Going into the 2000 season, Tiger Woods was a gifted golfer who, at 24, had already won two majors and was on a four tournament winning streak. All he did was win two more in a row to start a season in which he won nine tournaments total and three majors. The only other man to win three majors in a season was Byron Nelson. Nelson never won another major after that year. Tiger won his next.

Grand Slam? Well probably not. I agree that to call it "The Grand Slam" it needs to be done in a single season. What's interesting is that people who say it's not a Grand Slam use stats like: if someone hits .400 for 162 game or 1 year period it doesn't count or if they score so many points from the middle of a season to the next it doesn't count. What they don't tell you is streak records tend to carry over from one season to the next, just as, uhh..., Tiger's winning streak during the end of the 99 season and the beginning of 2000.

Personally, I think "The Grand Slam" has always been defined as all four majors in one year. Do I think that it diminishes the accomplishment in any way? No. It is easily the most difficult and impressive feat in golf history (except maybe Hogan's eleven consecutive wins). Even Jones' "real" Grand Slam only had two tournaments against pros. The other two were amateur crowns. He didn't compete against the same people. So, Grand Slam? No. Grand? Absolutely!

Well, what to call it? I've heard the "Tiger Slam" and the extra sexy "holding four major titles simultaneously". It deserves something regal but not gaudy. Something clear, definitive, and unmistakable. It shouldn't identify with one person, but be accessible to all who may reach for it in the future. I'm open to ideas because I have none. This may be beyond superlatives...

Just in case you haven't noticed, Tiger has now won three tournaments in a row… Is the Byron hunt on again?

Even with his bright future, we should enjoy this while we have it. It may never happen again. He may hold two or three major titles simultaneously again, but four? I doubt it. Too many things can go wrong. In fact, an SI writer this year predicted that Tiger wouldn't win any majors this year based on that premise. I guess it's nice to find out about your predictions so early in the year.

Tiger has a hold on the sporting world that, maybe, four people in history have had: Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, and his golfing hero Jack Nicklaus. He is not anywhere near the accomplishments of these men, but with today's marketing, you don't build a reputation, it is built for you and his handlers of done a magnificent job.

I'm still waiting to see what kind of record he puts up. Does he have the talent to equal those four men? Yes. Does he have the drive? At this point, yes. Does he have the stamina to last the years? I plan on enjoying every minute as we find out.

Go get 'em, Tiger!

Article first appeared at www.e-sports.com

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