PGA of America officials expect Port Royal to provide an exciting test of golf when the Grand Slam takes place in Bermuda in October.

Senior Director David Charles was at the course for last night's official opening, and ran the rule over the re-building job that has been done over the last 18 months.

Charles has been in regular contact with staff at Port Royal throughout its renovation, but yesterday was the first chance he had to see the finished product. And he gave it a big thumbs up.

"We are thoroughly impressed with the new Port Royal," said Charles. "We were here in March, when the greens at nine and 18 weren't puttable, and it's come a long way since then, now they're great.

"We never doubted that the course would be ready though. We were confident that Bermuda grasses would grow once the temperatures got warmer and received a little rain.

"Kerry Haigh the Managing Director of Championships for the PGA of America has great experience from all our other Championships on growth rates and was confident (it would be fine) last October when we first saw Port Royal."

The Grand Slam has a reputation for producing exciting golf, with Phil Mickelson a nine-foot putt away from shooting a historic 58 when the event was held at Poipu Bay, in Hawaii.

Tiger Woods has scored a 61 in the past, and low scoring and beautiful scenery is what the PGA want from their Grand Slam.

And while Charles has no doubt about the beauty of the Island, he doesn't think a sub-60 round will happen any time soon in Bermuda.

"These are golf's greatest champions of the year, anything is possible, but not likely as scores like that are extremely rare," said Charles.

"We want the Grand Slam to be entertaining televsion, whereas with the PGA Championship we want to truly define the best player.

"You wouldn't play a PGA Championship at Port Royal, obviously, because of the length, but there is plenty of length in the golf course, it is going to be a challenge, and the wind will dictate the majority of that, while the green complexes and bunkering will present some challenges.

"We want exciting golf, we want players to come out here, make birdies, and make it entertaining. The Grand Slam is meant to be an entertaining broadcast, which it has been.

"In Bermuda though, scores in the mid to low 60's is more reasonable, but all contingent on the conditions."

The changes to Port Royal are extensive, with one of the major differences the removal of a vast number of trees. Wind will now play a big factor in any round, something Charles believes will make the course all the more exciting.

"The course is now exposed to the elements and Bermuda is a windy place," he said.

"We played yesterday and with a south-westerly, which I think we had today, the course plays a little bit easier because the difficult holes, 18, 16, 15 are all down wind. But when the wind comes out of the west, it's a completely different animal.

"We're really excited about coming to Port Royal. The conditions are going to make it a fair test for the players.

"Sixteen is a phenominal hole. It's going to ruin many a good round, locals, visitors, and major champions, there are going to be a lot of good rounds ruined, just because of how severe it is.

"It (the course) is just going to keep getting better, and better, so we are very excited about that."