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When Tiger Woods won the Masters in April it was tempting to consider the possibility of a 2005 Grand Slam for the man who has just returned to the top of the world rankings.
After all, he alone knows what it is like to hold all four majors at the same time and for the third leg of the slam he'll be competing at St Andrews where he won the 2000 Open en route to his "Tiger Slam".
Unfortunately for Woods, his bid to re-write the history books and remain on schedule for a calendar year slam could well falter this week in North Carolina.
Despite his Augusta triumph he remains a wayward soul from the tee and the Donald Ross-designed Pinehurst No.2 demands driving accuracy above all other components of the modern game.
This week we may not be able to see Woods for the trees (thousands of them) that line the fairways of this classic golfing paradise.
Even allowing for his short-game genius and unparalleled will to win he may have to play too many shots sideways to have any chance in this US Open.
|  Donald is well equipped to deal with the demands on accuracy |
So maybe this major will go the way of another member of the much-vaunted "Big Four".
Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson are all capable of lifting the trophy and will be keen for their tour successes of 2005 to be reflected at major level.
Singh would be three-quarters of the way to a career Grand Slam were he to triumph, Els would make it a hat-trick of US Open crowns and Mickelson now knows what it takes to win one of the big four after his Augusta victory last year.
"Lefty" was close to back-to-back majors twelve months ago only to three-putt from three feet on the 71st green to help give Retief Goosen his second US Open crown.
That victory for the inscrutable South African was perhaps the individual performance of 2005, because he overcame a ludicrous Shinnecock Hills set-up while blanking out the partisan galleries willing a Mickelson victory.
Goosen is sure to be a factor again, while the man with whom he shared third place in this year's Masters, Luke Donald, perhaps provides Europe's best chance of success.
Setting aside British bias, you would have to consider anyone who has finished runner-up in The Players Championship and third at Augusta as a contender in the next major.
| Scott possesses a swing that resembles that of Woods circa 2000
|
Donald is well equipped to deal with the demands on accuracy, and having knocked on the door on several occasions this year he is due a win - as is Europe in general at the majors. We're not far from the sixth anniversary of the continent's last success at this level.
The Englishman looks Europe's best bet, even taking into account Sergio Garcia's victory over a high quality field at Congressional on Sunday.
Back-to-back wins don't come along too frequently and the Spaniard's triumph at Westchester the week before last year's US Open didn't translate into much of a challenge at Shinnecock Hills.
Lee Westwood looked in good order for much of last week but the other Europeans (among them, Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie and Paul Casey) will need dramatic improvements in their recent form if they are to be serious contenders.
Indeed, it may be that Europe will be frustrated again and if it's not to be one of the big four or the defending champion Goosen then the most likely candidate would be Adam Scott who came desperately close to victory over a US Open course at Congressional last week.
Coached by Butch Harmon, the Australian possesses a swing that resembles that of Woods circa 2000 and we are all aware just how potent a technique that can be - just look at the record books.
MMIX
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"Even on the fairway you're struggling"