Commentary

Tiger Woods's pursuit of the British Open crown at Muirfield starting Thursday could be absolutely thrilling. If he's in the lead, or even in the hunt, the sports world will be glued to the TV. If he wins, then the PGA Championship next month at Hazeltine will be even more riveting than the British Open.

No golfer since Bobby Jones in 1930 has won the four most important titles in the sport in the same calendar year. For weeks, the hype has been building: "Can Tiger Win the Grand Slam?"

Tiger has already won the Grand Slam. Now, he's just trying to do the supposedly impossible twice within two years.

As far as Woods is concerned, he thinks he's won the Slam.

Tiger already has won the Grand Slam in my book, too. Of course, maybe I just enjoy agreeing with Tiger and Jack Nicklaus. It's good company to be in.

Right now, it seems he might win the Grand Slam several times. But, in sports, things change quickly. Injuries happen. Marriage and family arrive, with their demands for energy and time.

So, let's not to diminish what Woods has put in the books next to his name just so we can relish this British Open and perhaps the PGA Championship as some unique quest. It's wonderful top-drawer drama. But if it's better than the Tiger Slam, then it's better by the tiniest of margins.