Slam Is Something for Woods to Shoot At

One down, three to go?

Tiger Woods said it’s not out of the question that somebody can win the Grand Slam, or all four major championships in one year.

“Whether it’s realistic or not, I couldn’t really tell you, but I think it can be done,” Woods said.

“For example, Phil Mickelson won four times last year,” he said. “Well, if you win the right four tournaments, then you have the slam.

“It’s difficult to win, because these are majors. But if you peak at the right times, at lot like what Nicklaus used to do, and if you have a lot of luck on your side, then who knows?”

Woods said he might even be the one to do it this year.

“If I enter them all . . . my goal is to win every tournament I play.”

The U.S. Open will be played June 12-15 at Congressional at Bethesda, Md.; the British Open is July 17-20 at Royal Troon in Scotland; and the PGA Championship is Aug. 14-17 at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Ben Hogan won the first three of the modern majors in 1953, but did not play the PGA Championship, which was scheduled the day after the British Open, which was held at Carnoustie.

Bobby Jones won the Grand Slam in 1930 when the events consisted of the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, British Amateur, and the British Open.

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Woods’ 12-shot margin of victory is the second-biggest in a major championship.

The largest was 13 shots by Tom Morris Sr., who defeated Willie Parks, 163-176, to win the 1862 British Open at Prestwick. It was a 36-hole event.

What’s more, Woods’ total of 18 under par matched Nick Faldo for the record in a major. Faldo was also 18 under par at St. Andrews in the 1990 British Open.

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The Tiger Show, otherwise known as the 1997 Masters, was a hit for CBS. Saturday’s third round had an 8.3 overnight rating and a 20 share.

Last year, the third round had a 6.0 rating. The national rating for the third round will be available today, as will overnight ratings for Sunday’s final round.

Television coverage began Sunday with Woods on the fifth hole, which is sort of unusual. Normally, CBS coverage begins with the lead group playing the seventh hole, but slow play enabled viewers to see action on the front nine that is not usually broadcast.

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Since 1960, Ben Crenshaw (in 1988) is the only golfer besides Woods to play the back nine without a bogey.

Crenshaw closed with an eight-over 80 that included a record-tying 11 on the par-five 15th. Crenshaw had three balls roll back off the green into the water.

Jumbo Ozaki, who had an 11 at the 15th in 1987, was Crenshaw’s playing partner Sunday.

Woods played the back nine at Augusta National, in 16-under par, which is another Masters record. Arnold Palmer set the previous mark of 12-under in 1962.

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Tom Watson on Woods: “He owned this golf course.”

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The smuggest man at Augusta National was, well, how about Nike chairman Phil Knight.

If anyone thought Nike went out on the limb by signing Woods to a reported $40 million, Knight said there should be no second-guessing now.

“One analyst, if you remember, said we overpaid for Tiger Woods,” Knight said. “I wonder what they’re thinking now.”

Knight, who is attending his first Masters, said Woods’ appeal is enormous. “I’ve never been to the Masters before, but I’ve had people tell me down by Amen Corner there are more people gathered there [watching Woods] than Arnie’s Army at its peak,” he said.