Press Release from Ladies Golf Union

CURTIS CUP CONFIRMED AS THREE-DAY
EVENT FROM 2008 AT ST ANDREWS

The Ladies’ Golf Union has confirmed that the 2008 Curtis Cup will change to a three-day format when Great Britain and Ireland meet the United States over the Old Course, St Andrews from May 30 to June 1.
“I realise that there was a brief statement to this effect in August,” said Pam Chugg, Chairman of the LGU. “However, at that time there were a number of key stakeholders in the match who had still to be contacted to ensure that they could accommodate the extra day. Now that they have come back to us, we are delighted to confirm that the match in St Andrews will be played over three days.”
The Curtis Cup was donated by the sisters Harriet and Margaret Curtis in 1927 and is inscribed: “to stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands.” However largely due to financial reasons, the first official match was not played until 1932 at Wentworth where the US beat GB&I 5½ - 3½. In those days the matches consisted of 3 foursomes and six singles and each was played over 36 holes.
In 1964, the format was changed to 18 hole matches with three foursomes and six singles on each of the two days. That format has now been expanded to be three foursomes and three fourballs on each of the first two days followed by eight singles on the final day. The match will now be decided over 20 points.
SKIPPER ENTHUSIASTIC
Mary McKenna, captain of GB&I for the 2008 match was enthusiastic in support of the changes and said: “I am looking forward to the new format for the Curtis Cup in 2008 as it will set a new challenge for both teams. At this level of ladies’ golf, fourball matches are rarely played and that series plus the expansion of the singles to eight matches, where all players will be given the opportunity to play on the last day, will surely make for a most exciting contest.”
Alan McGregor, general manager of St Andrews Links Trust, said, “We are very much looking forward to staging the Curtis Cup at the Home of Golf for the first time. The new format will make for a thrilling tournament and I am sure the Old Course will provide a suitable challenge. There is a long tradition of women’s golf here at St Andrews Links and staging such a prestigious tournament will reinforce that even further.”
After St Andrews, the next Curtis Cup match will be played at Essex County Club, Manchester-by- the-Sea, Massachusetts from June 11 to 13, 2010.
+Next year's Vagliano Trophy match between GB&I and the Continent of Europe at Fairmont St Andrews Bay on July 27-28 will retain its traditional two-day format.