Four first-timers will compete in the 2011 PGA Grand Slam of Golf at the Port Royal Golf Course in Bermuda, marking the first time in the tournament’s history that none of the participants had previously won a grand slam before they won that year. Like they have since 1991, this year’s tournament will be 36 holes played over two days and will feature the winners of the year’s four grand slams.
PGA Grand Slam Of Golf 2011: Four First-Timers Populate The Field
This year’s PGA Grand Slam of Golf will be the first time in the 29 playings of the event that all four players won their first major that year.
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Making up the field are Charl Schwartzel (Masters), Rory McIlroy (U.S. Open), Darren Clarke (British Open) and Keegan Bradley (PGA Championship). Each earned their spot in somewhat dramatic fashion.
Scwartzel: The 27-year-old South African overcame a four-shot deficit in the final round, closing at his rather remarkable win with an unprecedented run of four straight birdies on his final four holes. His final round started with a chip-in for birdie on the first hole and featured an eagle on the par 4 third hole when he holed out a shot from the fairway.
McIlroy: After having his lead in the Masters wiped out by Schwartzel, the 22-year-old from Northern Ireland, took the U.S. Open field by storm. McIlroy won the tournament by a whopping eight strokes, setting a U.S. Open record with a 72-hole score of 268, which also was good enough for the best from-par score (-16).
Clarke: Unlike the other three major winners, the 43-year-old had to wait awhile to win his first. This was his 51st attempt at a major and gave Northern Ireland three of the last six major titles. His three-stroke victory was not particularly dramatic, but as one of the game’s more popular players it was certainly welcome.
Bradley: The 25-year-old had never before competed in a major before winning the PGA Championship in a three-hole playoff over Jason Dufner. He became just the third player in history to win a major in his first attempt. It was improbable for other reasons as well. Dufner triple-bogeyed No. 15 to fall five shots back, but birdied 16 and 17, while Dufner bogeyed his final three holes.
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