Can Woods Win Modern Grand Slam?

No one has ever won the modern Grand Slam of golf, the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship. After Sunday’s resounding Masters victory, only Tiger Woods has a chance to do it this year.

“I think it’s possible to do it,” said Woods. “Phil Mickelson won four tournaments last year. If you win the right four tournaments, you can win the Grand Slam.”

Jack Nicklaus pointed for the majors every year and has had a career goal to win the Grand Slam. Although Nicklaus has won 18 majors, he never has won more than two in one year. In 1953, Ben Hogan won the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open (the only time he played in it). But that year the British Open and the PGA were played the same week.

Bobby Jones won the early Grand Slam in 1930 -- the U.S. and British Opens and the U.S. and British Amateurs. The possibility of winning the contemporary Slam is slim at best, yet there are those in the golf community who think Woods has a chance.

“It’s not very likely, but it’s a possibility,” said Nicklaus. “When you’re climbing a mountain, it’s easier to climb it when you’re young. But let’s take it one round at a time.”

CBS golf commentator and former U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate sees the venues for this year’s remaining major championships as favoring Woods. The U.S. Open will be played at Congressional outside of Washington. The British Open is at Royal Troon on the west coast of Scotland. The PGA is at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, N.Y. Said Pate: “Troon is right up his alley. Congressional is right up his alley. Winged Foot is right up his alley.”

Pate said the British Open will be the toughest for Woods to win, but it was at Royal Lytham and St. Annes last year that Woods posted his best finish as an amateur in a major, a tie for 22nd.

It’s not only the majors that Woods will have his eye on. By winning the Masters, he earned 300 Ryder Cup points for a total of 800, guaranteeing him a spot on the team. Ryder Cup captain Tom Kite, who finished second at Augusta, was at the 18th green when Woods completed his round Sunday. “I wanted to see him finish ... and congratulate him on making the Ryder Cup team,” Kite said. “Certainly I’m pleased to have him on the team.”

Woods won three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur titles and three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles, which are match-play events. The Ryder Cup is match play among professionals, and Kite said Woods still has to prove himself at that level.

But isn’t it interesting that Woods was paired with defending champion Nick Faldo in the opening round and world No. 1 Colin Montgomerie in the third round and buried them both. It wasn’t match play, of course, but both players certainly saw firsthand what Woods can do. Woods shot 70 to Faldo’s 75, and 65 to Montgomerie’s 74. Montgomerie, in declaring after Saturday’s round that there was no way to beat Woods in the Masters, was clearly humbled by his experience.

Jesper Parnevik, a Swede playing the American tour and a likely choice for Europe by captain Seve Ballesteros, doesn’t want any part of Woods in match play. “It would be like starting five down,” said Parnevik.

When told of that remark, Kite broke into a Cheshire cat grin. “Someone’s going to get a chance to see,” he said.