Tiger Woods calendar slam the talk of Augusta

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Talk of a possible calendar grand slam by Tiger Woods has dominated the build-up to this week's U.S. Masters where the world number one will be seeking his fifth Green Jacket.

A sweep of all four majors in a single season has never been accomplished in professional golf but Woods's rivals at Augusta National Golf Club agree the game's leading player is capable of achieving it.

"It's going to be a tough feat but it's certainly a possibility," twice Masters champion Phil Mickelson told reporters during preparations for the opening major of the year. "It would be pretty cool to see it done.

"He has already won four majors in a row, so it's not an impossible feat. I think it's doable."

American Woods became the first professional to triumph in four successive grand slam events, doing so from the 2000 U.S. Open to the 2001 Masters.

Only once has a calendar slam been recorded, by American Bobby Jones in 1930 when golf's four elite events were the U.S. Open, British Open, U.S amateur and British amateur.

Ernie Els, twice a runner-up at the Masters, agreed the remarkable Woods could pull off the first professional slam.

"Basically, he's done it before and when you've done something before you feel like you can do it again," the South African world number three said.

"He's got a great record here at Augusta and he's been playing great so his confidence is sky-high."

LOFTY HEIGHTS

Woods, seeking his 14th major title this week, has triumphed nine times in 11 starts worldwide since last August. This year, he won three times in four PGA Tour appearances.

"When he comes out, he feels that he's under control," Els added. "He knows his golf swing is going to hold up and he's one of the best putters ever in the game. Those are pretty good qualities to have at Augusta.

"It's all about momentum and we've seen Tiger when he builds momentum, he can do some crazy things. It (the calendar slam) is definitely in his reach."

British Open champion Padraig Harrington agreed.

"It has been a long time since a player has been capable of winning a grand slam," the 36-year-old Irishman said.