THE plan for Wales to host the Ryder cup in 2009 has thrust professional golf to the forefront of this year's Welsh sporting calendar, thanks to the announcement of the Wales Summer of International Golf campaign.
Launched by the Ryder Cup Bid Committee in conjunction with the Wales Tourist Board, the Summer of International Golf programme has been designed to attract some of the finest players in the world to Welsh courses during 2001.
As Philip Evans, chairman of the Wales Tourist Board, said: "For followers of international golf, Wales really is the place to be this summer with no less than three major tournaments taking place on courses that we believe are unique in character and location. We are delighted that with the Wales Summer of International Golf, the world will have the opportunity to witness first-class golf on first-class courses."
The Wales Senior Open will tee off this special golfing season from June 8-10.
It will feature players such as Brian Huggett, Tommy Horton and Neil Coles competing on the stunning links course of Royal St David's, Harlech, for what is now the largest purse on the 2001 Seniors Tour (£500,000).
The Summer of International Golf then moves south to the magnificent Royal Porthcawl GC, home of the WPGA Championship of Europe, on July 26-29.
This new event will feature an international crop of players competing for sizeable prize funds (£400,000), who play on both sides of the Atlantic including the majority of Europe's victorious Solheim Cup 2000 team. The festival is rounded off from August 9-12 with the £1million purse Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open, which serves as the showcase tournament for the Welsh Ryder Cup bid.
Last year's Wales Open was a huge success attracting the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam and Philip Price to The Celtic Manor Resort.
This year's event will arguable boast the strongest field ever seen in Wales; especially as the tournament will cement final qualification places for this year's European Ryder Cup side.
As Tony Lewis, chairman of the Wales Ryder Cup bid commented: "It is the first time that Wales has hosted three such prestigious international tournaments and we are very proud to be able to stage the Summer of International Golf as part of our
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