Where: The Twenty Ten Course, Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, Wales
When: Oct. 1–3, 2010
U.S. Team Captain: Corey Pavin
European Team Captain: Colin Montgomerie
Most recent Ryder Cup: 2008 — U.S. 161⁄ 2, Europe 11 1⁄ 2
All-time record: U.S. 25, Great Britain-Europe 10, plus 2 ties The 38th Ryder Cup
Sir Terry Matthews, considered Wales’ most successful businessman, is the owner of Celtic Manor Resort.
1957 at Lindrick, Yorkshire inflicted on the U.S. their only defeat in the 52 years from 1933 to 1985. Where Rees led, his countrymen followed: Brian Huggett, who played on six teams and captained in 1977; Philip Price, who as an unheralded debutant stunned Phil Mickelson in the 2002 singles; and, of course, Ian Woosnam, who played on eight consecutive European teams before skippering his continent to their record-equaling victory in Dublin in 2006.
When Celtic Manor was announced as host venue, many tipped Woosnam as the obvious captain. As it turned out, the services of the former Masters champion were required a little earlier – Woosnam was the European Ryder Cup Team Captain in 2006 – so they turned to another Ryder Cup standout. Colin Montgomerie has earned widespread fame as Europe’s talisman, but the Scot is nowhere more appreciated than in the land of the daffodil. Since Celtic Manor first came to the attention of the golfing world at large, Monty has held close connections with the
impressive complex sitting in the beautiful Usk Valley, playing in every Wales Open from its inception in 2000. It is easy to deduce the Scot feels at home.
“I love this place and I’m sure our
American guests will too,” says the man
entrusted to win back Samuel Ryder’s
trophy. “The Twenty Ten course is the first
layout specifically designed and built for
the Ryder Cup and will be a spectacular
venue, both for the galleries and the
players, who will have a
great match play test as
well as outrageously good
on-site facilities.
“And I guarantee the
atmosphere will be electric.
The Welsh crowds are
known for their passion, as
anyone who has been to the
Millennium Stadium in the
nearby capital city of
Cardiff will confirm. The
country has wanted this for
a long time. It’s a great
story as their dream and Sir
Terry’s vision is finally being realized.”
Sir Terry is Sir Terry Matthews, the Celtic Manor owner. In 1980, the technology tycoon who is based in Canada, purchased the maternity home where he was born and promised himself he would transform that shell of a building with its overgrown grounds into something special. Three decades on, the sporting world is about to discover exactly how special. ●
James Corrigan is the golf writer for The Independent and Independent on Sunday in London.
He’s based in Cardiff, Wales.
The Twenty Ten Course received the ultimate compliment in June when Graeme McDowell credited his U.S.
Open victory at Pebble Beach to his win in the Wales Open (conducted at the Twenty Ten Course) two weeks before.
The Ulsterman prevailed on a dramatic
final day of America’s “national
championship” just as he had in the Usk
Valley in his last tournament before the
major. “I’d won four times on the
European Tour already, but the Wales
Open felt different to the rest,” says
McDowell, the first European U.S. Open
winner in 40 years. “I felt like I was ready
to win a major after Celtic Manor. There’s
no doubt the course was a proper test for
my game and
my nerve. I’m telling you, it
will be a great venue.”
Like the majority of
professionals who have
played in the three Wales
Opens contested on the
layout that has been
designed and built
specifically for the Ryder
Cup, McDowell has been
impressed not only by the variety it offers
but also by the vantage points that the
50,000 spectators shall enjoy.
“When I was there, it was impossible
not to walk around imagining what the
atmosphere will be like with all
those people lining the
fairways and on the banks,”
says McDowell, who made
his Ryder Cup debut in
2008 and is already a
certainty for a second
appearance. “It will crank
up the tension, that‘s for
sure.
“From one spot, you are
supposed to be able to see 14 holes at
once so it will be amazing for the crowds.
And the bank behind the 18th green will
lend itself to a suitably dramatic finale.
I can’t wait.”
Graeme McDowell has high praise for the Twenty Ten Course
160 THE OFFICIAL PROGRAM OF THE 2010 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP