When Tiger Woods won the Masters in 2001, he completed what has become known as the Tiger slam - holding all four major titles at the same time. Now there is talk, none of it idle, that this year he could go one better and win all four in the same season.

Woods comes out of winter hibernation at the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines on Thursday and can be expected to hit the ground running. His dominance over his rivals has become such that, if he wins in San Diego, he will take his strike-rate on the PGA Tour to exactly one victory in every two events since the start of 2006.

While the regular tour events are still there to be won, however, it is the history to be made in the majors that is driving Woods on. It is unlikely that he will talk openly of winning a grand slam, but it is almost certain that he will have it in mind.

It is hard to believe now that, for him, Woods had two relatively barren years in 2003 and 2004, when, in the process of remodelling his swing, he won six times in all but picked up no major championships.

In that period, Vijay Singh briefly usurped him as world No 1 and Ernie Els, who has suffered more than most at his hands, was moved to observe in 2005: “Tiger was some way ahead of the rest of us four or five years ago, but now we [himself, Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen and Singh] have caught up and it makes professional golf a lot more exciting.

“Nowadays, when Tiger comes to a tournament, he may still be the favour-ite but he certainly is not the clear winner before a ball has been struck. We know now we are capable of beating him.” Not any more, Ernie, not any more.

Since 2005, Woods has won five of the 12 major championships to have been contested – the Masters in 2005, the Open Championship in 2005 and 2006, and the US PGA Championship in 2006 and 2007. His last victory brought to 13 his number of major titles and moved him to within five of Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18.

What chances, then, the grand slam? Apart from form, the feat is also heavily dependent on the venues. This year, more than most, they look made for Woods.

The Masters

Augusta National, April 10-13

Woods won his first major here in 1997 by a record margin of 12 strokes. He has since won three times at Augusta and, despite its “Tiger-proofing” (longer holes that, ironically, make it harder for his rivals), it is a course that plays into his hands. As the best chipper and putter around, he has no fear of the fast, sloping greens and closely-shaved run-offs.

US Open

Torrey Pines, San Diego, June 12-15

Virtually a home from home for Woods. Has won the Buick Invitational here five times since 1999 and three times on the trot since 2005. The South course will be used for the US Open and, with heavy rough, narrow fairways and fast, firm greens, will play considerably tougher than this week’s set-up. Even so, Woods will be licking his lips at the prospect of a return to the course.

Open Championship

Royal Birkdale, Southport, July 17-20

One of the finest of all Open Championship venues, this could prove the toughest test of all. Woods has proved himself a fine player of links courses, where his shot-making and imagination are used to good effect, but it is the weather, and the odd unkind bounce, that could determine his success or otherwise. At Muirfield in 2000, he was hit by a storm in the third round and shot an 81 that ended his challenge. Has good memories of Birkdale, having finished third there in the 1998 Open.

US PGA Championship

Oakland Hills, Detroit, Aug 7-10

The venue for the 2004 Ryder Cup and a course described by Ben Hogan as “a monster”. Woods’s memories from the Ryder Cup - where the United States team lost by a record nine-point margin – will not be among his favourites. He could be undone by the course’s quirky, small and fiercely undulating greens but is probably best-equipped (mentally and technically) to deal with them.

So, can he be stopped? Of course he can. One slip or one bad round and a championship could be torn from his grasp. What most players accept, though, is that when he is on form, Woods is virtually invincible. Only one player can truly beat him at present, and that is Woods himself.

Bookmakers are taking no chances.

Ladbrokes are going 20-1 against Woods achieving the grand slam, with William Hill offering a measly 16-1. Of far better value could be the odds of 50-1 against Woods breaking Nicklaus’s record of 18 majors during 2009. That would mean three majors a year. On recent form, no problem.