@$:BYLINE-TIMES:By KYLEHUNTERSports EditorBODY-TIMES:BERMUDA looks almost certain to be awarded next year's PGA Grand Slam of Golf. BODY-TIMES-2:And there is a very good chance that the 36-hole tournament will be staged at the revamped Port Royal layout in Southampton.While no decision has yet been reached on who will win the rights to host the 2010 Grand Slam of Golf which features that year's four major winners, top PGAofficial David Charles said this week they were very happy with Bermuda and will make a decision next week during the Grand Slam of Golf being staged at Mid Ocean Club featuring Open and PGA winner Padraig Harrington, Masters winner Trevor Immelman along with former USOpen winners Jim Furyk and Retief Goosen.And PGA officials are expected to go to Port Royal today to take a look at the work being done on the Robert Trent Jones designed course which is currently undergoing a major facelift.Bermuda won the right to host the event for two years after the championship had been played in Hawaii from 1994 to 2006.Charles, the senior director of the PGAChampionships, said: "We feel Bermuda is a good destination for this championship. We have been in discussions since the Masters this year on the future of the Grand Slam of Golf and those discussions have been very positive and on-going and they will conclude next week."While Charles would not come out and say that next year's tournament will be in Bermuda, he strongly hinted that it would be."I think those discussions will conclude very favourably. We still have to iron out a couple of things but the PGA of America has really enjoyed bringing one of our showcase events to an international audience in Bermuda rather than a US base when it was in Hawaii for so long. "The championship was a success last year and it will be a success this year ¿ we have been having excellent conversations with the Department of Tourism and we will conclude them next week."Noting that the players loved coming to Bermuda last year, Charles said he was also very impressed with the huge turnout of around 7,000 fans at Mid Ocean Club to watch the 36-hole stroke-play tourney."That was a very good number especially when you consider they were only following one group of players. So having a gallery as big as that watching only one group was very impressive."Normally (PGA) tournaments report having 20,000 or 30,000 people but that is for groups all over the course. At the Ryder Cup this year we had up to 40,000 a day but there were at least four groups playing morning and afternoon so it was spaced out."Having 7,000 people following one group ¿ that is phenomenal." Besides of the Grand Slam of Golf, the PGAof America also are the hosts for the Ryder Cup, the PGA Championship and the Senior PGAChampionship.Charles said that all four golfers were looking to spend some time enjoying Bermuda as well as playing in the tournament."Jim Furyk will arrive on Friday (today) and has already booked a practice round on Sunday. He is bringing his family with him and will be turning it into a bit of a vacation. Last year his family came down a few days before he arrived so he wants to find out what he missed."Trevor Immelman is coming in on Saturday with a bunch of friends and family ¿ he has a big entourage. Retief Goosen and Padraig Harrington will arrive on Sunday and Retief will also have a big entourage. I know Padraig will be looking to win next week as he lost last year in a playoff (to Angel Cabrera)."Besides his family and friends who will be coming to Bermuda with two-time USOpen winner Goosen, the South African will also be playing his final tournament with his Irish caddy Colin Byrne. The two just had a "mutual split" after five years of working together.Byrne, who is also a columnist for the Irish Times, said recently: "We've run our course. It was a mutual decision, we had a chat over the phone and it's probably best for both of us. He hasn't been playing great and maybe it's the right time for a change, some fresh ideas."Byrne first started caddying for Goosen in January 2004 at the PGA's season-opening Mercedes Championship in Hawaii. The pair went on to win 10 tournaments worldwide, including the 2004 US Open at Shinnecock Hills, which Goosen won for the second time."Most player, caddy relationships only have a shelf life of three years," said Byrne. "I've almost stretched it to five good years with Retief. It's been pretty intense at times with Retief playing all around the world. I'm happy to relax for a while and not have to go to airports and hotels."Meanwhile Harrington will be looking for some warm and sunny weather ¿ unlike the horrible weather he experienced last weekend in Scotland especially at Carnoustie which saw gale-force winds gusting up to 40 m.p.h and driving rain that threatened at one stage to blow the field away in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.Harrington has one thing on his mind to finish up his incredible two-major winning season ¿ to regain the European Order of Merit crown.Of the Grand Slam of Golf next week he described it as "a two-day jolly".After Bermuda he will compete in Spain, China and then Singapore before calling a halt to his exhausting year.Charles said that setting up for this year's event has been a bit easier than last year."The more we do it in the same place the easier it gets," he said adding that TNT which will televise the tournament has also found it easier."Things are coming along well and we are very excited. TNThas been laying miles and miles of high definition cable. The tents have been built and of course there is a great enhancement with the 19th hole tent by Bacardi Limited for all those with tickets. It will be like an open air sports bar with a great atmosphere. You will be able to watch the live broadcast and celebrate the day of golf."Charles added: "I hope we have a couple of days like this with high wind and sun. It makes the course extremely challenging. We are looking to test these golfers but also to make it good viewing on TVand good competition."On Monday there will be the Champions Clinic. "The players will show their short game and spectators can listen and watch them go through their routines. That will be filmed for the Golf Channel who will show it that night. Then there is the Pro/Am later in the day with Tuesday and Wednesday being tournament days with the tee off set for 11.00 a.m. each day.Charles said he expects many junior golfers to be on hand next week."A lot of juniors last year watched the clinic and this year some will also be caddying during the Pro/Am. We raise money for the Junior Golf Association in Bermuda and are very happy to do so. I know the players have a lot of time for the juniors."The cost of a junior ticket is $10 and that money goes back into the junior programme in Bermuda."We also will publish a magazine which recaps the years of the tournament and the majors and that will cost $5 and that benefits junior golf as well," said Charles.***Tickets for the 26th PGA Grand Slam of Golf are still available and can be purchased in Bermuda at Ocean View Golf Club, Riddell's Bay Golf Course and Upstairs Golf & Tennis Shop or by calling 1-800-PGA-GOLF (800-742-4653), or 561-624-7601, or by visiting www.pga.com or www.pgagrandslamofgolf.comSeason tickets for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be available for $150 and come in the form of three individual day tickets. Daily tickets for individual day attendance will be available for $50 on Monday for the Champions Clinic and Pro-Am and $75 each day for the Tuesday and Wednesday competition days.