The world awaits the next twist in the tale of the Tiger at Augusta

Yet listen to the talk, starting from Woods but most notably emanating from those considered to be among his closest rivals, and it is easy to be suckered into accepting that all this most remarkable sportsman had to do was turn up on the first tee for today's opening round and the tournament was his for the taking.

Woods has been pretty convincing. The Grand Slam, he maintained, was "easily within reason".

The 32-year-old went on to add: "You have to understand why I said that, because I've done it before. I've won all four in a row (the so-called Tiger Slam from the US Open in 2000 to the Masters in 2001).

"This is my 12th or 13th season out here and nine of those years I've won five or more tournaments. So I've just got to win the right four. That's what it boils down to."

This is not what might be perceived as typical American arrogance. Woods, so entrenched as world No1 that they might as well make that ranking permanent, knows he is in stellar form because he has won nine of his last 11 events on courses around the world.

If more proof was required to support the notion that if there existed a golfing Champions League then Woods would qualify as the sole member, how about the fact that since the Open at Carnoustie last July he has not finished out of the top five in any tournament, or that 38 of his last 40 rounds were carded at par or under?

Woods last won at Augusta in 2005, a victory made more emotional for Woods because of the recent death of his father Earl, and a third year without a new green jacket is not on Woods's agenda.

Never in the modern history of the game has a player come to Augusta with a better chance of achieving the Grand Slam - victories in the Masters, the US Open, The Open and the US PGA.

"Basically he's done it before with the Tiger Slam," said Ernie Els. "So when you've done something you feel like you can do it again. And at his lofty heights, in his mind, he thinks it is do-able.

"It's all about momentum and we've seen that when Tiger builds momentum he can do some crazy things. I'd like to bet against him, like the whole field at Augusta, but it's definitely in his reach. He's definitely capable."

Adam Scott, Australia's young hope, said: "He needs to set bigger goals. If I was him I'd believe the Slam was possible. I can't see how the guy would not be confident of that happening."

Three-times Masters champion Nick Faldo, an astute observer of form, said of Woods' Grand Slam pretensions: "It's all about a player having complete self-belief in absolutely everything about their game, and Tiger's certainly displaying that at the moment.

"You have to ask yourself, who's going to give Tiger a run for his money? Who can compete against him with that kind of form?"

There are two who might have a chance this week. Over the past 18 months Woods was the only golfer to have claimed more US PGA Tour titles than KJ Choi's four, and the 37-year-old South Korean is fired by an ambition to become the first Asian winner of a major.

"That would be very interesting," he said. "It is a very big goal and everyone is supporting me, they say 'KJ, you can do it'." Steve Bann, Choi's Australian coach, pointed out: "KJ's got the game, got all the shots, and he's got the mind and the body for it. Given the right opportunity he's a good closer, too."

And how about Woods' bete noire Phil Mickelson, also 37, who has won two of the last four Masters? Now benefiting from the attentions of Woods' former swing coach Butch Harmon, Mickelson has listened to the hype surrounding his rival, and he has dismissed it.

"I don't think it really matters if you're favoured," he said. "How you're perceived heading into a tournament really doesn't matter.

"Tiger has won countless events and double-digit majors - 13 - so he should be confident. But I think that this year I should be able to put myself in contention as well, and I look forward to the opportunity to compete against him." Fighting talk, but is it just possible that the only man who can beat Woods in the majors this year is himself? If he stays fit, if he stays sharp, if he stays sure, then history must be on the horizon.

Faldo is of that mind. "As long as Tiger doesn't get in his own way this season," he said, "then anything is possible."

Thinking about it, the Augusta engraver may as well start tooling Woods' name on the Masters trophy right away.