Bermuda has been confirmed as the site for the 1994 Merrill Lynch US PGA Tour Shoot-Out Championship, with the Mid Ocean Club serving as hosts for the event.

The tournament will witness 10 of the tour's leading players vying for the $130,000 winner's cheque taken from a total purse of $500,000.

Guaranteed spots go to the top four money earners in 1994, another four are issued to those heading the weekly shoot-out series and invitations are sent to three others -- only two play with one as a reserve.

"In previous years you've had all the top names playing in the shoot-outs,'' said Mid Ocean Club golf committee chairman, Michael Dunkley, during a press conference yesterday. "Last year there was Paul Azinger, John Daly, Davis Love and hopefully in 1994, providing that the schedule permits, we can bring in the likes of Fred Couples, Nick Faldo, Greg Norman, Davis Love, Payne Stewart...the list is endless.

"But I can guarantee you one thing. We will have the top players in the world and it will be a great event for Bermuda!'' While the exact dates have not yet been finalised -- three possibilities exist, September 26-27, October 3-4 or October 10-11 -- Bermuda will be the focus of millions world-wide, as ABC Sports is due to televise the event on a tape-delay basis, November 13.

It was further revealed that Bermuda is likely to host a PGA Senior Tour event in 1995.

"We are delighted that Merrill Lynch has chosen Bermuda for this prestigious event,'' said Tourism Minister, Jim Woolridge.

"The Merrill Lynch is a very prestigious tournament and, while the shoot-out will be held in the fall of 1994, we are looking forward to having the seniors come here in 1995 and it is exciting because they have arranged for ABC to televise this (latter) event in 1995.'' Assistant tourism director Randy Horton, the main thrust behind the endeavour, and Woolridge were quick to highlight the economic and promotional benefits a competition of this magnitude offer the Island.

"What it does is allow us to market around a particular event,'' explained Horton. "There will be opportunities for us to be on the media guide, which comes out for the PGA tour and hits at every PGA shoot-out. All of the Merrill Lynch clients which come to a particular shoot-out will get the media guide and you're looking at maybe 5,000 people at each event who will get them.

"There is then the opportunity for mailings to employees...they have about 36,000 employees domestic (and) 10,000 international employees.

"The television production will be a two hour production and there will be vignettes of Bermuda. We also get two 30 second spots to advertise Bermuda, so there's really a myriad of marketing opportunities that we get.

"(Also) Merrill Lynch will be bringing to Bermuda 100 of their top clients, so this will be a great opportunity to showcase Bermuda to people who have an incredible opportunity to spend money.'' Though the department will be doling out some $400,000 -- believed to be a fraction of the cost of television coverage -- Woolridge said it was money well spent as "our contribution is very minimum compared to the great benefits that we will be getting.''