Bermuda, a fishhook-shaped island, will soon snag the year's elite foursome in golf.
It's a "catch" that has been polished for more than a year now, as the 27th PGA Grand Slam of Golf moves to Port Royal Golf Course on the Southwestern end of the island.
Port Royal Director of Golf Andrew Brooks, a qualified pilot who also worked as a commentator, is about to see first-hand how his home course may challenge the year's four major champions (from Oct. 20-21.)
The PGA Grand Slam of Golf foursome features Masters Champion Angel Cabrera, U.S. Open Champion Lucas Glover, British Open Champion Stewart Cink and PGA Champion Y.E. Yang.
"We're looking forward to having these great players on the course, and I believe that the wind will play a major role in Port Royal's defense," said Brooks, a native of southern England completing his ninth month on the job. "There will be a southwesterly wind that will present club selections challenges on the par-3s.
"This is a great risk-reward layout, and I believe that the work over the past year in renovation has made this an even greater layout."
Brooks began his career as an assistant professional at a number of golf clubs in Kent, England. He was employed as the head professional at Woodlands Manor, Gillingham and the London Golf Club and also had short stints in the Philippines and Vietnam before becoming director of golf at Marriott Tudor Park in 2007.
He was a commentator for Talk Sport, and achieved acclaim as a teacher, contributing instructional pieces often to several of the leading UK golf magazines.
After Brooks was named to his post, Premier Dr. Ewart Brown told guests, "Our ability to recruit someone of Andrew's caliber speaks to the high quality of the golf we are creating at Port Royal."
Originally designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1970, Port Royal was renovated under a government-sponsored $13.7 million project led by the Roger Rulewich Group. Rulewich was on Jones' original design team 30 years earlier at the course. Rulewich knew the island, its winds, topography and weather.
"He's got it right," said Brooks. "The new design presents great targets, good-sized bunker complexes and some nice false fronts. The greens have multiple undulations and are well-shaped. It forces you to think."
One fact that will become a footnote to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf this month is that the 36-hole event will produce something that has yet to be recorded at Port Royal - a competitive course record.
"We'll have that new score to post," said Brooks. "It should be very interesting how the players react. I think that this course will be slightly tougher than the previous two [PGA Grand Slam of Golf] held on the island [at Mid Ocean Club]. It will depend upon the wind."
"We have seven courses on Bermuda, and that is more per square acre than anywhere else in the world. We are excited about hosting this event."
The PGA Grand Slam of Golf, which airs on TNT, is broadcast in prime-time to more than 89 million U.S. homes and an international audience of more than 100 countries. The PGA Grand Slam of Golf will air Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. ET, and Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. ET.
Begun in 1979 and expanded to 36 holes in 1991, the PGA Grand Slam of Golf provides the best players in the world the opportunity to earn a spot in the most elusive and difficult foursome in golf.
Champions include: Cabrera, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Tom Lehman, Ben Crenshaw, Greg Norman, Nick Price and Ian Woosnam.
Tickets and corporate hospitality for the 27th PGA Grand Slam of Golf may be purchased by calling either 800-PGA-GOLF (800-742-4653) or (561) 624-7601, as well as by visiting PGA.com or pgagrandslamofgolf.com.
The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry.
By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.
About PGA.com
PGA.com is the production alliance of the PGA of America and managing partner Turner Sports. It is the official online destination for the PGA and home to the PGA Championship, the Senior PGA Championship, The PGA Grand Slam of Golf, The Ryder Cup and The Open Championship. A leader and innovator in broadband golf coverage, the site successfully launched its PGA.com Pipeline broadband product in 2006, garnering record numbers for the site in both 2006 and 2007, with the coverage receiving more than 2 million streams during the course of the 2007 PGA Championship. In 2007 PGA.com Pipeline was nominated for an Emmy® by the National Television Academy.
Turner Sports and the PGA formed the 10-year alliance in June 2002 with a mission to serve the golfing public, PGA Professionals and golf trade with products and services, such as the PGA.com Value Guide, that inspire, direct and facilitate participation in the sport nationwide.
Turner Sports, Inc., a Time Warner company, presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised and online sports programming. With events airing on TBS and TNT, Turner Sports' line-up includes NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, the NBA, Major League Baseball, professional golf, PGATour.com and PGA.com. Turner Sports also manages NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, WNBA.com, NBADLeague.com and NBA League Pass.
