Ireland’s triple major winning Padraig Harrington is winging his way to Bermuda to replace Ernie Els in Tuesday’s starting PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Bermuda.
Els has been forced out of the elite four-man event due to an ankle injury.
It means that Harrington, who last competed in the event in 2008 will join Masters Champion Bubba Watson, U.S. Open Champion Webb Simpson and defending champion Keegan Bradley in Bermuda at Port Royal Golf Course, Oct. 23-24, 2012.
The last time Padraig Harrington competed in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf was four years ago in capturing the 2008 PGA Championship.
Harrington, winner of The Open in 2007 & ’08 along with victory at Oakland Hills in 2008, said: “I’m excited to be returning to Bermuda to compete in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf once again.
“I came close the two times I played previously — losing in playoffs to Angel Cabrera in 2007 and Jim Furyk in 2008, but thoroughly enjoyed both experiences. I’m looking forward to competing and hope it will be third time lucky this year.”
Els, who won the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in 1997 and 2010, recently injured his left ankle.
“I am bitterly disappointed not to be able to make the PGA Grand Slam of Golf,” said Els.
“It is a great reward for winning a major and something I have enjoyed in the past and was looking forward to again. Unfortunately I sprained my left ankle a few days ago and while it isn’t too serious and should recover relatively quickly, I have been advised not to try and play on it. I wish my fellow competitors the best and hope that I will manage to qualify again next year.”
Harrington accepted the invitation to compete in the 2012 PGA Grand Slam of Golf after second and third alternates, Graeme McDowell and Tiger Woods, were unavailable.
McDowell is contesting Thursday’s starting $7m BMW Masters in Shanghai while Woods will tee-up in Kaula Lumpur for the $6.3m CIMB Classic being run by the PGA Tour.
Port Royal Golf Course is a 6,842-yard, par-71 public course that opened for play in 1970.
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.
The PGA Grand Slam of Golf will be televised by TNT to an international audience of more than 400 million households in more than 85 countries.
The PGA Grand Slam of Golf is hosted by the Bermuda Department of Tourism, Port Royal Golf Course, and the Fairmont Southampton Hotel.
* Thanks to www.pgaofamerica.com
