Harrington to play PGA Grand Slam after Els drops out with injured ankle

SOUTHAMPTON, BERMUDA -- An ankle injury has forced Ernie Els to withdraw from the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Padraig Harrington will replace Els and join Masters Champion Bubba Watson, U.S. Open Champion Webb Simpson and defending champion Keegan Bradley in Bermuda at Port Royal Golf Course, Oct. 23-24, 2012.

The two-time Open Champion (2007 & ’08) and 2008 PGA Champion, played in back-to-back Grand Slam's in Bermuda in 2007 and ’08. "I'm excited to be returning to Bermuda to compete in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf once again," said Harrington. "I came close the two times I played previously -- losing in playoffs to Angel Cabrera in 2007 and Jim Furyk in 2008, but thoroughly enjoyed both experiences. I'm looking forward to competing and hope it will be third time lucky this year."

Els, who won the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in 1997 and 2010, recently injured his left ankle. "I am bitterly disappointed not to be able to make the PGA Grand Slam of Golf,” said Els. “It is a great reward for winning a major and something I have enjoyed in the past and was looking forward to again. Unfortunately I sprained my left ankle a few days ago and while it isn’t too serious and should recover relatively quickly, I have been advised not to try and play on it. I wish my fellow competitors the best and hope that I will manage to qualify again next year."

Harrington accepted the invitation to compete in the 2012 PGA Grand Slam of Golf after second and third alternates, Graeme McDowell and Tiger Woods, were unavailable.

Port Royal Golf Course is a 6,842-yard, par-71 public course that opened for play in 1970.

The PGA Grand Slam of Golf features a $1.35 million purse, with the winner receiving $600,000, second place $300,000, third place $250,000 and fourth place $200,000.

The PGA Grand Slam of Golf will be televised by TNT to an international audience of more than 400 million households in more than 85 countries.

The PGA Grand Slam of Golf is hosted by the Bermuda Department of Tourism, Port Royal Golf Course, and the Fairmont Southampton Hotel.