Tiger Woods expects his quest for golf's Grand Slam will be easier than his successful run to the "Tiger Slam" because there will be less time between events and fewer annoying questions about it.
Tiger Woods expects his quest for golf's Grand Slam will be easier than his successful run to the "Tiger Slam" because there will be less time between events and fewer annoying questions about it.
Woods ensured the Slam will be the topic of golf conversations around the world for the next month by winning the 102nd US Open yesterday, becoming the first man in 30 years to win the Masters and the US Open in the same year.
Woods is the only man to have won four consecutive major titles, having taken the 2000 US and British Opens and PGA Championship and the 2001 Masters. Woods sees a Grand Slam as simply a different twist on a mission already accomplished.
"It's certainly do-able, because I have done it before," Woods said. "To win all four in a calendar year, I think, would just be different."
The feat was dubbed the "Tiger Slam" because it did not fall in a calendar year as would a Grand Slam. But Woods appears willing and able to accomodate the sticklers for chronology and his rivals have so far been helpless to prevent him.
"I've won the Slam before. I've won four major titles in a row and that's something I'm proud of. You can call it what you want. But when I was at home, I had all four trophies on my mantle and no other person can say that.
"This will be a different type of Slam, it being the calendar year."
Woods' triumph guarantees an electric atmosphere at next month's British Open in Muirfield, Scotland, and excitement in building for the possible last leg of the Slam sweep at August's PGA Championship at Hazeltine Golf Club in Minnesota.
Woods joined Jack Nicklaus (1962), Arnold Palmer (1960), Ben Hogan (1951, 1953) and Craig Wood (1941) with the US Open-Masters double.
Only Hogan added the British Open, but a schedule conflict kept him from the 1953 PGA. Palmer and Nicklaus lost the British by a stroke and World War II wiped out Craig Wood's chance.
Woods dreams of passing boyhood idol Jack Nicklaus' record total of 18 major titles. Winning his eighth major gave Woods seven of the past 11 major crowns and twice as many major titles as Nicklaus at the same age.
"I'm 26. It's not like my career is ended," Woods said. "In that span of time, I'm going to try to get better. This is what we all play for. It's what we dream about as kids. Now it's not a dream."
Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington, second at halfway, finished only eighth, a double bogey six at the final hole itself costing him three places and over $73,000.
"I will take positives from the week, but I don't really see them at the moment," said the Dubliner. "I'm sure when I'm home I'll think about it and there will be some good things learned."
Harrington watched Ireland’s World Cup game with Spain before teeing off.
"Obviously, it was an unfortunate result at the end of the day. They really had a great chance there, but that's the way it goes."