Swede dreams of Ryder Cup honor

2007-08-23

Share this article:  Digg |  StumbleUpon |  del.icio.us |  Reddit

By Phil CaseySpecial to PA SportsTicker

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Ticker) - In its illustrious 80-year history,the Ryder Cup has been staged just once in continental Europe.

That could be about to change.

"About" in this case means in 11 years. But the odds areshortening all the time on Sweden following Spain by staging thebiennial contest in 2018.

That is the first date available after Celtic Manor in Wales andGleneagles in Scotland were confirmed as hosts in 2010 and 2014respectively.

That gives the new course at Bro Hof, outside of Stockholm,plenty of time to prepare.

The brainchild of Swedish multi-millionaire Bjorn Oras, Bro Hofhas been built with tournament golf in mind and will host theScandinavian Masters in 2009.

Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed the course on the shores ofpicturesque Lake Malaren. Among its features are a castle forthe clubhouse, 36 holes with greens built to meet USGAspecifications, state-of-the-art drainage and a sub-air systemlike the one used at Augusta National.

More importantly, given the expansion of the Ryder Cup, it has anatural amphitheater around the 17th and 18th holes - known as'Victory Valley' - that can accommodate up to 75,000 spectators.

The reviews so far have been glowing.

"Finally, a proper golf course in Sweden. Wow!" said EuropeanTour professional Henrik Nystrom.

"I promise to swallow my Ping driver if this course is notranked as the best in Sweden within three years," wrote NiclasLuthman in Golf Digest last year.

All very well and good, but realistically what are the chancesof Sweden getting the nod ahead of its rivals?

If Valderrama (1997) and Celtic Manor (2010) are anything to goby, money talks, and Oras appears to be able to shout just asloud as Jaime Patino and Terry Matthews, who built a new roadand virtually an entirely new golf course respectively to securethe Ryder Cup.

"I think it's very possible," Jesper Parnevik, who played on theEuropean side in 1997, 1999 and 2002, told PA SportsTicker.

"The Swedes would love to have the Ryder Cup here. We've had theSolheim Cup here a few times and a lot of Swedish involvementin the Ryder Cup recently. It was not until 1993 that we had ourfirst player - Joakim Haeggman - and since then we've had twoor three players on every team. It would be a natural step toget the Ryder Cup over here."

Parnevik sees Bro Hof being built with one thing in mind,playing host to a major event.

"There is a big project in Stockholm right now (Bro Hof) thatwould definitely be able to swallow an event like that. It'spretty amazing actually," he said. "They are building 36 holesand spending a ton of cash. They are pretty much building it fortournaments. I'm sure that's his goal one day to host a bigevent there."

The decision on a host venue for 2018 will not be taken until2010, but European Tour chief executive George O'Grady tookadvantage of being in Stockholm for last week's ScandinavianMasters to visit Bro Hof.

"Myself and Richard Hills, our Ryder Cup director, have beenimpressed by all we have seen during the week and visited aninspiring course which will be truly stunning as a tournamentvenue," O'Grady told PA SportsTicker. "As a nation, Sweden willbe given the strongest consideration when it comes to discussionon future home venues for the Ryder Cup."