Port Royal Golf Course Awaiting Golf's Elite for the 27th Grand Slam

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.