TURKEY COULD BE CONTENDER FOR 2022 RYDER CUP

• FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
• By Alex Miceli
• Follow Me: Twitter @AlexMiceli

Is there a Ryder Cup in Turkey’s future?
The Turks hope so and are discussing such a bid internally before they approach the European Tour with a proposal.
With the first Ryder Cup date available in 2022, there is time, but not as much as you would think. After Gleneagles next year, the European Tour will likely move quickly to fill the 2022 date. Paris will host the 2018 Ryder Cup.
“We have folks in our company working on this, but I believe this should go in line with the (Turkish Golf) Federation,” said Temel Koti, president and CEO of Turkish Airlines. “We will seriously consider a Ryder Cup bid.”
Turkey hosted the Euro Basket 2001, the 2010 FIBA World Championships and tried to win the bid for the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics, coming just short of Tokyo’s bid earlier this year for 2020.
It’s clear that if a bid were forthcoming that Istanbul would be the only suitable host city.
With only more than a handful of courses in the city that straddles the Bosphorus Strait, a new course would need to be built. But with a population of 13.9 million and the desire to grow the sport in Turkey, another golf course would likely be very welcome.
(The majority of Turkey's courses are on the Antalaya strip in the south of the country close to the Mediterranean).
Andrew Chandler from International Sports Management, who was one of the men instrumental in bringing the European Tour to Turkey, believes there is enough interest in Istanbul and financial backing to get a course built for 2022.
George O’Grady, the Chief Executive of the European Tour, is not as positive as Chandler, but is willing to listen.
“Well, it's very early days to even think about It,” O’Grady said of a potential bid from Turkey. “I think speaking personally, I'm staggered by the success of this tournament and the enthusiasm and the welcome and the can-do attitude of everybody here in Turkey. I think we rule nothing out.”
Ian Poulter agrees that Turkey would be a great venue for a Ryder Cup.
“The country itself I think is a good place,” Poulter said after playing in his second event in two years in Turkey. “I mean, they do it well; they've done it well this week.”

EDITOR: What about Donald Trump and his "International Links" at Balmedie, 12 miles north of Aberdeen? I thought he wanted the Open championship or at least a Ryder Cup match within the next decade?
Trouble is that no European Tour events have been played so far at Trump International which was not even a contender when next year's Scottish Open was given to Royal Aberdeen GC to host at Balgownie.
Finger out, Donald! Start putting Trump International on the professional golf map by hosting some big tournaments.