Padraig Harrington has been given an eleventh hour opportunity to reverse an unusual trend by becoming only the second European golfer to win the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.
Ian Woosnam (1991) is the only European to succeed in the 30-year history of the event although Harrington was a finger-touch away in his Major Championship winning years – losing play-offs in 2007 and 2008.
Harrington, drafted in to replace injured Ernie Els, teed-up today alongside Masters Champion Bubba Watson, US Open Champion Webb Simpson and Defending Champion Keegan Bradley in the 36-holes event on the Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda.
Two time Open champion (2007/2008) and 2008 US PGA Champion Harrington said: “You could say this event owes me one and I am certainly thrilled to be back in Bermuda to play in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.
“While my entry into the field is under unique circumstances, I am excited to be competing again having come close the last two times I was here – losing play-offs to Angel Cabrera and Jim Furyk in 2007 and 2008 . So maybe the third time will be a charm.
“Hopefully it will be close again coming down the stretch this week but this time it will fall in my favour. That would be nice. You can never tell; but that’s the plan.”
Harrington accepted the invitation to compete after second and third alternates Graeme McDowell and Tiger Woods were unavailable. Bradley stepped in to an event that is annually designed to bring together the four Major Champions when 2012 US PGA Champion Rory McIlroy was unavailable.
The PGA Grand Slam of Golf, hosted by the Bermuda Department of Tourism, Port Royal Golf Club and The Fairmont Southampton Hotel, features a $1.35 million prize fund with the winner receiving $600,000. The Port Royal Golf Course is a 6842 yards par 71 public course opened for play in 1970.
