Gleneagles Ryder Cup victory dismissed

Rumours golf event will be in Scotland 'pure speculation'

thisissouthwales.co.uk, 7 November 2000

Ryder Cup chiefs have denied reports that Scotland's Gleneagles course will host the 2009 tournament.

Reports suggested the famous Scottish centre had beaten off competition from Slaley Hall in Northumberland and Celtic Manor in Wales to win the right to stage the bi-annual America v Europe showdown.

But officials behind the Scottish bid insisted they had not heard from competition chiefs and dismissed the reports as "pure speculation".

Bosses at Hastings International, which is promoting the bid, said: "No-one from the PGA has been in contact with anyone from Scotland's Ryder Cup bid.

"We are still operating on the understanding that a decision on the country will be made at the end of January and the venue will be announced at the Ryder Cup at The Belfry in September 2001."

Other Scottish courses putting their names in the hat for the Cup include St Andrews, Loch Lomond, Carnoustie and Muirfield.

Officials launched the £30 million bid to host golf's biggest event at the end of October.

It is thought the Cup could generate £67 million for the Scottish economy.