THE BEST golf field ever assembled in this part of the world goes for the Wales Open title at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, starting tomorrow.

Gwent business tycoon Sir Terry Matthews has made certain there is no repeat of last year when most of the top players did not enter because of US PGA commitments the week after.

Matthews, who has made his fortune in the telecommunications business in Canada and has poured £140m into developing the Celtic Manor, has made his private jet available to some of the stars.

That means he will fly current Ryder Cup players Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and Paul McGinley, the Wales Open title holder, plus Bassaleg-based Phil Price and ex-Open champion Paul Lawrie out of the Celtic Manor and away to the States on Sunday night.

"The better players like to get out there. If they can't fly until Monday, it cuts into their practice time," said Andy Stanton, (pictured) the tournament chairman.

The Ryder Cup comes to the Celtic Manor in 2010 and Matthews will spend another £12m on course changes involving the first two and last five holes, a new clubhouse and bridge. Work will start next year.

Stanton believes the publicity over the Ryder Cup bid has helped widen the Celtic Manor's appeal, and he is expecting the crowds to top the 50,000 mark over the four days of competition this week.

"The Ryder Cup bidding process helped put the Celtic Manor on the map. If the venue for 2009 had been decided in a week you wouldn't have had the Press coverage," he said. "We've got a big catchment area with Wales, the West country and the Midlands. "Fans can look at the Ryder Cup venue and they'll find the course in very good shape. The rain hasn't hurt it and the rough is thick.

"In the first year, we had 41,000 people here and last year it was 27,000, but it was rained off, though it was ten per cent up on the Friday.

"We're hoping for 50,000 this year over the whole tournament. "We've got a very good field with 11 of this year's tournament winners including Lee Westwood, who won the Order of Merit two years ago to take Monty's crown, and Darren Clarke, who has beaten Tiger Woods in the States."

"The interest in the tournament has grown, with Welsh sponsors jumping from 70 to 96 and hospitality up 50 per cent.

"There has been a very low drop-out and the appeal of the tournament is growing."