THE Dwayne Pearman show - otherwise known as the annual Bermuda Professional Golfers' Association Championships - was due to wind up at Mid Ocean Club yesterday after 72 holes of predictable competition.

Pearman, as he has done for the last decade or more, led by a bunch of strokes entering the final round in a field which numbered little more than a dozen.

The Ocean View pro's continued dominance in what is a perennially small field perhaps explains best why the event passes with little fanfare.

Yet, that could all be about to change . . . dramatically.

Steps have been taken to bring Bermuda's pros under the umbrella of the hugely influential Professional Golfers Association of America.

And if, as expected, the BPGA does become the first non-US affiliate of the American governing body, the benefits for local players would be substantial - including an annual championship which would be open to US club pros.

The idea of bringing the two professional bodies together was raised by BPGA president Alex Madeiros at the the recent PGA Show in Florida, and was quickly embraced by his US counterpart.

An official merger could be sealed by as early as next month.

Madeiros had tried previously to bring his association in line with the New England PGA with whom Bermuda has enjoyed close ties for many years. But their constitution indicated such an affiliation was not possible.

However, legal eagles from the PGA of America are currently deliberating whether Bermuda - like the New England PGA - could become an independent chapter, the first, in fact, from outside the USA.

Madeiros explained how the idea got off the ground.

"I was at the PGA Show, went to one of their cocktail parties, introduced myself to the president of the PGA of America and that's how the talks started," he said.

"We've been e-mailing back and forth and right now their legal people are looking at their constitution to see if they can allow us in.

"We hope to know something in a couple or more weeks. The process has started and that's exciting. And they (US PGA) seem very positive."

Madeiros sees the advantages of affiliation as two-fold - from an education and competitive perspective.

Local pros would be able to play in US events - although obviously not in Tour tournaments which require separate qualification - and club pros from the US would be invited to compete here.

The PGA of America currently has over 27,000 members from numerous chapters, all of whom can benefit from a wide range of services offered by the governing body.

With several young Bermudians currently on golf scholarships or attending golf academies in the US, Madeiros believes affiliation with the PGA would provide a huge boost in terms of career opportunities.

"Education wise this move could be very beneficial to our members," he explained.

"Anybody aspiring to be a club pro could enjoy the educational benefits offered by the PGA of America. We'd be looking for the credits that they offer to be applied here.

"When you're in the PGA of America, you get credits towards your working career. For example somebody like Frankie Rabain (Port Royal head professional) who has been in the business for many years - he would have gained credits every month for being in the association, running a golf shop, giving lessons, running tournaments, etc.

"You accumulate points and this goes towards becoming a master PGA professional. You can be given that title after 25 to 30 years in the business. It takes you to another level.

"There are a number of people here who would benefit from that, including myself. I would love to go in that direction. It becomes more than just working in the business, you have to write thesis, you have to stay on top of golf education. That's something I would like to do and this also opens the doors to other members we have in the BPGA who are coming out of school and hoping to make a career in golf.

"In Florida, we have four or five Bermudians who have been graduating in the last year. But there aren't that many jobs available to them in Bermuda, and that's another reason why we'd like to become affiliated with the PGA of America.

"If someone gets the opportunity to work in the US, these credits go towards that employment. Right now, if I wanted to go and work in the US, I may have the experience and a good resume, but I would have to start from scratch because I'm not a member of their association."

Madeiros admitted that the BPGA's own constitution would probably have to be altered in order to accommodate the change. But he doesn't see that as a major stumbling block.

"I think we have to grasp this opportunity," he said.

"Right now there are not a lot of incentives for professionals in Bermuda. This would give all of us some goals, some added competition and the chance to enhance our careers.

"In the past we've been able to attend PGA of America business schools but we haven't been allowed to take the exams. That would all change and those who wanted to become properly qualified would have the opportunity to do so."