Rose to light up Port Royal, says PGA chief

Justin Rose may not have realized it but he was thinking of Bermuda in the immediate aftermath of his maiden Major triumph.

The Englishman held his nerve to win the US Open at Merion by two shots from home favourite Phil Mickelson and Australia's Jason Day.

And in his subsequent Golf Channel interview he got halfway to name-checking the island that will stage the Grand Slam of Golf — a big-money, celebratory event for the year’s four major winners — before, understandably, getting a little confused as his achievement began to sink in.

For the Senior Director of Championships for the PGA of America, David Charles, it’s an indication that the event at Port Royal, which starts on October 14, has seeped into the consciousness of the world’s top players.

 “He mentioned he was looking forward to joining [Masters winner] Adam Scott,” Charles told the Bermuda Sun. “But he didn’t quite have Bermuda on the tip of his tongue and he got a little confused by the interview talking about [Open venue] Muirfield!

“But the fact that in his first interview he’s talking about the Grand Slam of Golf is obviously outstanding. He knows about the event and is looking forward to getting to Bermuda and seeing what’s it’s all about.”

Charles says Rose’s imperious tee-to-green play — in evidence as he tamed a Merion course that had ruined so many scorecards at the weekend — could tear up Port Royal.

He said: “His ability to play in windy English conditions means he has a good opportunity to do well at Port Royal. He’s a very strong player who will think his way around, and if it’s calm he can go very low because of his ball-striking ability.”

Rose’s Major win was the first for an Englishman since Nick Faldo in 1996 and the first US Open victory since Tony Jacklin way back in 1970.

It means Rose will join Scott as two fresh faces at the Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda, something Charles believes will excite the fans.

He said: “Both players will be exciting draws for the crowd. They are both players who have now finally made their breakthrough. That’s  the hardest thing, we now expect more from Adam and Justin as we did from Rory McIlroy after he won his first Major. We expect them now to go on and win more like Tiger Woods!

“But it’s a fantastic breakthrough for Justin. He’s always been a strong player with the irons and with the driver, and this week with his putting, it all came together.

“You always think back to when he chipped in at Royal Birkdale when he was just a 17-year-old amateur.

“Merion was an excellent venue. Everyone was tuning in to see the course as much as the competition and it held its own from a short course perspective, and Rose held off a strong field.”

The Grand Slam of Golf will be held at Port Royal from October 14-16. The Open Championship will take place at Muirfield, Scotland, from July 18, while the US PGA Championship is to be staged at Oak Hill Country Club from August 8.