The PGA confirmed yesterday the Grand Slam of Golf will return to Bermuda next year on October 14 and 15.

Premier Ewart Brown said the agreement between the Ministry of Tourism and the PGA of America was a two-year deal that gave the PGA the right to move the tournament in year two if it felt Bermuda could not properly run it.

He told a press conference at Cabinet Office: "So in many ways, this announcement means the PGA is confident that we can produce another world class golf tournament that will once again be televised around the world.

"Before coming to Bermuda this year, the Grand Slam of Golf had never been played outside the United States.

"Now it will be two consecutive years outside the U.S.; we hope to keep the PGA coming here for many, many years."

The 36-hole championship, boasting the most difficult qualification requirement in the game — a major championship — will once again be televised to a worldwide audience by TNT.

The PGA Grand Slam of Golf concluded its 25th tournament last month with US Open Champion Angel Cabrera defeating British Open Champion Padraig Harrington in a three-hole play-off at Mid Ocean Club.

PGA of America President Brian Whitcomb said: "The island of Bermuda not only is one of the more beautiful places in the world, but it also displayed unmatched hospitality as the first site outside North America to host the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

"The combination of a classic venue that challenged major champions, a large gallery and the outstanding support from the island's corporate community produced one of our all-time best PGA of Grand Slam of Golf events. We look forward with great excitement to bringing golf's major champions back next fall to Bermuda."

Premier Brown said: "We're delighted that the PGA Grand Slam of Golf is coming back to Bermuda. "Its first visit created a lot of excitement and produced an overwhelmingly positive impact on our tourism product. So we're looking forward to doing it all over again and doing it even better than last time."

This year, the PGA Grand Slam of Golf featured a $1.35 million purse, with the winner receiving $600,000, second place $300,000, third place $250,000 and fourth place $200,000.

TNT's broadcast of the event reaches a worldwide audience of 88.9 million U.S. homes and international viewers in more than 100 countries.

The 26th PGA Grand Slam of Golf is hosted by the Bermuda Department of Tourism, Mid Ocean Club and the Fairmont Southampton Hotel.

Speaking at yesterday's press conference via phone link PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka praised Dr. Brown for setting such a frenetic pace and said his PGA team had become infatuated with Bermuda which needed to be congratulated for an outstanding performance.

PGA Grand Slam of Golf week begins Monday, October 13, with the Champions Clinic and Pro-Am Tournament.

First round action begins Tuesday, October 14 and the final round concludes Wednesday, October 15. Corporate hospitality opportunities are available beginning February 1, and tickets will go on sale April 7.

Visit www.PGA.com or www.pgagrandslamofgolf.com for more information.