Sports legend Lee Elder — the first African American to play at the Masters and on a Ryder Cup team — described Bermuda as "paradise" yesterday as he teed off at the Mid Ocean Club.

The 73-year-old elder statesman of golf told he and his wife Sharon had received the warmest of Bermudian welcomes after touching down on the Island on Sunday afternoon.

"This is next to heaven," he said, moments before taking his first shot from the first hole.

He followed Premier Ewart Brown onto the green at the start of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf Pro-Am just after 11.15 a.m.

The pair appeared to have coordinated their outfits; both wearing striped peach sports tops and chatting warmly before play began.

Dr. Brown, his arm around the older man's shoulders, said he had followed Mr. Elder's career since his days as a student at Howard University, when the sportsman was starting out as a professional in Washington, DC.

Mr. Elder broke the colour barrier in golf in 1975 by playing at the Masters in Augusta.

He went on to combine for 12 victories on the PGA and Seniors tours, earning $1 million on each tour. "I was proud of him then and I'm proud of him now," said Dr. Brown, his wife Wanda at his side, acting as caddy.

Asked if he'd be giving or taking golfing tips from Mr. Elder, the Premier laughed. "Mr. Elder knows 100 times more than I do about golf so I'm listening to him."

According to fans of the sport watching from the sidelines, neither played a particularly brilliant first shot, both balls veering off to the left.

But Mr. Elder, who lives in San Diego, California, was not only here to play.

He said: "So far I have been all around the Island and I think it's wonderful. "Every place that I have gone and visited, the red carpet has been turned out for me."

Mr. Elder said he was looking forward to the chance to play with Hollywood couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones and watching the four professionals over the next two days. He said he'd been able to view some of the 36-hole beachside Tucker's Town course and was impressed with what he saw.

"I had a chance to see a few holes yesterday though I didn't get out till later and it began raining. I think it's fantastic. It's really just tremendous."