BERMUDA touring pro and defending champion of this week's Bermuda Open, Michael Sims, called the prospect of the island hosting the 2007 US PGA Tour's Grand Slam "a beautiful thing".

Sims, who has been playing on the Canadian Tour, was extremely happy after hearing the news on Wednesday that the deal only has to be inked next month during the Grand Slam in Hawaii.

"I think it can only help the island," he said. "An event like that?! It will be all over the TV. What a beautiful thing. I think it is a great idea and great for the island and golf here."

And Brian Morris, head of the Bermuda PGA, was also extremely upbeat on hearing the news that the Grand Slam could be staged in Bermuda next year at the Mid Ocean Club.

"It would be great for Bermuda ? it would really show the island off to the rest of the world because the 36 holes are televised on TNT," said Morris.

On Wednesday then Tourism Minister and Deputy Premier Ewart Brown made the surprise announcement that the island was on the verge of securing the rights to host the Grand Slam which pits the winners of The Masters, US Open, British Open and PGA Championship against each other in the year-ending finale to the golf season.

Dr. Brown resigned his post yesterday in order to challenge for the PLP leadership. But his announcement on Wednesday also seemingly caught Mid Ocean Club executives by surprise.

David Ezekiel, vice president and men's captain at Mid Ocean told members in a letter on Wednesday: "I am writing to inform you that Government intend to announce today that the PGA Grand Slam of Golf will come to Bermuda in 2007 and that they and the PGA 'are in final stages of negotiation with Mid Ocean'.

"That is exactly the situation ? we have an agreed contract wording and were waiting for final signatures before we came to you with the news, but the proposed Government release, which was made known to us yesterday, has somewhat changed our timetable for us! Much more detail will follow later ? and I must caution that until all the contracts are executed this is still not 100% ? but after talking to the President we thought you should, if possible, hear about it from us first."

Both Sims and Morris said that Mid Ocean would be a great course for the Grand Slam but both also expressed the opinion that they would hope the wind would blow.

Pros today hit the ball far longer than years ago when Mid Ocean was considered one of the world's top courses and Sims said: "I don't know if they are going to lengthen the course. But there is a big difference when the winds blows ? if it does blow they probably won't be able to hit driver everywhere."

And Morris added: "I have heard that Mid Ocean will do some lengthening here and there. If they could get to 6,700 yards I think it will be fine.

"But hopefully there will be wind. You don't really want it if there is no wind. If there is no wind those guys would chew that place up. If they could get a couple of hundred yards more on the course and a bit a breeze it would be a great venue."

But Morris added that holding the event "would cost a lot of money".

Dr. Brown has said that Government has already pledged $1.5 million to bring the tournament to Bermuda.

Morris said: "Obviously you would have to do work on the golf course ? a lot of work will be involved. You have to make sure the course it is absolutely great condition for these guys. You are going to have to have a lot of volunteers but it will be great publicity for Bermuda."

Morris noted that when Bermuda staged the Gillette Tour Challenge back in the 1990s players such as Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk were competing for the $2 million prize money. At that time spectators were allowed on the course for free.

But if spectators are going to be required to pay admission fee to watch the likes of Tiger Woods next year during the Grand Slam it could be difficult to enforce.

Morris said: "When the Gillette was staged we had a lot of spectators who all got in for free. But it will be hard to control if they are going to charge admission. It will be very hard to block Mid Ocean off. It is not like those courses in the States where your have to go in through a main gate. Mid Ocean runs along public roads but I suppose they have thought about those things."

Mid Ocean vice president Ezekiel told members this week: "We have been working on this for some three months and, whilst we know there will be some challenges along the way, are really excited at bringing this event to Mid Ocean. The event has the support of the board and we think this is a brilliant opportunity to showcase Bermuda to a large audience and we wanted to join with Government, who are providing the funding, and the Fairmont Southampton, who are also a sponsor, in making it happen.

"The PGA Grand Slam is a two day stroke-play tournament between the four Major winners of the year, and up to now has been held in Hawaii with this year's event being held in November. The playing days in 2007 are scheduled for October 16th and 17th with a pro-am on the 15th and possibly an outing for the PGA Tour sponsors on the 18th. Both the PGA and Mid Ocean have an option to stage the event in 2008 if the other party is agreeable. Members will gain free admission to the event.

"Again, a lot more on this later as I know you will have many questions on course closures, course length and layout etc. As soon as we have an agreement signed and sealed I will send out a follow-up which will hopefully address all the issues we are likely to face, so please hold your questions till that time ? it shouldn't be long."

Next month former Masters winner Mike Weir will join a foursome that also includes British Open and PAG winner Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy to compete for the $1.25 million purse in the Grand Slam at Poipu Bay Golf Course and Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa in Hawaii.

Weir replaces Masters Champion Phil Mickelson, who told The PGA of America that following the Ryder Cup he would not be competing the remainder of the year.

Furyk, who climbed to the number two perch in the World Golf Rankings after his win in the Canadian Open, tied for 29th in the PGA Championship, shared second in the US Open, finished fourth in the British Open and tied for 22nd in the Masters.

The PGA Grand Slam of Golf is a 36-hole event televised by TNT, which will be broadcast to a worldwide audience of 89 million US homes and an international audience of more than 100 countries in a prime-time telecast.

This year's major champions will compete for a new purse of $1.25 million.