Harrington's picture perfect moment at 16

FRIDAY, OCT. 26: Padraig Harrington had one last request before leaving Port Royal on Wednesday — a picture momento of the heart-stopping par-three 16.

The 2012 PGA Grand Slam of Golf champion cut an animated figure during the two days as he talked about the challenges posed by the treacherous but stunning hole he labelled the best in the world.

Harrington’s par at the hole during his final round effectively sealed his win and Port Royal’s director of golf Andrew Brooks was delighted with the impact the signature hole had.

Brooks said: “I don’t get to see a lot of the match but I make sure I do two things each time and that’s watch the players play 16. It’s the best par three in the world.

“It was interesting watching these guys play it — 225 yards back they were taking four or five irons, which is just incredible.

“After the play finished I got the chance to talk to Padraig Harrington. We had some pictures of 16 and he asked if he could have one to put up on the wall at home.

“He said he didn’t get much sleep the night before knowing he had to get through the hole again. When a player of that ilk is saying that you know you are on to something.”

Adrenaline

Brooks admits he and his staff are now on a bit of a “come down” after the excitement and adrenaline of the past week. It was definitely a job well done, though, with the event again well received by fans watching live or on TV.

Now, says Brooks, the key is to make sure the event remains on the island – and Port Royal, if possible — for 2013.

He said: “It’s a great event for Bermuda — that’s the top line. This is a Bermuda event but Port Royal loves staging it and the PGA are very happy with how we work things in terms of setting it up.

“It works very well for Bermuda from the marketing side of things. It does the job, with TNT sending the pictures into 400million homes and I’d love to see it come back but these are tough times…

“I personally think it’s very important for Bermuda that it retains it. Having the PGA name and having four Major champions walking and playing the course, it’s making history effectively.”