Wednesday Notebook: Let the tour have a crack at No. 16

Graeme McDowell would love to see how a full field of tour players would handle Port Royal's signature 16th hole. Plus, Ernie Els' caddie knows his way around two different sports, and more.

By Josh Ball, Special to PGA.com

SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda -- Graeme McDowell thinks that Port Royal Golf Course could hold a European Tour event.

The Northern Irishman was impressed by the course, which at 6,800 yards in length is probably too short for a full professional event -- although he thought that the 16th hole might pose some problems for a full field.

“I'd like to see a full field play that 16th hole,” said McDowell. “There would be eight groups waiting in the tee box.

“I think the golf course is really, really good. It was in great condition this week, and would be a great test for any European Tour event,” he added. “With the stiff breeze across us like we had today, level par is a good score out there, it really is.

“I certainly agree with the fact that it's good enough for a Tour event.”

FASHION STATEMENT: The Pink Jacket that comes with winning the PGA Grand Slam in Bermuda will probably not have pride of place in Ernie Els’ wardrobe.

Looking less than comfortable in the latest addition to his apparel collection, Els addressed a news conference immediately after his win, telling them “I live in Palm Beach, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be wearing this out too often.”

Flanked by wife Liezl, who will no doubt have something to say on the subject, Els said that although he thought it ‘was a good style,’ he didn’t think he’d be going out in it any time soon.

THE BAG MAN: Ernie Els’ caddie this week was Dan Quinn, who used to make his living carrying around another stick -- a hockey stick.

The 45-year-old Canadian played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League, scoring 266 goals and adding 419 assists for eight teams during his career.

A native of Ottawa, Quinn enjoyed his most success with the Pittsburgh Penguins, which he calls one of his favorite sports teams. He scored a career-high 40 goals for the Penguins in 1987-88 and a career high 94 points the following year.

Quinn, however, never forgot how to wield the 14 sticks in a golf bag. He plays to a scratch handicap and has won the American Century Celebrity Golf Classic four times (1992, 2001-02, 2004).

Quinn and Els are residents of Jupiter, Fla., where they became friends. At that point, Quinn had already dabbled as a looper, carrying bags for John Daly at the 2000 U.S. Open and for Jesper Parnevik in 2003-04.

Els, meanwhile, uses the former NHL stalwart in a rotation with his longtime caddie, Ricci Roberts. Each worked two majors, with Quinn getting the Masters (which he called one of his caddying highlights) and the PGA Championship.

“It certainly doesn't harm that he's not a bad golfer, and he's one of the best readers of greens I have ever come across,” Els said earlier this year. “He's remarkably positive. He knows what's going through my mind. He knows what to say and when to say it. And most of all, he knows when not to say anything.”