Keegan Bradley wins PGA Grand Slam

Just back from a very enjoyable day at the golf. Young American Keegan Bradley swept to the $600,000 first prize after Rory McIlroy went from three ahead to four behind in a nightmare spell halfway through his round to end with a second-round 75. Meanwhile Keegan kept his head to go round on par and was a popular winner.

The South African Charl Schwartzel was the day’s best player and ended up being the biggest challenger to Bradley. From 7 strokes adrift at the start of the day, the Masters champion drew level with a sparkling front-nine 31, but could not get back on terms after Bradley birdied the 10th.

Major event

If you follow golf then you will know what the following players have in common: Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke, Charl Schwartzel and Keegan Bradley.

Correct. They are the four golf major winners of the 2011. South African Schwartzel won the Masters in April, Mcllroy at just 21 years old won the US Open in June, Clarke was a very popular winner of the The Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in July and American Keegan Bradley won the PGA Championship in August in his rookie year.

Who Els

A blustery day at Port Royal for the final round of the PGA Grand Slam yesterday. The conditions and the dramatic topography not only tested the four golfers but also my knee. I most definitely haven’t done that much walking in a while, thus making the easy decision to give my calf raises a miss last night.

Ernie Els was the winner. The likeable South African with a swing as smooth as a babies bottom chased David Toms up the front nine but when most of us thought the status quo was to remain Els overhauled Toms after reeling off three birdies on the 14th, 15th and the picture postcard 16th (left) to take a lead by a shot, which he held to lift the cumbersome looking trophy.

Martin Kaymer and Northern Irishman and my favourite Graeme McDowell both finished well behind on +3 (8 shots behind the winner). The two were never in it but McDowell gave the crowd a cheer (photo) when he waded into the water on the 17th to knock a semi emerged ball on to the green.

There was an excellent crowd and the course looked in fine fettle and importantly from what I saw the event was without any of the normal ‘Bermuda kinks’. At the prize giving Bermuda’s Premier Dr Ewart Brown asked the crowd if they wanted the Grand Slam back next year. There was a rousing YES.

Bermuda’s agreement with the PGA runs out this year and there has been no decision made yet on 2011′s venue. I have no idea the cost of hosting the tournament but I would say it’s exorbitant. Premier Brown was known to be generous with other people’s money. With him departing a lot will depend on his successor.

As I left Port Royal I saw Ernie Els and his family jump into their car holding the Grand Slam trophy and still wearing his pink jacket presented to him by Premier Brown. I am sure there will be a place on his mantlepiece at his Wentworth home for the trophy but I don’t suspect the pink jacket will make his suitcase when he leaves the island tomorrow.

On a course

I’m off shortly to watch the final round of the PGA Grand Slam at Port Royal, which is about a 15 minute walk from the house, although there are showers in the air at the moment as I look out of the window.

David Toms leads after the first day firing a four-under-par 67, giving him a one-shot lead over three-time major champion Ernie Els. Sadly this year’s two actual major winners Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer trail behind with one-over and three-over respectively.

McDowell who overcame a triple-bogey on the par-four 11th yesterday, has just Tweeted: “Getting ready for round two of the PGA Grandslam here in Bermuda. Low number required. We play a little earlier to avoid some weather later.” Better take my umbrella.

Four!

The PGA Grand Slam returns to Bermuda this week, once again at the Port Royal Golf Club, which is now handily situated just around the corner from our house.

The PGA Grand Slam of Golf is designed for the season’s four major winners (the Masters, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship and the PGA Championship) but never have all four winners appeared for the season’s finale. This year sadly only two are here – Graham McDowell and Martin Kaymer, and they are joined by Ernie Els in for the otherwise engaged Phil Mickleson and David Toms, a late replacement for the injured South African Luis Oosthuizen.

Mickelson would have been a crowd puller and also I expect have attracted strong American interest but like Tiger before him he didn’t fancy it or the $1,350,000 of prize money for two rounds of golf.

This is the 3rd year that Bermuda has hosted the Grand Slam. It was previously held in Hawaii and the switch at the time was a real coup for the island but sadly it has been poorly attended mostly due to the lack of ‘star pulling-power’ but this time around entrance has been priced very sensibly ($20 and under 17′s free with an adult) plus with McDowell and Kaymer here one would hope it gets a positive knock effect from the recent Ryder Cup.

Today is the pro-am with the actual tournament taking place tomorrow and Wednesday. I will be at the beautiful Port Royal course on Wednesday with camera and will report back.