Chance to team up with Tiger at PGA Pro-Am

That is the dream scenario for local golfers who now have a chance to fight it out for a spot at the PGA Grand Slam...

Quest

For the first time in the tournament’s 25-year history, local golfers will have the opportunity to qualify to play alongside a major champion.

The PGA of America and Port Royal Golf Course are making two Pro-Am Tournament spots available in the 2011 PGA Grand Slam Pro-Am.

The island-wide qualifying event will be known as ‘Quest for the Best’. David Charles, PGA senior director of championships, said: “We look forward to this new Pro-Am Qualifier, bringing the Bermuda golfing community together and building on the great success and excitement we have felt on the island for the past four years.”

Every golf club in Bermuda will be able to host a qualifying event.

Golfers will play as two-person teams in a Better Ball tournament.

Exclusive

The top seven teams will compete in the finals at Port Royal Golf Course on September 17.

The winning team will then be awarded spots at the Pro-Am, as well as entry into exclusive events during the PGA Grand Slam.

This includes Clubhouse Hospitality, the Sunday Welcome Reception and Tuesday Champions’ Celebration.

Port Royal — home of the 2011 and 2012 PGA Grand Slam of Golf — was described by late architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. as his finest design outside the US.

The public course opened in 1970 and underwent a $13.7 million renovation two years ago, extending the par-71 layout to 6,842 yards.

The fee to enter ‘Quest for the Best’ is $250 per player, which includes golf in each of the rounds, day passes to the 2011 Grand Slam and lunch at Port Royal on September 17.

A spot at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf Pro-Am is valued at $15,000 and accompanied by a bounty of prizes.

Last year’s Pro-Am participants included legendary West Indies cricketer Brian Lara and former Bermuda Premier Ewart Brown.

Among the goodies they received were iPads, Cleveland wedges and Pro V1 golf balls.

Most golfers would agree however that the most coveted reward of all is the chance to play with a PGA major champion.

Buzz

‘Quest for the Best’ will be managed by To A Tee Bermuda and the Port Royal Golf Course, under the guidance of the PGA of America.

The event is expected to create a buzz of excitement ahead of the PGA Grand Slam, to take place from October 17 to 19.