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| SOUTHAMPTON, BERMUDA - OCTOBER 18: Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland,Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland and Keegan Bradley of the USA with the PGA Grand Slam of Golf trophy before the first round of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf at the Port Royal Golf Course on October 18, 2011 in Southampton, Bermuda. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) |
Rory McIlroy and Keegan Bradley are tied at the top of the leaderboard at four under par. The PGA Grand Slam of Golf will continue on TNT on Wednesday, October 19 starting at 4 p.m. ET.
Professional golf’s four major champions playing in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf: Charl Schwartzel (2011 Masters), Rory McIlroy (2011 U.S. Open), Darren Clarke (2011 British Open) and Keegan Bradley (2011 PGA Championship)
TNT’s Jim Huber interviewed Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Charl Schwartzel’s agent, Andrew “Chubby” Chandler, on working with their agent:
McIlroy on Chandler: “He’s great; he’s seen it all before.”
Clarke on Chandler: “We’ve shared some great times and some not so great times, but he’s been very, very close to me for a very long time. He is a huge part of why I have managed to win (a major championship) event.”
Schwartzel on Chandler: “I can ask him anything and he is very wise in giving answers outside of golf. Obviously, he’s very well known in the golf industry, but he is a wise man outside of golf also.”
Huber spoke with Chandler on handling three of his clients at the same time at this tournament:
Chandler: “This isn’t too difficult at this tournament. This is the reward for what they have done this year and they have done great to get here. This is the icing on the cake.”
Chandler on McIlroy, Schwartzel and Clarke: “Two of our young guys are going to be around for awhile and Darren, well, he was the fairytale.”
TNT’s Huber talking with Chandler on the three different personalities of McIlroy, Schwartzel and Clarke:
Chandler: “They are three very different people. Charl and Rory are pretty tough competitors and are at the beginning of their careers. Darren has been there for a long time and has done what he needed to.”
Baker-Finch on Bradley: “Bradley hasn’t struggled on these greens at all. He’s been spot on. He’s the first player to win a championship using a long putter.”
TNT’s Huber speaking with Jerry McIlroy' father, Jerry McIlroy on his son’s physical stature these days: “He’s lost some of that ‘puppy fat’.”
TNT’s Kratzert interviewed Darren Clarke on being the oldest Open champion since 1967 and how he feels playing with the younger guys at the Grand Slam:
Clarke: “I feel like the oldest since 1967 today! It’s fantastic playing with these guys. Rory was in my foundation that I have at home when he was 13, and to think here I am now playing with him is great.”
Clarke on McIlroy’s strengths: “One of his strengths is that he is a fantastic driver of the golf ball. Maybe when he gets a little older he may figure out other ways to play the golf course, but at the minute he is playing to his strengths all the time.”
Clarke on his career and finally winning his first major championship - the British Open Championship: “Golf was becoming increasingly frustrating, I put the hours in but the results weren’t coming. I have a huge love/hate relationship with the game. Sometimes it’s a lot more hate than love but that particular week, it was a lot of love.”
