrealistic way to approach what you're doing."
Nicklaus came closest in 1972, when he won the Masters and U.S. Open but was edged out by Lee Trevino in the British Open at Muirfield.
"I never got as close as Tiger's gotten, but it was fun trying," Nicklaus said. "So that's a pretty lofty goal. But for a guy like Tiger, I wouldn't put it past him."
"I always felt it was possible, too," said Phil Mickelson, who came within a double bogey at Winged Foot in 2006 of winning three consecutive majors. "I don't think it's an impossible feat; I just think it's going to be a tough one."
Nobody wants to be reminded of his skepticism should Woods complete the sweep in the PGA at Oakland Hills.
"If he gets to August and he's done it, we'll all be like, 'We said he was going to do it,' " said Ogilvy, who ended Woods' latest winning streak at Doral three weeks ago. "I don't think anyone doubts he can do it. But actually doing it, everything has to go your way."
Said reigning British Open champion Padraig Harrington: "It doesn't seem amazing because we have been talking about it, or you've been talking about it, for four months. We've kind of gotten used to it. It's definitely possible for him. I do think it's a difficult task.
"To win all four, you know, if he goes and does that, he really does deserve a pat on the back."
