THIS year's Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open is gearing up to be bigger and better than ever.

More seating, more hospitality, the inclusion of several bridges to give the players better access to holes 16 through 18, and a £1million prize fund, have elevated the Welsh Open to one of the top events on the European Tour.

With the feedback of players taking part in last year's inaugural event, several modifications have been made to the Wentwood Hills course.

There has been extension to the tee at the 15th, along with a re-shaping of the fairway, which will encourage the players to go down the left, instead of forcing them up the right. And at the 16th hole, two new bunkers have been added and the green has been levelled off.

The players bridges will only be temporary as they are on holes which will not even exist should the Celtic Manor receive planning permission to change the Wentwood Hills course as part of its 2009 Ryder Cup bid.

The resort though faces an anxious wait for permission to be granted and could be in a race against time to meet the July 31 deadline the Ryder Cup committee has set for all bids.

A planning meeting is due on June 20, but if for some reason the application is not heard until then, the next meeting is on July 11, just over two weeks before the deadline.