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Woods won the last of his four Masters titles in 2005

Tiger Woods will take aim at an historic Grand Slam when the first round of the 72nd Masters begins at Augusta, Georgia, on Thursday.

The world number one goes into the year's first major in dominant form with seven wins in eight events.

Woods, 32, is also chasing a fifth Masters title but world number two Phil Mickelson has won two of the last four. Europe's charge will be led by Open champion Padraig Harrington and world number nine Justin Rose.

Irishman Harrington finished seventh last year at Augusta, while Rose trailed by one shot with two holes to play before a double-bogey on the 17th saw him slip to fifth. The Englishman went on to finish no worse than 12th in the year's four majors.

American Zach Johnson held off Woods and South Africans Retief Goosen and Rory Sabbatini to win his maiden major 12 months ago, but Woods is the overwhelming favourite - generally priced around 11/10 - to add to his tally of 13 major titles.

The American, who tees off at 1545 BST with Argentine Angel Cabrera and Australia's Stuart Appleby, is chasing Jack Nicklaus's mark of 18 major titles.

Nicklaus also won six Masters Green Jackets, the last of which he claimed at the age of 46 in 1986.

Woods has previously held all four majors at the same time - dubbed the Tiger Slam - when he clinched the Open, US Open and the USPGA in 2000 and the Masters the following year.

But no player in the modern professional era has won all four majors in the same calendar year, known as the Grand Slam.

"I think this is my 12th or 13th season and in nine of those years I've won five or more tournaments, so just got to win the right four," said Woods.

How you're perceived heading into the tournament really doesn't matter Phil Mickelson

Mickelson, who struggled with his health over the winter, dismissed claims that the 93 other players in the field were chasing second place.

The left-hander has finished no higher than 20th on the PGA Tour since winning in Los Angeles in February, but he is hoping to add to the Green Jackets he won in 2004 and 2006.

"I don't think it really matters if you're favoured or not, or what people expect," Mickelson said. "I think how you're perceived heading into the tournament really doesn't matter."

World number three Ernie Els of South Africa also goes into the Masters with a victory under his belt already this season - the Honda Classic in February. But the two-time Masters runner-up (2000 and 2004) admits that the Grand Slam is within Woods's grasp.

"You know, I'd like to bet against him, like the whole field this week, but it's definitely in his reach," said Els, who has split with long-time coach David Leadbetter in favour of Woods's ex swing teacher Butch Harmon.

Player (left) will make a record 51st appearance at the Masters

"I don't think we've seen a player like him ever. He's really one of a kind, and that's saying a lot."

The last European to win the Masters was Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal in 1999 but there are high hopes for the likes of Harrington, Rose, Paul Casey, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald.

England's Casey has enjoyed two top-10 finishes in three attempts at Augusta, while his rejuvenated countryman Westwood is in a rich vein of form following four top fives so far this season.

Englishman Donald, the world number 16, tied for 10th at the Masters 12 months ago and was third in 2005.

Spain's Sergio Garcia is still licking his wounds after missing out to Harrington in a play-off for the Open at Carnoustie last July, and his recent record at Augusta has been poor following a fourth-place finish in 2004.

The rest of the world's challenge will be spearheaded by Els and Australia's Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 US champion, who recently ended Woods's winning streak to claim the WGC-CA Championship.

606: DEBATE Make your mind up time - who will win the 72nd Masters? Rob H - BBC Sport

Americans Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker, South Korea's KJ Choi, Australian Adam Scott and Sweden's Henrik Stenson are also lively contenders.

The first round will get under way at 1300 BST following the traditional opening drive from honorary starter Arnold Palmer.

The 78-year-old four-time Masters champion quit playing in the event after 2004, but the American's contemporary Gary Player, 72, will break his record of 50 appearances at Augusta this year.

"I am thrilled to be breaking my record, Arnold Palmer's record. We both had that record and I think that's really the motive in the back of my mind," said the South African.

"If I can walk around here like an athlete, which I can, and I can play reasonably well, then I'd like to keep playing.

"Last year I finished with a 77 when the course was definitely the toughest that it ever was in the history of the tournament. That was really exciting for me."