A less than Grand Slam of Golf

A Bermuda newspaper is suggesting today that the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, the annual two-day tournament that features the four winners of the major championships, might not be invited back to Bermuda in the event that Masters champion Phil Mickelson decides against playing. The Royal Gazette writes:

"When asked if it would be back next year Dr. [Ewart] Brown [Bermuda's premier] said: 'We hope so. The PGA is working hard to make sure we have a marquee name for this year's tournament. I would probably have bet my house that we would have had Tiger [Woods] within the four-years and I would have been wrong.

"'We are in talks about next year but we are going to wait and see what happens this year. If we don't get a good deal this year we will have to renegotiate.'"

Mickelson has not yet committed to the event to which Graeme McDowell (U.S. Open), Luis Oosthuizen (British Open) and Martin Kaymer (PGA Championship) also have been invited. Should Mickelson decline, the invitation would go to Woods. Should he decline, it would be extended to Ernie Els. It's scheduled for Oct. 19-20 at Port Royal Golf Course.

Bermuda, it seems, is coming to the conclusion that some of us have previously reached, that the Grand Slam has run its course.

The Royal Gazette's headline: "Grand Slam on its last legs?"

-- John Strege