Premier Ewart Brown said the Department of Tourism might reconsider if the PGA Grand Slam is a worthy investment based on who attends this year.

The tournament costs Bermuda's taxpayers approximately $1.5 million a year to stage, although in the past the Premier has said the event's media value is worth $7 million in worldwide coverage on the TNT television channel. But last week Dr. Brown said the Department was waiting to see if Bermuda would receive a "marquee name" for this year's tournament before deciding if Bermuda will host next year's tournament.

He said everyone was still waiting to hear if Masters Champion Phil Mickelson had decided if he was going to play in the October tournament at the Port Royal Golf Course. Mr. Mickelson is the only "marquee name" attached to this year's tournament. The other players who have qualified are U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell, of Northern Ireland; South African Louis Oosthuizen, who won the Open Championship; and Martin Kaymer, of Germany, who won the PGA Championship.

Apart from Mr. Mickelson it is the first time each player had won one of the majors, let alone qualified for the Grand Slam.

If Mr. Mickelson chooses not to come Tiger Woods will be the next player invited based on a points system, after Mr. Woods, South African Ernie Els would be the next player picked.

Currently talks are underway between the Department of Tourism and PGA to extend the current contract, which ends this year.

When asked if it would be back next year Dr. Brown said: "We hope so. The PGA is working hard to make sure we have a marquee name for this year's tournament. I would probably have bet my house that we would have had Tiger [Woods] within the four-years and I would have been wrong.

"We are in talks about next year but we are going to wait and see what happens this year. If we don't get a good deal this year we will have to renegotiate."

The PGA did not respond for a request for comment. Sources close to the negotiations previously told this paper the PGA are keen to continue their relationship with Bermuda, and that the only stumbling block to a deal being done would be if Government didn't feel it was a worthwhile investment.