THE CELTIC Manor resort, already boosted by news that the Wentwood Lakes course is nearing completion, have announced that six-times major winner Nick Faldo will be entering this year's Wales Open.

Faldo, Europe's greatest golfer with over 42 titles to his credit, will return to the Celtic Manor Wales Open (June 1-4) when the tournament returns to the resort's Roman Road course for the leading European Tour event.

Faldo made his Wales Open debut last year, following his agreement with the resort to host his Faldo Series and Team Faldo youth academy schemes, although he missed the cut by two strokes.

The final of The Faldo Series, which attracts the cream of up and coming golf talent in the UK, will also be staged at the Celtic Manor Resort until at least 2007.

In a Ryder Cup year, Faldo will be especially keen to make a strong impression at the venue for the 2010 event and eager to give Wales' golf fans a taste of the form that won him six Major Championships in the 1980s and 1990s.

Faldo explained: "I'm looking forward to returning to the Celtic Manor Wales Open.

"I spend a good deal of time down at the Celtic Manor Resort with Team Faldo and a number of Faldo Series events being hosted there.

"I will be aiming to perform as well on the Roman Road course as I know some of my junior team members have been doing in the past few months".

Tournament director John Phelps, who succeeded Andy Stanton last year, added: "We were delighted when Nick chose the Celtic Manor Resort as the host venue for his Team Faldo and Faldo Series initiatives.

"It's a real boost for the Celtic Manor Wales Open to be able to welcome Nick back.

"As anyone who was at the tournament last year will know, the galleries that followed Nick around the course were as big as any we've had at the tournament and that's a testament to his achievements throughout a remarkable career".

Early bird tickets and hospitality for next year's Celtic Manor Wales Open are already available at special prices until the end of January.