THE Masters starts next Thursday.

And no one is more excited than David Ezekiel, the PGA Grand Slam of Golf general chairman.

Last year world number one Tiger Woods qualified for the Grand Slam of Golf at the Mid Ocean Club by winning the last major, the PGA Championship. But Woods opted out of coming to Bermuda and took the longest break he has ever taken away from the game as his wife had just had a baby.

Now Ezekiel, like everyone else in Bermuda, is hoping that Woods will qualify again and this time make the trip to Bermuda for the tournament which will run from October 13-15 at the Mid Ocean where Ezekiel is the club captain.

In fact a number of commentators have been saying that Woods has a shot at winning all four majors this year ¿ the Masters, US Open, British Open and PGA.

Ezekiel said this week: "What Tiger has been doing this year is absolutely amazing. It is tough to think back to a sport where one person has dominated to such an extent ¿ it is incredible. He is an amazing sportsman and he is obviously the favourite for Augusta next week ¿ he is not only the favourite but the prohibitive favourite. He will also be the favourite for the US Open at Torrey Pines where he won earlier (in the Buick). It is certainly looking like he will take at least one of the majors and hopefully he will come out here ¿ especially if he wins more than one major. If he does that then it may be even more persuasive for him to come down to Bermuda."

But Ezekiel warned that the golf calendar this year is more crowded than it was last year.

"Don't forget you have the Ryder Cup this year (at Valhalla in Kentucky from September 16-21) and then there is the Tour Championships and Wentworth (Match Play). But then again Tiger doesn't have what he had last year (with the new baby) and it is a short trip from his home (in Florida) to Bermuda. The Grand Slam is usually a fun event for the golfers who come down so we are keeping our fingers crossed that if he wins a major he will come."

Although the tournament is more than six months away, Ezekiel said they are already planning for the event.

"We have started planning and I think the main difference this year is learning the lessons from last year in certain areas. For instance we have to make sure we can ¿ if it is required ¿ cope for a bigger crowd.

"We had 7,000 on the last day last year which was pretty amazing when you think about it. We were blessed with beautiful weather and the event showed us that once the it starts, no matter which four golfers you have, people will get caught up in it ¿ they will choose their favourites. And of course we couldn't have asked for a better finish."

Last year big-hitting Argentine Angel Cabrera, who made it to Bermuda on account of his US Open victory, beat Irishman and British Open winner Padraig Harrington on the third extra hole in a playoff.

The other two golfers were Masters champion Zach Johnson and Jim Furyk who was a replacement for Woods.

Ezekiel said they have been planning in case there were even more spectators.

"What do we do if the numbers get larger? That is the main thing we are looking at this year. Last year it was fantastic and we had an amazing team. The PGA guys were tremendous to work with and the local committee and the local team put so much work in behind the scenes ¿ we had tremendous help from the volunteers and we worked so closely with the transport people and Police. It was great to see how they all stepped up and joined in. It was a real eye opener in terms of how things can go so well between the public and private sector working together."

Before last year's event many on the island were worried that the four pros would eat up the Mid Ocean layout since it is comparatively short compared to the courses they usually play on during the PGA Tour. But Ezekiel, from the minute it was announced that Mid Ocean and Bermuda had won the right to host the event, was adamant that Mid Ocean would test them ¿ particularly the greens.

And test them it did.

"The course certainly tested them and it was not overly windy either but (course superintendent) Norman (Furtado) got the greens so perfect. I was talking to Padraig Harrington after his practice round and I asked him how the greens were comparative to what they normally play and he said they were way up there with anything they play. And then he repeated it. When you see PGA Tour events being won 18 and 19 under after four rounds and ours was four under after two rounds it stands up.

"However if they get a bit more familiar with the greens who knows what they can do because these guys are simply that good. But it was great to see the course make them think. What was interesting for us was which holes caused them problems and which didn't. For instance take a look at number 12 which was playing off that back tee. It was a monster hole and yet their stroke average was 3.5. Not one of them made a bogie. And then 16, which most of us find tough, they turned that into a pitch and putt. But at 11 which looks like an easy par five but the green is so difficult it caused them problems. The course did what it does to us (Mid Ocean members) every week ¿ it made them think and it was great to see that."

Ezekiel, who in his position as Association of Bermuda International Companies chairman travels a great deal, said the response from people overseas watching the tournament was superb.

"The exposure we got was exceptional," he said of the TNT coverage.

"The overseas (Mid Ocean) members who all saw it in their home countries have said they want to come down this year to watch it. I was inundated with calls and emails saying how great the course looked. Everywhere I have gone people have said how good the course and Bermuda looked. I think the TNT people did a special job. Everything looked superb. And all the golfers enjoyed it. We had four quality people and they played their part ¿ they got stuck in and gave everyone a good time."

With the Masters starting on Thursday, Woods will begin his quest for a major ¿ if not four in the same calendar year. And none other than the King, Arnold Palmer, has said that Woods stands a chance to win all four this year.

Palmer, who won two of the four events in a season three times in the early 1960s, said the world number one could do what he and others such as Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player never managed.

"I can see Tiger doing it. Since I created it in about 1960, we haven't really had many people come close except Tiger," Palmer said last month.

Woods came closest of anyone with his so-called "Tiger Slam" after winning the 2001 Masters.

His two-shot victory at Augusta National meant he held all four majors at the same time, following wins at the US Open, British Open and PGA Championship the previous year.

"I think a lot depends on just how determined he is to win the four events in one year. I think that it's pretty damn exciting myself. I think it's something that should stimulate the golf world and certainly should stimulate Tiger because he's the guy that's on the hot spot right now," added Palmer.

Bermuda visitor and former top golfer Nick Faldo also said that Woods has a chance to win all four this year.

"If Tiger does it (at Augusta), then it's going to create quite a buzz," Faldo said. "At Torrey Pines, he has an awesome record. Then he'll be well focused for the PGA."

Masters host Jim Nantz noted that Woods started the debate when he stated on his website that winning the Grand Slam was "easily within reach."

"We all know the odds are astronomical," Nantz said. "But anything with Tiger is not that far-fetched."

Masters TV coverage will consist of ESPN televising the first two rounds, with CBS coming in for the weekend coverage.

Last October, the PGA Grand Slam of Golf featured a $1.35 million purse, with the winner (Cabrera) receiving $600,000, second place $300,000, third place $250,000 and fourth place $200,000.

After the Masters next week the other three majors are the US Open from June 12-15 at Torrey Pines Golf Course (South) in San Diego, California, the British Open from July 17-20 at Royal Birkdale in Lancashire, England and finally the the PGA Championship from August 7-10 at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Michigan.