Grand Slam on Woods' mind

AUGUSTA, Ga.-Tuesday at Augusta National was a nice day, perhaps a shade too gray to fully illuminate the range of springtime colors and cool enough to require a sweater for many roaming the course while waiting for the Masters to begin Thursday.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.

When Mickelson won the 2006 Masters, it was his second straight major, but he wasn't ready to think about the Slam.

"Had I won the (U.S.) Open that year_and I had a good chance_I probably would have thought about it a little bit," he said. "I don't think it's an impossible feat. I just think it's going to be a tough one."

Woods, who has won just one of the past five Masters, understands how difficult it will be for the simple fact it hasn't been done in 78 years and never in the pro era.

When Jack Nicklaus said more than a decade ago that Woods might win 10 Masters, Augusta National was different. The course was shorter, fairways were wider and scoring was easier, especially for bombers such as Woods.

His command of his game, especially his imagination and touch around the greens, enhances his advantage because Augusta might demand more of players than any other major championship venue.

"This is the most complete test of golf," Mickelson said.

And Woods is golf's most complete player.

"In order to win all of them in the calendar (year), you have to win here," Woods said. "Hopefully, I can get it done this year and move on."Schedule

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(c) 2008, The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.).