Two-times Super Bowl winner Mark Rypien is among several former frontline professional athletes taking part in the Gosling’s International Invitational, which promises to be the best yet.

The former Washington Redskins quarterback is competing in the professional division for a share of the $70,000 purse and is one of several former professional athletes taking part in the 72-hole stroke play championship, to be held at Port Royal Golf Course and Belmont Hills Golf Club.

Rypien was selected by the Redskins in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL Draft and won two Super Bowl rings and a Super Bowl MVP Award during a seven-year stint with the franchise.

He is the first Canadian-born quarterback to start in the NFL and win the Super Bowl MVP award, and in 1989 and 1991 was named to the Pro Bowl.

Another former star of American sport competing in a field of 105 players from 14 countries is former Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Eric Gagne, who saved a record 84 games between 2002 and 2004, and won the Cy Young Award in 2003.

“Both of those guys are professional golfers now so they’re well-established golfers after their professional sports careers,” Robby Thompson, the tournament director, told The Royal Gazette.

The pair are among eight US professional athletes that are competing through a new partnership between tournament organisers and Cambridge Beaches.

Meanwhile, back to defend his title will be Australian Daniel Gaunt, a comfortable eight-stroke winner in 2017, while also returning are past winners Patrick Horgan III and Kirk Hanefeld.

The field also includes Mathias Gronberg, of Sweden, and Brad Adamonis, of the United States, who have both competed on the PGA Tour. Gronberg has also competed on the European Tour.

James Mack, the Order of Merit winner on the professional TP Tour in Britain, is also competing as well as top amateurs Herbie Aitkens and Matt Parizele, who was low amateur at the US Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, in June.

Representing Bermuda are past winner Dwayne Pearman, Daniel Augustus and Camiko Smith in the professional division, and Damian Palanyandi in the amateur field.

“It’s a diverse and extremely talented field this year,” Thompson said.

“The Gosling’s family is ecstatic to host players representing 14 countries and eight US states right here on their home soil of Bermuda and they look forward to a great championship week.”

The Gosling’s International Invitational starts on Monday with a Pro-Am at Port Royal.

The first 36 holes of the championship proper will also take place at Port Royal with the remaining rounds taking place at Belmont Hills.