TIGER WOODS could become the first player to win a calendar grand slam of all four majors, according to Arnold Palmer.
Palmer, who won two of the four events in a season three times in the early 1960s, said the world number one could do what he and others such as Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player never managed.
"I can see Tiger doing it. Since I created it in about 1960, we haven't really had many people come close except Tiger," Palmer said ahead of his invitational at his Bay Hill course, which begins today.
Woods came closest of anyone with his so-called "Tiger Slam" after winning the 2001 Masters.
His two-shot victory at Augusta National meant he held all four majors at the same time, following wins at the US Open, British Open and PGA Championship the previous year.
"I think a lot depends on just how determined he is to win the four events in one year. I think that it's pretty damn exciting myself. I think it's something that should stimulate the golf world and certainly should stimulate Tiger, because he's the guy that's on the hot spot right now," added Palmer.
Woods returns to the PGA Tour looking for his ninth title in 10 appearances worldwide.
Having taken a break since his record 8 and 7 win over fellow countryman Stewart Cink in the final of last month's WGC-Accenture Matchplay Championship in Marana, Arizona, Woods is now chasing his fifth victory in the Palmer event.
After landing his 63rd PGA Tour title at Marana, Woods edged ahead of Palmer into fourth place in the all-time standings. Only Sam Snead (82), Jack Nicklaus (73) and Ben Hogan (64) have won more.
The 78-year-old Palmer said he had used modern technology to discuss the change in the standings with Woods.
"Oh, we have had a couple of text messages back and forth. It's no surprise to me. I anticipated that he would pass that record and I can't see him doing anything but continuing to pass other people's records in the future."
Meanwhile, fans' favourite John Daly was disqualified from competing in Orlando after failing to appear for yesterday's pro-am.
A tournament organiser said Daly did not appear for his scheduled tee time and therefore, under PGA rules, was automatically out of the main competition.
Twice major winner Daly does not have a tour card but was given a sponsor's exemption to appear at the Palmer event.
His disqualification follows reports of unruly behaviour in his most recent tour appearance, at the Pods Championship in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Yesterday, Woods' former coach Butch Harmon announced he had dropped Daly because, Harmon said, he was not going to waste his time with a two-time major champion who is more interested in drinking than working on his golf game.
"My whole goal for him was he's got to show me golf is the most important thing in his life," Harmon said from his golf school in Las Vegas. "And the most important thing in his life is getting drunk."
Daly, playing on a sponsor's exemption, spent a two-and-a-half-hour rain delay during the first round in a Hooters corporate tent behind the 17th green at Innisbrook. After missing the second round cut, Daly spent Saturday at the Hooters "Owl's Nest" at the tournament, drinking beer, mingling with fans and signing autographs, including one on the back of a woman's pants.
Palmer invitational
Course:Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida
Length: 7,239 yards. Par: 70.
Prizemoney: $5.8 million (€3.7 million)
Field:120.
Defending champion:Vijay Singh
First played:1966, as Florida Citrus Open Invitational, won by Lionel Herbert
Most wins:Tiger Woods won four in a row, 2000-03
On TV: Setanta Golf, 7-10pm
Weather: Mostly sunny, 240C
