Grand Slam on Woods' mind
Ron Green Jr. (MCT)
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: Sports
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There was Phil Mickelson in a green shirt, doing his pre-tournament work, and Retief Goosen doing his. Down the hill, fans roared approval as players hit skipping shots across the pond at the par-3 16th hole, laughing at the effort more than the results.
Everywhere, there was Tiger Woods, if not on the course then in the minds of seemingly everyone within shouting distance of Amen Corner.
He played nine holes Tuesday morning, out early and dressed in black, his third straight day on the course. This is Woods' 13th Masters appearance, and he's won the green jacket four times.
Seven years ago, he completed the Tiger Slam with his win at Augusta National, giving him ownership of all four professional major championships at the same time.
This year, Woods is_according to Las Vegas lines_even money to win his fifth Masters. Beyond that is the possibility of the Grand Slam, a subject he seems comfortable with, considering he was the one who suggested he could do it earlier this year. "I've done it before," he said Tuesday when asked why he believes the Grand Slam is, in his words, "easily within reason" this year.
"I've won all four in a row."
As his form-fitting shirts show (he's gone from extra large shirts to medium to better fit his physique), he is capable of handling great weight_especially the invisible weight of enormous expectations.
He talked again Tuesday about how he had asked his late father, Earl, to make it tough on him by incorporating psychological training techniques he had learned as a member of the Army special forces. Everything between them became a competition, partly for fun and partly for weeks like this one.
Tiger Woods brushed off history as his driving force Tuesday, saying he plays with a more basic pursuit: "I love winning."
Each of the field's 94 players thinks of winning, but the percentage who deep down believe it's possible is likely small. Yet Woods doesn't think of just winning this week but envisions adding the U.S. and British Opens and the PGA Championship later this year.
"I'd like to bet against him, like the whole field here this week, but it's definitely in his reach," Ernie Els said.
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