Bermuda’s hopes of retaining the Grand of Slam are in the balance with San Diego in California also keen to host the next event.However, both Bermuda’s Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert and senior director of the PGA Championships, David Charles, have stressed that while negotiations are ongoing no decision has been made.Asked whether discussions had taken place with San Diego, Charles told The Royal Gazette: “I would say the same as here, ongoing, very much ongoing, no different to ongoing discussions here with Bermuda. But definitely we have opportunities that come about all time.“We have had three, two-year contracts with Bermuda, which have been fantastic.“An announcement will be sooner than January. No decisions were made today or this week but we’ve had very good ongoing discussions.”“There is no danger of it becoming a bidding war.“There is a venue that has expressed interest but again we have those types of venues for all of our championships. I get calls from people all over the place saying ‘hey, why don’t you come here’. We we get through what has been a great week of golf we’ll regroup and get back to the (Tourism) ministry.”Minister Furbert said yesterday: “I think it’s been a good relationship for the past six years with the PGA and we hope we can work some things out although the contract has completed. We are still in negotiations with them and both parties will decide later on what direction we are going.”Asked how long it could take before the PGA announce the venue, Furbert replied: “They (PGA) have a new change in command coming in November so we’ll see whether they make a decision before or after then.”Furbert said the tournament fell in line with his Ministry’s aim to transform Bermuda into a premier sports tourist destination.“Part of our strategy is to try and encourage sports tourism and by bringing more sports groups we will bring more tourists here,” the Minister said. “This is one of the reasons why we have the PGA Grand Slam coming here and obviously we would like to keep it.”According to chairman of the Tourism Board Maxwell Burgess, the Grand Slam pumps millions into the local economy.“We believe it attributes as much as eight million to the GDP,” he said. “That’s people occupying our rooms and using our services at a time when we wouldn’t normally have tourists around and that’s the key to it.”Burgess said the media exposure Bermuda receives from hosting the PGA event is priceless.“We couldn’t buy the coverage the PGA gives by televising this event,” he said. “When you see the shots and production that TNT put on for us it’s second to none.“We couldn’t afford to buy it so that’s the value from branding and showcasing Bermuda that the Grand Slam gives us.”UBP leader and former Bermuda Open winner Kim Swan is among those eager to see the Grand Slam remain on the Island’s shores for years to come.“I think having an event of such is good for golf in Bermuda and good for the Island because it takes Bermuda into homes all around the world and you can’t beat that,” he said.“To see the world showcased here at Port Royal warms my heart and I celebrate those whose vision it was to bring the Slam here to Bermuda.“I think this year’s Slam was great and I have always been an advocate for having the highest of quality sports experience in Bermuda.”