Hollywood stars Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones will join Premier Ewart Brown at an exhibition tournament to kick off the PGA Grand Slam of Golf today.

The celebrity couple, who live in Bermuda, will play at a Pro-Am event at the Mid Ocean Golf Club alongside golf legend Lee Elder and the four champions taking part in the Grand Slam tomorrow and Wednesday.

Dr. Brown has also invited Cabinet colleagues Derrick Burgess and Nelson Bascome to take part in the event, which will give amateur golfers the chance to play six holes with British Open champion Padraig Harrington, US Open Champions Angel Cabrera and Jim Furyk and Masters Champion Zach Johnson.

The Premier said of his guests: "I'm thrilled all of them agreed to participate in this great event for Bermuda; we are on the world stage like never before.

"I'm particularly proud that Lee Elder could be here. He is a massively important figure in the history of the game. I remember quite clearly that moment back in the 70s when he broke the colour barrier at the Masters. And now he will be here with us. He's a walking history lesson. I hope Bermudian golf fans really get to know his story during Grand Slam week."

Mr. Elder was the first African-American to play at the Masters in 1975 and was present during Tiger Woods' historic Masters victory in 1997. PGA organisers told a press conference at the Mid Ocean on Friday that between 5,000 and 6,000 people were expected to attend the event at the prestigious St. George's course.

And they said that the 13th green — which was vandalised last month — had almost recovered. Mid Ocean vice-president David Ezekiel said: "It's getting better by the day. There is still discolouration; luckily the putting surface is fine. We don't think it's going to show up on camera.

"We ramped up security after the last incident. It's one of those things you can't account for."

PGA director David Charles said the weather was expected to brighten up in time for the tournament.

"Today is the first day we have been rained out but work is progressing along nicely in the inclement weather," he said.

"It's better to get the bad weather out of the way today and have beautiful weather on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Everybody is coming together and working hand in hand to get us all set up and ready for Sunday night to open the doors on Monday morning for all the golf fans. It's going to be a fantastic viewing experience."

He said tickets had not sold out but sales had exceeded the expectations of the PGA and most of the major hotels on the Island were full.

Mr. Charles added that TNT, which will be broadcasting the Grand Slam, had laid more than four miles of fibre optic cable at the club to prepare for their coverage. TNT and ZBM will broadcast highlights from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

Chief Inspector Martin Weekes, who is in charge of policing the event, warned that there would be restricted access in the vicinity between 9 a.m. and about 5 p.m. today, tomorrow and Wednesday. Restrictions will be in place along South Road from Devil's Hole Hill to the Pink Beach area and between Harrington Sound Road and its junction with Paynter's Road.

Free car parking will be available for those attending at Shelly Bay Field and Warrior's Field, with complimentary shuttle buses running continuously to and from the Mid Ocean Club.

There will be bike parking at the Mid Ocean Club practice range and there will be a taxi pick up and drop off point at Mid Ocean Club Baby Beach.

The number 1 bus will run with increased frequency from Hamilton and St. George's and will drop off and pick up passengers at the main entrance to the Mid Ocean.

Buy tickets at www.PGA.com.