Dates Set for 2014 Ryder Cup


The 2014 Ryder Cup at The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland, will be held Friday, September 26 through Sunday the 28th. Those dates will mark the second time in history that the biennial team event will be take place in Scotland.

The date for the 40th Ryder Cup match between Europe and the United States was announced at Gleneagles on Tuesday. In attendance was Scotland's First Minister, the Rt. Hon Alex Salmond MSP, European Ryder Cup Director Richard Hills, Peter Lederer, Chairman of Gleneagles Hotel, and Patrick Elsmie, Managing Director of The Gleneagles Hotel.

Europe is the current holder of the Ryder Cup, having beaten the Americans in October 2010 by a 14½ to 13½ margin at The Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales. The United States will host the 39th Ryder Cup on September 28-30, 2012, at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club near Chicago.

The previous Ryder Cup in Scotland was held in 1973 at Muirfield near Edinburgh. That match was played six years before golfers from the continent of Europe began playing in the event. Since that Ryder Cup in 1979, Europe has taken an 8-7-1 advantage over their counterparts.

"As the home of golf, Scotland is well placed to host the best Ryder Cup in the competition's history when it arrives at Gleneagles in 2014," Salmond said.

"The arrangements for this spectacular event are well underway, and I am delighted to announce today that the 2014 event will be held over the weekend of Sept. 26-28, allowing the tens of thousands of spectators expected to attend to begin making their travel plans in earnest.

"I am also delighted to have seen for myself today the many exciting changes that are being made to improve this already outstanding golf course. As well as the hi-tech efforts to reduce water on the greens, the Ryder Cup teams can expect many of the changes - proposed by Jack Nicklaus - to provide a sterner test as they seek glory during the competition.

"During the week of the Ryder Cup itself, the Scottish economy is expected to benefit by up to 100 million (pounds), as visitors flock from across the globe to experience superb golf on one of the best courses in the world.

"But the benefits of the tournament will long outlive that special week and be felt for many years to come. As well as the lasting economic benefit, having the world's premier golf team event on our doorstep will allow thousands of young Scottish golfers (a) chance to see the very best the sport has to offer up close, giving them an experience they will never forget and inspiring them to achieve great things in the future."

"Since Scotland was awarded the staging of the Ryder Cup 10 years ago, we have all been looking forward to visiting Gleneagles in 2014 and we are pleased to announce the dates for the 40th biennial contest today here at Gleneagles itself," said Hills.

"Gleneagles have worked closely with Jack Nicklaus Golf Design to deliver a great course and I am certain the Gleneagles team, and Scotland, will deliver an outstanding Ryder Cup in three years' time."

"We are excited that the dates have now been confirmed for the Ryder Cup and are looking forward to the prospect of welcoming the world's greatest golfers to Gleneagles in 2014," added Elsmie.

"We were delighted to reopen the Dormy Clubhouse this spring, following a 3 million (pound) refurbishment, and to announce the new appointment of Stuart McEwen as director of golf. This winter we are continuing work on the PGA Centenary Course in conjunction with Jack Nicklaus, with the intention of having the course alterations completed by May 2012."

The above story is courtesy of the PGA of America. For more information, visit www.pga.com.