"He's a real star in the making."

So said David Ezekiel, the PGA Grand Slam of Golf general chairman this week after South African Trevor Immelman booked his ticket to Bermuda for October's exclusive event at the Mid Ocean Club.

Ezekiel, who is also the club captain of Mid Ocean, was closely watching the Masters on Sunday to see who would put on the coveted green jacket and be invited to the Grand Slam ¿ and whether Immelman could hold off second-placed Tiger Woods.

"Immelman may well figure in another major before the year is out," said Ezekiel of the South African, adding that the club will be sending out its congratulations to the new Masters champion.

"The PGA (of America) will invite him to the Grand Slam and we will send him a letter of congratulations and our 50th Anniversary book on Mid Ocean ¿ just to whet his appetite. I think he will be really popular with the fans at the Grand Slam," said Ezekiel. The Grand Slam of Golf will be played at Mid Ocean from October 13-15 and will be shown around the world on TNT.

Before the Masters began a week ago, Woods said that winning all four majors this year ¿ the Masters, the US Open, the British Open and the PGA Championship ¿ was "easily within reason".

That plan has obviously gone down the drain this year but it would be surprising if the world number one didn't win at least one major to book his ticket to Bermuda for October's event.

But Ezekiel said this week that there are a number of younger golfers coming up who all have what it takes to win a major.

"There is a new wave of youngsters getting ready to challenge (Tiger) and we may have to get used to seeing a lot of different names on the major honours list in the future ¿ players like Paul Casey, Adam Scott, Brandt Snedeker, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose all seem to have the confidence and will learn a lot from last week," said Ezekiel.

Like many golf fans, Ezekiel said he was impressed with what one of the greats of the game, Gary Player, said of his countryman Immelman before the tournament started last week.

"I was struck by Gary Player's comment during the week when he said that Immelman's swing was the closest thing he had seen to Ben Hogan ¿ solid and repeatable. He certainly won the Masters with his driver and was long and straight off the tee. He was clearly ready mentally. Even when he was only five years old he announced to his parents that he was "going to be the best golfer in the world"! Player, the icon of South African golf and a three-time Masters champion himself, has watched Immelman grow up to become a Masters champion.

And Player himself has a connection to Bermuda.

Many older golfers on the island will remember Player who was affiliated with Castle Harbour Hotel and its golf course back in the 1960s. Often Player would put on exhibitions while in Bermuda at the Castle Harbour ¿ now Tucker's Point ¿ layout.

Bermuda's only player to compete on the European Tour, Kim Swan, said: "Prior to me in the late 1960s, Gary Player, a golf legend, was the touring pro at Castle Harbour. He made many appearances in Bermuda."

Immelman fell in love with golf at an early age, and his parents gave liberally of their time and resources to make sure the boy's obvious talent was nurtured. Player took an interest as the youngster was coming up through the ranks, telling anyone who would listen that this kid had the purest swing since Ben Hogan.

Player stuck to his guns, even when criticised for taking Immelman with a questionable captain's pick for the 2005 Presidents Cup. The two played a practice round at Augusta, and Player called with encouraging words when Immelman went to the final round with a two-stroke lead.

"Take your time," Player said in a voice mail message that his protegee got late Saturday. "Keep your eyes on the ball an extra second on the putts. There will be bad breaks, but I know you're going to win."

Aside from Player's rah-rahs, Immelman didn't look like much of a contender when he got to Augusta. He had a good excuse, though.

Back in December, shortly after winning a tournament in his native country, he had trouble breathing and felt a severe pain in his rib-cage. He went to see his doctor, who noticed a tumour on his diaphragm. He waited five frightening days to undergo surgery it was a holiday weekend in South Africa but the growth turned out to be benign.

He was left with a seven-inch scar across his lower back and a game that needed a lot of work. He missed the cut in half of his first eight events this year, and hadn't finished higher than 40th in stroke play on those rare times he made the weekend.

"I've always dreamed about winning majors and, deep down, I always thought I was good enough," a relieved but joyful Immelman told reporters after signing off with a three-over-par 75 for a three-stroke victory on Sunday.

"Just to be a major champion, a champion here at the Masters, that's what I've dreamed about since I was a very young man. I'm living proof that if you work hard and believe in yourself, it can happen."

Immelman, who led the tournament in driving accuracy and was second in greens in regulation, paid tribute to the lifelong support he has received from nine-times major winner Player.

"I first met him when I was five years old at my home club in Somerset West," he said, referring to his birth place close to Cape Town. "I have a great picture. He picked me up and put me on his shoulders. I have no front teeth."

That photograph was shown during television coverage of the final round at the Masters, depicting a smiling, gap-toothed Immelman on the shoulders of arguably South Africa's best-known sportsman.

"I think he realised that, even at a young age, I had so much passion for the game," Immelman added. "He kept in touch with me, kept writing me notes and kept answering my calls and my letters to him. He was always there for support and advice.

"He's been kind of like another type of a father for me. To have somebody with that much experience on your side, giving you advice is just incredible, I'm very thankful for that."