Pinehurst, N.C. – Annika Sorenstam’s text message Sunday to Tiger Woods couldn’t have been more concise. Between friends, short messages say a lot.
“It was just ‘9-9,’ ” a grinning Woods told reporters covering the 105th U.S. Open at Pinehurst.
That’s nine career major championships for Woods and now nine for Sorenstam, after her LPGA Championship on Sunday.
First one to a calendar Grand Slam wins?
“It’s fun,” Woods said Tuesday, adding he gave her a bunch of grief “for a while because she hadn’t won as many majors as I have, as well as player-of-the- years and all that kind of stuff.
“It’s fun to give her the needle every time I get a chance, because she gives it right back to me.”
After Woods won the Masters this year, he messaged Sorenstam with “9.”
Woods didn’t say whether they have placed a friendly wager on who will be the first to earn a calendar Grand Slam. But a victory here by Woods could turn even more attention toward Sorenstam’s play next week in the 60th U.S. Women’s Open at Cherry Hills, if that’s possible.
For Sorenstam and Woods, the 2005 golf season has become “Anything you can do, I can do better.”
Sorenstam already has earned the first two legs of a conventional Grand Slam, and Woods hopes to duplicate that feat here. In one point in 2001, although not the end of the year, Woods held all four major championships at once – an accomplishment that became known as the “Tiger Slam.”
But no male or female has completed a four-event, modern professional Grand Slam in a calendar year. In 1930, Bobby Jones was honored in New York by a ticker-tape parade after completing the Grand Slam of that era, which included the U.S. Amateur and British Amateur championships. No LPGA player has swept four majors in a season.
Woods and Sorenstam would both be halfway toward a Grand Slam should Woods earn his third U.S. Open title this week. Sorenstam could then get a leg up on Woods with a victory next week at Cherry Hills.
The stars have aligned for an unofficial battle of the superstars in what could be a battle for the ages.
“It’s a unique time in golf right now,” said Nick Price, winner of three major championships in the early 1990s. “You’ve got Annika, who is totally dominating women’s golf. And you’ve got Tiger. If he gets on a roll again, there’s no doubt he can win all three (remaining majors).”
Woods and Sorenstam both live near Orlando, Fla., and practiced their short games together last fall.
“This is exciting for the game of golf,” veteran touring pro Peter Jacobsen said. And no doubt good for each other as well.
“They’re friends, and she says, ‘I’ve got my second one (this year) and let’s see if you can do it,”‘ said Hank Haney, the Dallas-area swing coach who works with Woods. “Anytime when you’re as great as those two are, you’re looking for a little thing to motivate you further. If they can push each other that’s great.”
Woods, known as a tireless worker, marvels at Sorenstam’s practice sessions.
“Her focus, her determination, her preparation over the winter months – people don’t realize how hard she works,” Woods said.
Some could say the same about Woods, who said Tuesday, “I like my chances here.”
He is not thrilled about the condition of some areas just off the greens, however, which he said were not as smooth as when the Open was last held here, in 1999.
“Unfortunately it’s going to require a little bit of luck and see what kind of bounces you get,” Woods said. “You have to hit the ball well, put the ball on the green and have it stay on the greens. That’s going to be the key.”
Should he do so, and capture his second major, expect golf’s unofficial rivalry only to heat up. Price said Woods and Sorenstam have drawn additional fans into the game.
“It goes into the periphery media that doesn’t normally cover golf, like People magazine and those kinds of things,” Price explained. “That’s what golf needs.”
Sorenstam is doing her part. She heads to Cherry Hills having posted victories in six of her past eight starts.
“Nobody has dominated the last couple of years like Annika has dominated the (LPGA Tour),” 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk said. “She’s beating everybody by a lot. Tiger had a year (2000) like that. Vijay had a year (2004) like that. Annika is having a decade like that.”
Staff writer Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
