first day of golf, it was revealed yesterday.

The star of last summer's box office hit Independence Day, Will Smith is expected to join other celebrities today for the second dayof the tournament at the Port Royal Golf Course.

While the rest of the celebrities and the corporate elite were hitting the links, one of the tournament's biggest star was stuck in a studio in New York.

Tournament spokesperson Amanda Temple said: "Will Smith is stuck in a studio in New York. We have a Planet Hollywood jet standing by to bring him here.'' "If the studio releases him, he might fly in late tonight or tomorrow morning,'' she added.

If Mr. Smith makes it to Bermuda, his visit will be a short one for the star of the television show `Fresh Prince of Bel Air', was scheduled to play in another celebrity golf tournament tomorrow.

Mr. Smith will join fellow actor Denzel Washington and football players Drew Bledsoe and Bruce Smith in The Celebrity Golf Classic at Crandon Park on Key Biscayne.

That event is expected to raise more than $50,000 for sickle cell anemia and thalassemia research.

Ms Temple said Mr. Smith would depart Bermuda, if he made it here, tomorrow for the other tournament.

On Thursday it was revealed that award-winning actress Angela Bassett pulled out of the tournament to be a judge for the Canne Film Festival.

Other celebrities, including actress Cheryl Ladd, basketball great Isaiah Thomas and Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Rodney Peete enjoyed great weather during the first day of the three-day event.

Young and the Restless actor John Castellanos -- lawyer John Silva on the popular soap opera -- told spectators, near the 18th hole, that he was enjoying his first trip to Bermuda.

And Ms Temple admitted that public attendance was not as high as the organisers had hoped for.

"There was not as many people as we would have liked but today was a work day,'' she said. "At least they are not playing hookey from work.'' Organisers hope the event will raise $250,000 for two charities -- The Catalogue for Giving, based in New York and Bermuda's own Council Partners.

Photos by Arthur Bean STARRING ROLES -- National Hockey League star Ron Greschner (left) and `Chicago Hope' star Vondie Curtis Hall (in golf cart at right) get into the action at the Samuel L. Jackson Celebrity Gold Tournament.

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