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Tiger insists that Grand Slam is possible

After stunning the golfing world earlier this year with talk of an unprecedented calendar grand slam of the professional majors, Tiger Woods faces the first hurdle in his bid at this week's U.S. Masters.

Although the American world number one accepts a healthy dose of good fortune is required to achieve his lofty goal, he confidently repeated his belief on Tuesday that it was possible.

"You have to understand why I said that, because I've done it before," the 13-times major winner told reporters at Augusta National Golf Club.

"I've won all four in a row. I think I'm the only guy who has done that; (in the) modern configuration."

Woods triumphed in four consecutive majors from the 2000 U.S. Open to the 2001 Masters, becoming the first player to achieve the feat.

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

"Majority of my career, I think this is my 12th or 13th season out here, and nine of those years I've won five or more tournaments, so just got to win the right four," Woods added. "That's what it boils down to."

"A lot of things come together in order to win a championship and more so major championships.

"One break where you hit a tree and it goes out of play and didn't come back in or it happens to catch the right slope or catches the right gust of winds.

"All of these little factors that come in just one time can be the difference between winning and losing."

Woods, arguably already the greatest player of all time, is the overwhelming favourite to claim his fifth Green Jacket at Augusta National.

The 32-year-old has been virtually unstoppable this season, winning his first four tournaments before finishing fifth at last month's WGC-CA Championship in Miami.

Since last August, he has triumphed nine times in 11 starts worldwide and he will launch his bid for a 14th major title in Thursday's opening round at one of his favourite venues.

"I just feel comfortable on this golf course," Woods said. "This is the only major we play each and every year on the same venue. This major is so important to all of us.

"It's such a special event. You always want to win this event and I've been lucky enough to have won it four times. But in order to win all on the calendar, you have to win here (first). Hopefully I can get it done this year and move on."

Woods is scheduled to tee off at 1045 local (1445 GMT) in Thursday's opening round in the company of U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina and Australia's Stuart Appleby.

April 9, 2008