Waiting on Ryder dream

Normal Lewis, thisissouthwales.co.uk, 3 November 2000

Terry Matthews and his loyal coherts will have fingers crossed for another three months before the millionaire Gwent entrepreneur knows if his dream of a momentous Welsh sporting first is to come true.

Matthews, the brains behind the development of Newport's Celtic Manor as the UK's biggest golf-leisure complex, was up bright and early today to make sure that his imaginative bid to stage the Ryder Cup match of 2009 was delivered on time.

Matthews, who made his fortune in Canada, has poured millions into the Celtic Manor project with one aim in mind - a Ryder Cup first for Wales.

But he will start from a long way back as a five-course bid from Scotland to host the event for only the second time has already won much support.

Pitched against Celtic Manor are the Open Championship venues of St Andrews, Turnbury and Carnoustie and the celebrated inland venues of Gleneagles and Loch Lomond.

Also on the table were bids from Sweden and England's The Belfry, where the 2001 match will be played in December.

Wales Tourist Board chairman Tony Lewis has described a Ryder Cup match as an even greater boost to Wales than the 1999 Rugby World Cup.