David TomsHunter Martin
David Toms will replace British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen in next week's PGA Grand Slam of Golf event in Bermuda.
Oosthuizen was forced to withdraw from the event which generally pits the winners of the four major championships after suffering an ankle injury while on a hunting trip in his native South Africa. Toms was the third option after Retief Goosen, who had a schedule conflict, and Zach Johnson, who is coming off the Ryder Cup and whose wife recently had a baby, declined the invitation.
Toms hasn't played in this event since he won the PGA Championship back in 2001. That year, he finished three strokes behind winner Tiger Woods.
This year's Grand Slam will be missing two of the current four winners as Phil Mickelson pulled out of the event, electing to rest and spend more time with his family. Ernie Els was named to replace him at the $1.35 million event.
Last year was the first time since 2004 that the field had all four major champions. While there have been years when Tiger Woods (2005, 2006) and Padraig Harrington (2008) won multiple majors, and years when major champions (Woods, Phil Mickelson) stopped going, this will mark the first time in 20 years that the Grand Slam has two alternates in a season when four players won majors.
The 28th PGA Grand Slam of Golf will take place Oct. 18-20 at Port Royal Golf Course in Bermuda.