Former European tour pro and Bermudian Kim Swan has touted the upcoming PGA Grand Slam to be held in October at the Mid Ocean Club as a great marketing opportunity for Bermuda.

Reacting to the hype over what some would describe as the super bowl of the golfing world, Swan explained to The Royal Gazette how the tournament — featuring Tiger Woods, Angel Cabrera, Padraig Harrington and Zach Johnson — will benefit the Island.

Swan himself is well known in Bermuda as a former professional at Castle Harbour during the 1980s and because of his role as the Opposition leader in the Senate.

He highlighted for those not familiar with the game of golf, how such world-renowned names as Woods will help to put Bermuda back on the map of the most sought-after golfing destinations. "I've always believed that events such as the Grand Slam of Golf are good for Bermuda," Swan said. "You will recall that Bermuda was a pioneer in golf in marketing as far back as the late 1950s.

"And also in the early 1960s when one of the pioneers in the world of golfing was the Shell's Wonderful World of Golf Series.

"I often said in the 1980s and 1990s that Bermuda was a prime place to attract major names to our shores because it assists in keeping you relevant in the world golfing community, which has widened.

"Europe, for instance, covers the entire globe from a professional standpoint and the United States has always reached the entire globe from a marketing standpoint with regards to golf."

Swan cited examples of how he was greeted as a professional golfer when travelling through Europe.

He added: "Thirty to 40 years ago, Bermuda was synonymous with world-class golf events. Not only the Mid Ocean Club, but the former Castle Harbour, which is now Tucker's Point Club.

"Between 1980 and 1984 when I played in Europe, I didn't even have to put 'Bermuda' on my golf bag. Although I did, I didn't have to because people knew that Castle Harbour was in Bermuda and that was one of the marketing geniuses of that era."

He spoke of some of the big-name players that in the past, have traditionally been associated with Bermuda, helping to establish the Island's first-class reputation.

"Prior to me in the late 1960s, Gary Player, a golf legend, was the touring pro at Castle Harbour," Swan said. "He made many appearances in Bermuda.

"What we are seeing today in the Grand Slam, I say as a politician and as a golfer, I surely endorse it because it's the right thing to do if you want to position Bermuda in the golf world.

"And today we have far more competition for the people we are trying to attract than we did back in the 1950s and 1970s, when Bermuda was the most sought-after destination."

Swan reflected on last Tuesday's 36-hole event put on by the Bermuda Professional Golfers' Association, which saw him finish in second place, behind Dwayne Pearman, whom he praised for his skill.

He said: "Dwayne is very competitive and a very competent golfer, who's a few years younger than me and I've always encouraged him.

"I have made a sort of resurgence into the game and my championships were won back before Dwayne came on the scene. I think he's very competent, very tidy, has a tremendous short game and putts very well, especially under difficult circumstances."

Swan spoke on the 'Tiger Factor' and even made some predictions on the Grand Slam: "Obviously to have Tiger Woods in the field is certainly a plus for any event. Tiger is the franchise, the Michael Jordan-plus, of events. Who would have thought that you would have an athlete on the planet that could generate more excitement and enthusiasm about a sport than Michael Jordan, one would have never thought that it would happen in this lifetime.

"Tiger Woods is a package of a modern-day version of a Muhammad Ali compared to the type of excitement that Ali brought to the sporting world. Woods has certainly brought this to the golfing arena. I'm very pleased that he's a part of the Grand Slam field. I think the event is a great event for Bermuda not withstanding the participation of Tiger.

"If Tiger had not made it to the event, it would still be good for Bermuda."

He also poured cold water on the speculation by some golf commentators whether or not Tiger will be able to perform at his best, given Bermuda's unusually windy conditions.

"Tiger has developed a shot called a stinger, which is a low, slingshot type of shot," Swan said. "Tiger Woods is a golfing phenomenon that's in tune with all the modern technology that the world has to offer.

"The Bermuda wind does offer a different challenge than most other winds because it has more moisture, but there isn't a shot that needs to be played that he isn't capable of playing today or figuring out how to play it in very short order.

"Please don't take away from the other three players that are coming, I was very impressed when young Zach Johnson won the Masters.

"For a couple of reasons; Bermuda is a very Christian faith-oriented place. When Zack won that event, while holding his young baby in his hands on Easter Sunday, without shame, he gave thanks and praise to Jesus Christ.

"He's a proud Christian and a young man who was lifted up beyond his wildest dreams on Easter Sunday and gave thanks to the almighty — I was so impressed by that. I think Johnson will be embraced when he comes to Bermuda.

"Johnson comes from the mid-west of the US where a lot of potential visitors to Bermuda live at and it's golfing territory. There's a market for Bermuda because when the Grand Slam is shown on TV around the US, that's a market for us."