04/09/2001

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Let there be no more newsprint wasted, no more airwaves filled with talk of Tiger's grand slam. In a perfect world, a voice from above would tell us that what Tiger Woods has done, winning four major championships in succession, is not a grand slam.

Otherwise, what would Woods, at the age of 25, have to look forward to?

Instead, let's acknowledge what Woods has become. He is the heavyweight champion of the world. On Sunday, Woods unified the belts, combining the U.S., British and PGA championships with the Masters green jacket.

More than the king of golf, Woods is the king of sport.

"Ten years ago, I would have said what Tiger's done would be impossible," said Bernhard Langer, two-time Masters champion. "Now I know everything is possible with Tiger."

Let the numbers speak for themselves, in the wake of Woods' two-shot victory at Augusta National on Sunday. In the last four majors, Woods has a 45-stroke advantage over Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els, his nearest competitors.

In simple terms, Woods could have spotted the field two strokes a round through the last four majors, and his combined score still would be 13 shots better than Mickelson's and Els', not to mention 50 shots better than Jim Furyk's.

"It's an accomplishment that I don't know what you can compare it to," said David Duval, whose 67 got him to second place at 14 under par. "I imagine it was the same way when players were competing against Jack Nicklaus. That's where we are right now."

Woods already has gone where Nicklaus and Hogan and Palmer never did, holding all four major titles at once. And there is little really to suggest Woods won't win at Tulsa's Southern Hills in June when he gets the chance to defend his U.S. Open title and continue his pursuit of a grand slam in 2001 that no one would dispute.

If the pressure of his achievement bore him any burden, it never showed.

"You'll probably think I'm lying, but I felt more relaxed this week," Woods said. "I've already won this tournament. I figured that no matter what happened, they'd still invite me back."

Woods' sixth major title denied Mickelson his first.

"If I'm going to win a major championship with Tiger Woods in the field, I can't keep making the mistakes I've been making," said Mickelson, who was baffled by an up-and-down putting day that kept him from becoming the first golfer to shoot in the 60s all four rounds of the Masters.

Mickelson's 70 left him three shots in back of Woods.

But while Duval and Mickelson both faltered at the finish line, it's not as if Tiger backed into this title.

Duval's 274 total would have won 59 of the previous 64 Masters and had him in a playoff for another. The five players shooting 10 under or better represented a Masters record.

In effect, the field, led by Duval, threw its best punches at Woods, and he answered.

"A couple of times I probably beat myself here," Duval said. "I didn't do that today. I just came up short."

Against Woods, who doesn't? He led the tournament in driving distance, but Woods is a far more polished player than the 21-year-old wild swinger who ran away with the Masters four years ago.

He still crushes the ball, but has control. Woods set a Masters record, hitting 59 of 72 greens.

His is a game without flaws which is why his record defies easy comparison.

Woods played his final round looking as if victory were pre-ordained. When he flew the green on the par-3 12th, he turned to caddie Steve Williams, smiled and said, "And you wanted me to hit it harder."

The bogey he made there was his second of the day, but it was his last.

A birdie at 13 put him back on top and a final 18-foot birdie at 18 caused Woods to be overwhelmed by emotion, hiding his face with his hat.

"I was in such a zone working on every shot, I just realized that I didn't have any more shots. I was done," Woods said.

"In 1997, I was a little naïve, didn't realize what I'd accomplished for a year or two. Now I've been around the block. Now I understand. To win four in succession, it's hard to believe, really. Some of the golfing gods are looking down upon me the right way."

They should fix their gaze in another direction. Clearly, this is a man who no longer requires their help.

Tim Cowlishaw can be reached at 214-977-8446 or .