St Andrews withdraws as Ryder venue

The Courier, 24 February 2001

There was shock news in St Andrews yesterday with the announcement that the golf town has withdrawn its submission to host the 2009 Ryder Cup on the world-famous Old Course.

The links course was one of five venues involved in Scotland’s campaign to secure the Ryder Cup, widely regarded as the world’s third major sporting event behind the Olympics and the football World Cup.

But. Alan McGregor, general manager of St Andrews Links Trust, which administers the courses, yesterday revealed it no longer wishes to be considered as a potential venue for the biennial match between the top golfers from Europe and the US.

Mr McGregor said, “We have been committed to ensuring that the 2009 Ryder Cup comes to Scotland and we have given our full support to the Scottish bid.

“However, it has become clear that Scotland’s bid would be strengthened by a more concentrated focus on fewer venues. Consequently, the St Andrews Links Management Committee has taken the decision not to pursue our bid.

“The important consideration is that the Ryder Cup comes to Scotland in 2009 as the economic benefits will be felt in Fife and elsewhere, not just at the successful venue.”

The Old Course was considered as a major contender to host the tournament and the trustees first contacted the Professional Golfers Association in March 1998 to register its interest - the first venue to do so.

The trust assisted in the visit of Scottish sports minister Rhona Brankin to St Andrews during the Alfred Dunhill Cup. She also attended the last Ryder Cup in Boston and highlighted Scotland’s interest in staging the event.

Scotland has not hosted the Ryder Cup since 1973 and its bid for the 2009 event was recently given a £750,000 boost by the Scottish Executive and First Minister Henry McLeish - he has his home in St Andrews - to ensure the Executive maintains a high profile at three prestige tournaments in Scotland this summer.

The Executive has also held meetings with the Scottish Tourist Board, Scottish Enterprise and Sportscotland to discuss the campaign and have made it clear a successful bid will require business backing.

Tourism chiefs have stressed that Scotland must capitalise on its major golf tournaments, with the game worth around £100 million a year to the economy.

It is estimated that the Ryder Cup would pump a minimum of £67 million into the Scottish economy, with the Ryder Cup in 2005 in Ireland estimated to realise approximately £100 million of additional tourist income.

The PGA will now consider four of Scotland’s other courses as possible venues - Carnoustie, Gleneagles, Loch Lomond and Turnberry - which will face opposition from venues in England and Wales in the race to host the Ryder Cup.