Premier Ewart Brown this afternoon condemned the people responsible for vandalising the Mid Ocean Golf course shortly before Bermuda hosts the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

Large letters, QLQ, were singed into the grass on the 13th green at the Mid Ocean Club last week — the same day it was announced that golf super star Tiger Woods was withdrawing from the tournament.

At a news conference today Dr. Brown, who is also Minister of Tourism, said: “I am disappointed that a few Bermudians did not get the message that this is an all Bermuda effort.

“We have to be putting our best foot forward. This is a huge investment the country is making through the Department of Tourism.

“I am not sure what the letters were, I have heard QLQ, PLP. I do not give this any political weight whatsoever. It should not have been committed.”

According to Mid Ocean superintendent Norman Furtado, vandals poured an unidentified substance on the green. And he now fears large letters that were singed into the turf may still be visible when four of the world’s top golfers tee off on October 15.

Mid Ocean Club is set to host this year’s PGA Grand Slam of Golf event October 15 to 17, which will see Masters champion Zach Johnson, US Open winner Angel Cabrera, British Open champion Padraig Harrington as well as the world’s third-ranked player Jim Furyk.

Furyk was a late replacement for PGA Champion Tiger Woods who withdrew last week from next the event.

* For the full story see tomorrow’s Royal Gazette