The challenge Tiger Woods faced at the 2001 Masters Tournament which he admits was ‘so hard’ to overcome

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Tiger Woods’ 2001 Masters Tournament victory at Augusta National Golf Club made him the first player to win four consecutive major championships in the modern era.

The ‘Tiger Slam’ started with Woods’ historic 2000 US Open victory at Pebble Beach, where he won by 15 shots. The PGA Tour sensation then won his first Claret Jug at St Andrews before beating Bob May in a playoff at the PGA Championship.

Woods would then add a fourth successive major at the following year’s Masters, which was his second green jacket.

What Tiger Woods said was ‘hard’ about the build-up to the 2001 Masters Tournament

Before the 2001 event at Augusta, the narrative centred around Woods and whether he would be able to complete what many thought was nigh-on impossible.

The 15-time major winner admitted that dealing with the media frenzy was the most challenging part.

“That was a good stretch,” Woods said before last weekend’s PNC Championship. Once I pieced it together, in May of 99, it started to kind of unfold, getting the PGA in 99, and then I won three that year in 2000.

“I got on a hot run that summer, but the hard part was the six months you had to wait between the PGA and Augusta, and all that added up every single time I played—all the questions. Winning three in a row really quickly happens over the course of a few months, but the build-up into 2001 was a lot.

“That was the hardest part, trying to focus and block all of that out. Then, at the same time, preparing to peak and happened to do it [The 2001 Masters].”

Who has completed the major grand slam?

Only one player in the history of the sport has won all four majors in the same season: Bobby Jones Jr.

Before the first Masters Tournament in 1934, Jones won The Amateur Championship at Old Course at St Andrews in May 1930. He would then win The Open at Royal Birkdale, the US Open at Interlachen Country Club and the US Amateur at Merion.

However, in the modern era, no player has achieved the feat.

Five players have achieved a career grand slam: Woods, Jones, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus.

Rory McIlroy needs a Masters title to join the list, and Jordan Spieth needs a PGA Championship to make history. The US Open stands in between Phil Mickelson and the lucrative title.