Profile / Editor / 22 March 2007 / Leave a Comment

While Retief Goosen has already won two Majors, there is a nagging feeling that he should have had more tucked safely away by this point in his career.

But there are signs that the ultra-consistent South African's next victory in a Grand Slam is not far away after a great start to 2007 that has seen him extend his record of having won at least one tournament internationally every year since 1995.

The two greatest moments of Goosen's 17-year professional career both came at the US Open, in 2001 and 2004.

First, he overcome American Mark Brooks in a play-off to win then showed nerves of steel three years later to conquer the lightning-quick greens at Shinnecock Hills while those around him foundered.

Goosen should have defended his title at Pinehurst No.2 in 2005 after taking a three-shot lead into the final day, but his game inexplicably fell apart and it looks to have taken him the best part of 18 months to get back to the level he was at.

After turning to a coach, Gregor Jamieson, for the first time in nine years, the 37-year-old appears to have rediscovered his familiar old groove - as shown with his triumph at the Qatar Masters in January.

Goosen's game is back and heading in the right direction and he is priced at 29 to win at the WGC-CA Championship this week, which would be his first victory on the PGA Tour since The International in 2007.

Appearing unflappable on the outside, Goosen generates a huge amount of power despite his relaxed swing and is ideally positioned in second place to add a third European Tour Order of Merit title to the two he won in 2001 and 2002.

His iron play fell below his high standards last season, but is back with a vengeance this year and he ranks second on the European Tour in greens in regulation hitting more than 80 per cent, while a good solid putting stroke has ensured he is third in the scoring average in 2007 with 68.91 strokes per round.

With five top 10's already on the European Tour this year, Goosen has shown he has the game to compete whatever the course and conditions, and sometimes his worst enemy is himself when he has momentary lapses of concentration - as seen when he carded an 11 at last year's South African Open when in the lead.

But expect him to again challenge at this year's Grand Slam events, paying particular attention to his performances at the US Masters and The Open.

Goosen has finished joint third at Augusta the last two years and finished second there in 2002, while he has not come lower than 14th at The Open in the last six years - recording four top-10 places finishes in the process.