You don't get elected to golf's Hall of Fame by taking things easy, and despite his nickname, Ernie Els has no intention of treating the PGA Grand Slam any differently to a tour event.

Although the hardest four-ball in golf in whic to qualify, the Grand Slam has something of a reputation for players enjoying the social side of their stay as much as they concentrate on the course.

And while a relaxed atmosphere tends to hang over the three days of the competition at Port Royal Golf Club, the Big Easy will approach it with that same ferocious desire to win he always displays.

"I'm not looking at this as a quick break on an exotic island," said Els. "We're all professionals with a great deal of pride in what we do, so it's not going to be anything other than competitive.

"The Grand Slam will get exactly what I give to any other tournament – my full time and effort. It's going to be shown all around the world and there's plenty of prestige attached."

Famous for being a player who has consistently won all over the world, the South African has yet to visit Bermuda, and the challenge of playing somewhere new was certainly a motivating factor in his accepting the PGA's invitation to replace Phil Mickelson.

"This will be my first visit to Bermuda and I am delighted to have the opportunity," said Els. "Obviously I would have preferred to have been travelling as a major champion, but I needed no persuading at all when I was asked.

"After all these years, there are not many destinations on the golfing map that I have yet to enjoy so I am determined to make the most of my time there. It's always exciting to go to a new place . . . and it fitted into my late-season schedule so I needed no persuading."

Already a 20-year veteran, Els' election to the golf Hall of Fame last month came as something of a surprise to a man who still feels he is capable of adding to the three majors he has already won in his illustrious career. Not that his approach to the game has changed at all.

"The older I have got, the more demanding I get of myself," he said. "Winning is my greatest motivation and I am just as keen nowadays as when I first started out on the professional path 20 years ago.

"I must admit that when I first learned I was going to be a Hall of Famer, I wondered if it had come a bit too soon especially since I feel I have more major championships inside me.

"But the criteria for getting in there includes being 40 years of age so I qualify. The more people have congratulated me, the more I've come to realise what an honour it is."