The Tiger Woods factor is beginning to hit Bermuda already as excitement builds around the superstar's qualification for the Island's Grand Slam of Golf.

Sports players, hotel bosses and politicians are all rubbing their hands at the prospects of the man dubbed the world's number one sports star gracing the Mid Ocean Club greens.

They spoke out after Woods, 31, sealed his place in the contest with a dramatic victory in the PGA Championships in Oklahoma on Sunday. Brian Morris, Belmont Hills Golf Club head golf professional, said: "Everybody's really excited. On Sunday, everyone was sitting a round and watching the tournament — all watching to see if Tiger would come through and win so he can get here."Our club has 350 members. With Tiger coming along I think there will be a lot more tickets sold I can tell you that. Golf, in my opinion, is just as popular as football or cricket — it just doesn't get the exposure. I'm anticipating our course to be empty during the week of the tournament, because any golfer here will not be playing golf that day and pass up the opportunity to see Tiger play because he's probably the greatest golfer of our era."

Mr. Morris predicted Woods might not have it all his own way as he locks horns with Zach Johnson, Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington, the other three winners of golf's four majors who are invited to Bermuda.

"I think Tiger's pretty much unbeatable but it's all unfamiliar territory for all four of the finalists because the Mid Ocean course is different; it's breezy," he said. "If that's the case, the guys from South America may be more familiar."

David Ezekiel, general chairman of the PGA Grand Slam, which is organising the event, said: "Tiger's likely visit to Bermuda is a huge plus for the tournament. Every club in the world wants to see how he does on their golf course and obviously Mid Ocean Club is no exception.

"The Mid Ocean course will be in fantastic shape for his arrival — the greens are in absolute tremendous shape and we are looking forward to it.

"Obviously with Tiger's presence, everything gets doubled up in volume in terms of crowd control. According to the PGA ticket sales are going off the charts and my guess is that they will be sold out within the week as well as the corporate hospitality. It's what everyone wanted and it's a big challenge."

Mr. Ezekiel said 250 people were already working on the project — selling tickets and dealing with access, security, hospitality and computers.

"We've been working on all of this since last November," he said. "It's really a mammoth undertaking when you think that it's just four guys coming to play golf, but that's the way it is in the world of golf nowadays.

"Tiger will be favoured but it would be good to see some of the others challenging him strongly as I'm sure he will because no one that wins a major is a bad golfer.

"We've got four unbelievable golfers coming more than and even though Tiger's record is phenomenal."

Tom Lambe, managing director at Pompano Beach Club Resort, who is setting up a couple's golf event to coincide with the Grand Slam, said: "The event is good for Bermuda and naturally all of us are thrilled that Tiger won Sunday's round. He's such a big draw — we were all praying that he would pull out and win.

"It's great for the whole Island because Bermuda will certainly get great exposure just by him being here. The advantage we have is that the entire event may help us promote our couple's tour a little bit more.

"We're saying to all those visitors coming to Bermuda to play in our tournament, 'hey come in a little bit earlier and go watch the PGA Grand Slam' because they're all golfers coming down anyway.

"Even though our hotel is not right next to Mid Ocean Club, I don't think that it's going to matter. I think that people are going to come down, take the time to watch the golf on their own and also take the time to go watch the event."

Premier Ewart Brown, who watched Woods battle towards the winning line in Oklahoma, has already described teeing up the Grand Slam in Bermuda as being "at the top of the pile" of anything achieved in his tenure as Tourism Minister.

Yesterday, Sports Minister Randy Horton added his voice to the growing wave of excitement.

"We are thrilled that Tiger Woods joins an already impressive line-up of players that have qualified for the PGA Grand Slam of Champions," said Mr. Horton.

"To have not only the young golfers of Bermuda, but young people overall witness first-hand the result of a commitment to excellence is a huge plus for our children. Tiger exemplifies courage under fire, determination and the fortitude that will always result in success.

"In addition, we would be hard pressed to surpass the worldwide exposure for our Island that Tiger will bring. It is a great coup."

Acting United Bermuda Party Leader Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said the Opposition welcomed the move.

"We are thrilled that Tiger Woods has qualified for the October Grand Slam event that will be held here in Bermuda," she said.

"We sincerely hope that he will accept the invitation to participate. The international interest in Tiger's achievements is well documented, and his presence will create a spotlight for Bermuda which will bode well in the amount of media coverage that will show our island home at its international best.

"There will also be the possibility for Bermudians to have the opportunity to see Tiger, along with Zach Johnson, Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington perform up close — something which many of us will never experience otherwise. We hope that Bermuda throws its full support behind this event and extends welcoming arms to all visitors who may grace our shores as a consequence."

A taxi driver, who would not be named, said: "It is going to be excellent business for the Island. It's going to be an excellent weekend for us because we're going to be making the long runs from Hamilton to the Mid Ocean Club, plus people are going to be taking tours."