Tiger to Win Quadruple-Double at Bethpage

Coach Pat Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers invented the "three-peat" winning the NBA Championship three years in a row from 2000 through 2002.

Tiger Woods is trying to achieve the "quadruple-double" by being the first to win all four Majors back-to-back.

His first back-to-back Major was the PGA Championship in 2000 at Medinah CC and 2001 at Vahalla GC. He did it again for good measure winning the PGA again at Medinah in 2006 followed by Southern Hills CC in 2007.

Next came consecutive Masters victories in 2001 and 2002.

The British Open consecutive double came at the Old Course at St. Andrews in 2005 and at Royal Liverpool in 2006.

Now is his chance to do it at the U.S. Open having won in dramatic fashion at Torrey Pines last year.

Only Ben Hogan (1950/1951) and Curtis Strange (1988/1989) have won consecutive U.S. Opens in the last 70 years.

Not only is Woods trying to defend last year's title but also his U.S. Open title here at Bethpage Black in 2002.

Will completing the quadruple-double make him the best golfer of all time, better than Jack Nicklaus?

When asked for his opinion as to who is the best golfer of all time Tiger simply replies "Jack."

Why?

"He's got 18. I'm at 14."

The Majors- the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open and the PGA Championship is the unequivocal measurement of greatness in the game of golf.

Tiger knows the U.S. Open is the toughest Major to win.

"This is the hardest major we face year in, year out. (The) narrowest fairways, (the) highest rough.

Will winning here seven years ago help Tiger do it again similar to his Major win at Torrey Pines after six Buick Invitational victories there including the last four consecutive (2005- 2008)"

"This golf course (Bethpage Black) brings back some great memories for me."

It was a cathartic experience not only for New Yorkers but the whole of America.

"I just think that everyone was just looking to celebrating something else, anything to kind of escape it (9-11)."

"When they came out here, everyone was so excited to have it out here on their golf course because it seemed like everyone who's played golf in this area has played this golf course."

"As far as just overall atmosphere, I've never seen anything like it. I don't think we ever will, given circumstances surrounding the event."

You can never go back though 2009 can be just as good yet different.

"The fairways are much softer than what we faced in 2002. We had one day of rain on Friday, I believe. But it still dried out pretty good on the weekend. It's not going to be the case this year."

The golf course has been lengthened to keep up with technology improvements and player physical development during the last seven years.

"There are three (par-4s) that are over 500 yards. That's long. I remember growing up and a 420-yard hole was a long par-4. It's amazing how golf has changed. But it's just a number and just got to go out there and obviously hit good shots."

Don't think for a moment Tiger is feeling any sort of disadvantage relative to the new, younger and longer competition.

"I think I'm still one of the longer hitters on TOUR."

"You have to drive the ball well. This U.S. Open, with it being this wet and this long, the rough is so thick. I mean, you have to get the ball in play."

"Last year it supposedly was supposed to be the longest U.S. Open in history, but we never played it that long. Tees were mixed and matched. And you had to really think about what you were doing out there. I'm sure they'll probably do the same thing this year with it being so wet."

What makes Bethpage Black a difficult golf course and Open-worthy?

"You know (the) speed on the greens is usually an issue. Not this year, obviously, it being so wet and soft."

"This is probably the most difficult golf course we've faced from tee to green. Obviously it's not the green complexes this week, certainly not Oakmont, or it's not Winged Foot. But from tee to green, this golf course is all you want. With the weather coming in here this week, it's only going to get longer and harder and it's going to be even more difficult."

Mike Davis Senior Director of Rules and Competitions for the U.S.G.A.has made U.S. Open golf courses more playable and has brought shot-making and the unpredictability of a flyer from reasonable rough back into the mix of what determines a U.S. Open Champion.

Tiger agrees with the change in strategy to utilize graduated rough, He also sees the irony and hidden competitive advantage.

"The guys got a little bit aggressive. You saw last year at Torrey Pines how many guys tried to hit shots and put themselves in worse trouble than if they had a long rough and hacking out sideways."

"There's different ways of playing. You can do what Angel did, hit driver every hill at Oakmont. If it works out, it works out, which it did. Or you can play a shorter, more conservative game."

"The whole idea of a U.S. Open is obviously to grind it out and make pars. How you do that, it's up to you. You just can't afford to make too many bogeys or doubles because you can't make birdies. So however you feel you can make a bunch of pars, I think that's what you're looking for."

Why have there been six different champions the last six years?

"The TOUR is so deep now. The margin between a player who is just barely on the TOUR at 125 to some of the top players, it's not that big anymore. It's very small."

"Technology has certainly helped a lot. We're so much better at getting the right ball, the right equipment that fits you and your particular swing. You don't have to adjust to the equipment like in years past."

Does this mean Tiger is a "gimmie" to win the 2009 U.S. Open and complete the quadruple-double?

"I like my chances in any major. I just enjoy having to think your way around a golf course. It's not -- a lot of the TOUR events we play you just have to make birdies. If you don't shoot 68 you're losing ground."

"Here if you shoot 68 you're moving up on the leader board. To me that's fun. Par is rewarded and a birdie is really rewarded. That to me, it's how the game of golf should be played."

"We all know that you shoot something under par you'll be looking pretty good."

"You have to be patient. You have to get the ball in play. And at least this week if you put the ball on the greens, you'll have a lot of good chances at birdies because the greens are relatively flat."

Tiger has picked up this year where he left off last year after an eight month absence due to the reconstructive surgery performed on his left knee.

After a warm-up in his first event back, Tiger has two wins (Arnold Palmer Invitational and Jack's Memorial Tournament) and four Top 10s in his last six tournaments.

How important is it to come into the U.S. Open playing well?

"It's always nice to play well going into a major championship, no doubt. To get a win always adds to the confidence, and no matter how you win, if you can win this way, ball-striking, hitting it that well, especially going into a U.S. Open, it always makes you feel pretty good."

The New York galleries will be behind the defending champion come rain or sunshine on the Black.

"To find energy from outside the ropes, sometimes that's a great thing."

Tiger Woods is "really looking forward to getting out there and competing and playing."

In limited play in the first round this morning he started out with four pars.

Then he followed a double bogey at No. 5 with a birdie at No. 6.

Then the rain suspended play for the day.

Game on- patience, determination, confidence and skill will enable Tiger to win this U.S. Open at Bethpage Black and complete the quadruple-double of Major Championship history.

Whether it takes 72 holes or an extra 19 like last year Tiger will be one closer to tying Jack for the best golfer of all-time.

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer. He follows the PGA TOUR volunteering for the tournaments and working part time for NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and The Golf Channel. He resides in Jacksonville Beach, Florida near the PGA TOUR headquarters and home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. He enjoys pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it. He can be reached through his website www.MrHickoryGolf.net or by e-mailing him to [e-mail]