Six European nations ready to bid

to host the 2018 Ryder Cup

Ryder Cup Europe today confirms that six countries – France, Germany, Holland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden – have announced their intention to bid for the 2018 Ryder Cup.
All six countries have been advised that the deadline for the submission of bids has been set for April 30, 2010. It is intended that the 2018 Host Nation will be announced in 2011.
Richard Hills, the European Ryder Cup Director, said: “We are delighted with the response and congratulate the six countries involved. We have set the date by which bids must be received in order to provide each country with the optimum opportunity in the current economic climate to present their strongest possible bid.
"In setting the sporting and commercial criteria that will be used to assess bids, we have been quite clear that each country bid must be channelled through its National Golf Federation and that no bids from individual venues will be considered.
“We look forward to working with all six countries over the coming months as they develop their bids and we will shortly be launching an Official Candidate Logo to enable bids to be effectively promoted within each nation. Assuming that all necessary criteria are met, The 2018 Ryder Cup will be played in mainland Europe.”
The 2018 Ryder Cup will be the 42nd edition of the biennial encounter – first played in 1927 – between Europe and the United States. Players from Continental Europe first became eligible for the match in 1979 since when eight matches have been played in the United States, five in England and one each in Ireland and Spain.
The 2010 Ryder Cup will be played at The Celtic Manor Resort, City of Newport, Wales, from October 1-3 next year.
The 2014 matches will be played at Gleneagles Hotel's PGA Centenary course at the Perthshire venue.