July 21, 2014 at 3:54 p.m.
McIlroy earns invite back to Bermuda Grand Slam
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland earned an invitation back to Bermuda for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf Sunday when he won his third Major at The Open Championship.
McIlroy, now 25, played in the Port Royal Golf Course season-ending tournament in 2011 after winning the U.S. Open.
Only Majors Champions are invited to participate in the Grand Slam. It’s the most difficult tournament in the world for which to qualify.
“In the Grand Slam’s 32 year history, the only other player to qualify for the Grand Slam this many times at such a young age is Tiger Woods,” said David Charles, Senior Director of Championships for the PGA of America. “McIlroy is truly a special champion who is now only a Masters title short of a career Grand Slam. We look forward to celebrating his accomplishments and the accomplishments of the other three Majors Champions in Bermuda come October.”
American Bubba Watson (Masters) and German Martin Kaymer (U.S. Open) have also qualified for the 2014 PGA Grand Slam of Golf and both two-time Majors Champions have played in Bermuda previously – 2012 and 2010 respectively.
The PGA Grand Slam of Golf features the winners of the year’s four Majors – the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, the PGA Championship and The Masters. The final qualifier will be decided next month in Louisville, Kentucky at Valhalla Golf Course and the PGA Championship.
The Grand Slam will be played October 13-15 and broadcast to a worldwide audience on TNT. The 32nd PGA Grand Slam of Golf will be hosted by the Bermuda Tourism Authority, Port Royal Golf Course and the Fairmont Southampton.
Ticket-carrying fans are allowed to get closer to the pros at the Grand Slam than at any other competitive golf tournament. Because there is only one group during the event spectators are permitted to follow the players down the fairways of every hole – standing just a few feet from the action in some cases.
Andy Burrows, Grand Slam Chairman, said: “I expect Watson, Kaymer and McIlroy to put on quite a show at Port Royal if they get the chance to see the golf course for a second time. Certainly something golf fans will not want to miss.”
The PGA Grand Slam of Golf features a $1.35 million purse, with the winner receiving $600,000; second place $300,000; third place $250,000 and fourth place $200,000.
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