Mid Ocean Club officials were grateful for the heavy rains that fell at the weekend.

Now they are casting a nervous eye towards another weather pattern that is wreaking havoc in the Caribbean.

With the second Gillette Tour Challenge less than a week away, officials are hoping that Hurricane Georges won't change course and pose a threat to Bermuda in the next few days.

"The rain we had last weekend came at just the right time,'' said Michael Dunkley, vice president of Mid Ocean Club where the tournament, involving 24 players from the three major tours -- PGA, Senior PGA and LPGA -- will be played.

"We definitely don't need any more, we're in great shape right now. We're just praying for Mother Nature to keep the other elements, well to our south, away from us.

"It's a concern for everybody -- those hurricanes --, because if we were unfortunate enough to have a hurricane come at that time we couldn't hold the event. We'll keep our eye on it but there is nothing we can do, just pray every night that things will go well, as they have in the past.'' Dunkley says the course is in tip-top shape for the $1.8 million Challenge, which will bring some of the world's top players to the Island.

After three years of the Merrill Lynch, which was played on a shoot-out format over nine holes, the attraction for the second straight year is the Challenge which involves eight teams of three, with one player from each tour on each team.

"We're right on schedule, as far as the agronomy side goes. I just had a meeting with our course superintendent this morning and we are doing our last top dressing of the greens today,'' explained Dunkley.

"The top dressing is sand you put on that assures smoothness and we'll roll the greens over time to pick up the speed.'' Last year's winners Nick Price, Jim Colbert and Kelly Robbins will be back to defend their title while a draw will determine the make-up of the seven challengers.

Of the eight from the PGA Tour, the top money earner is Jim Furyk who ranks seventh this year in money earnings with $1,452,544. Scott Hoch, Lee Jensen and Payne Stewart, all of whom were here last year, have pocketed more than $1 million in earnings this year.

Even the players on the Senior Tour are doing very nicely financially, as Hale Irwin shows with his record $2,344,670 in winnings in 18 tournaments this year. Gil Morgan, second on the money list with $1,647,247, will also be making a return visit, along with Jay Sigel ($967,408).

Six of the eight seniors were here last year and will be joined by newcomers Hugh Baiocchi of South Africa and Hubert Green. Baiocchi won the last two senior events, the Comfort Classic and Kroger Classic, this month to boost his earnings for the year to $943,718.

South Korean Se Ri Pak, a rookie, is one of the most exciting players on the LPGA Tour after becoming, at 20, the youngest winner of the US Women's Open in July. That month was a hot month for her as she won three of her four tournaments.

The top three money earners on the LPGA Tour are all coming to Bermuda this weekend, led by Annika Sorenstam ($896,188), Se Ri Pak ($805,700) and Donna Andrews ($655,911). Both Sorenstam and Se Ri Pak have had four tournament wins this season.

Some of the players will be competing in tournaments this weekend, including Hoch and Price in the German Masters which ends on Sunday, Irwin in the Boone Valley Classic and Sorenstam and Se Ri Pak in the Betsy King Classic.

The players will begin arriving in Bermuda on Friday, with the bulk following on Sunday.

The tournament at Mid Ocean will involve the top money winners from the 45-event, season-long Gillette Tour Challenge series, the top money winners from each tour and sponsor invites.

The admission fee has been waived this year and officials are expected another bumper crowd.

"We would love to see a big crowd, the crowds have always been good from the Merrill Lynch days,'' said Dunkley.

"I understand it's very difficult because Tuesday is a working day for most people, but certainly the opportunity to watch some of the best golfers in the world issomething you can't miss.'' The first team will tee off at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, with teams leaving at 10 minute intervals.

TUNNEL VISION -- Top money earner Jim Furyk comes to Bermuda next week for the Gillette Tour Challenge.