Ireland’s Padraig Harrington will tee-up in the 2012 PGA Grand Slam of Golf looking to make it third time lucky after being twice beaten in a play-off for the Major Champions only event in Bermuda.

The Dubliner is a late replacement for South African Ernie Els, and while reserves Tiger Woods and Graeme McDowell declined the event for respective tournaments in Malaysia and China, Harrington snapped at the chance of winning the four-man event being staged on the Port Royal course in Southhampton.

The last time Padraig Harrington competed in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf was inn 2008 after capturing the PGA Championship. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

“Hopefully this is third time a charm,” said Harrington.

“I’ve come close twice in Grand Slams and hopefully it will be that close coming down the stretch this week and it would fall in my favour.”

In fact, Harrington lost to Argentina’s Angel Cabrera in a playoff for the 2007 title and was edged out by American Jim Furyk in 2008 at the event which traditionally brings together the winners of the year’s four majors.

“It’s funny, I can’t remember the playoff which I obviously lost to Jim Furyk, but I really remember the one I lost to Cabrera,” Harrington said.

“He got the last (hole) to get into the playoff. I thought I had it won. I remember that one all right.”

Before getting his late call-up for Bermuda, Harrington had initially planned to compete in this week’s European Tour event, the BMW Masters at Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai.

“I was due to travel to China on Sunday night,” Harrington said.

“So on Friday, I was practising and my manager rang me and said there’s a possibility that Ernie may pull out and would I be interested. I said yeah, I’d be interested.

“The word came on Saturday afternoon, late Saturday afternoon, that Ernie had pulled out. As unfortunate as it is for Ernie … it was good news for me.”

The Irishman will be competing against Americans Bubba Watson, who won this year’s Masters, Webb Simpson (US Open) and defending champion Keegan Bradley over the next two days.

Bradley, winner of last year’s PGA Championship, gained his spot in the field as the first alternate after Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy pulled out due to a scheduling conflict.

McIlroy, who clinched his second major title by a staggering eight shots at this year’s PGA Championship, had already committed to the BMW Masters in China.

Left-hander Watson was delighted to be in Bermuda, having book his place in the field by landing his first major victory at Augusta National in April.

“Coming over here is where it really hit home that I won a major,” he said. “I get to play in this, and there’s only four guys.

“It’s pretty special to be here and be a part of this. Hopefully I can do it again one day so I can come back.”

The Grand Slam of Golf, billed as “the most exclusive tournament in golf”, was held in Hawaii from 1991 to 2006 before moving to Bermuda in 2007.