Episode 178: The Tiger Slam

It’s a feat that needs no introduction. As we approach the 25th anniversary of Tiger Woods’ four-major run from the 2000 US Open through the 2001 Masters, a new book from former Sports Illustrated and Golf Magazine editor Kevin Cook unearths never-before-seen nuggets from this historic stretch. Cook joins host Tom Coyne to discuss The Tiger Slam, Cook’s moment-by-moment chronicle that features interviews with Stevie Williams, Mark O’Meara, Butch Harmon and many others. They relive the indelible images of the Slam, including Tiger’s landslide victory at Pebble and his nailbiting duel with Bob May at Valhalla, but the true treasures lie in details that have remained hidden until now. You’ll learn what Tiger said to Phil walking off 13 tee at Augusta, why his team nearly scuttled his “Sportsman of the Year” dinner at the last minute, and which major Tiger played using only one tee. (Hint: It was the same one in which a nude exotic dancer paraded across the 18th green. Try finding that on a YouTube rewatch.)

Kevin Cook is a former senior editor of Sports Illustrated and former editor in chief of Golf Magazine. In addition to a long career in the sports periodicals industry, Kevin has also published a number of books, the most well-known of which is Tommy’s Honor, chronicling the fascinating life of Young Tom Morris during golf’s early years in and around St Andrews. Cook’s newest book, The Tiger Slam: The Inside Story of the Greatest Golf Ever Played details Tiger’s unforgettable four-major stretch from the 2000 US Open to the 2001 Masters.

The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.