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Wednesday, 03 October 2012
Patrick Elsmie, Chief Executive Gleneagles Hotel, Paul Lawrie, Richard Hills, Ryder Cup Director and Paul Bush, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland ()
Paul Lawrie today chaperoned The Ryder Cup to The Gleneagles Hotel to continue Team Europe’s celebrations and begin the countdown to the 2014 event.
Lawrie, who played a critical role in helping the European team to retain The Ryder Cup by winning his singles match on the final day by 5 and 3 against Brandt Snedeker, travelled with the trophy from St. Andrews to Gleneagles.
Lawrie handed the trophy over to Gleneagles Chief Executive Patrick Elsmie to mark the countdown to the 2014 event, when the triumphant European team will defend its title on home soil.
Paul Lawrie said: “It is a privilege to bring The Ryder Cup back to Scotland. This is the home of golf and it somehow feels right to be taking the trophy, and all it represents, to Gleneagles. I have never experienced anything like that final day in Medinah, but being involved has spurred me on to hopefully play a part in Team Europe at Gleneagles 2014. It will be a really special event and I hope I can do enough to be in contention.”
Patrick Elsmie, Managing Director of Gleneagles, said: “The Medinah Country Club set an incredibly high bar in hosting a truly memorable Ryder Cup, but the scenes in Chicago also demonstrated just why we were so keen to host this amazing sporting event. Seeing the trophy here at Gleneagles today brings home the fact that it’s Scotland’s turn next, and that the countdown to the 2014 Matches has begun. It is going to be a wonderful time for Scotland, and we at Gleneagles will ensure the tradition, class and theatre of The Ryder Cup are celebrated in style.”
The 2014 Ryder Cup is likely to be one of the largest sports events ever seen in Scotland. It is anticipated that the event will produce a £100 million boost to the Scottish economy, attracting around 250,000 spectators and a global television audience of more than half a billion households.
Ryder Cup Director Richard Hills said: “Medinah was epic and has given Scotland a real taste of what to expect in two years’ time. Bringing the trophy back to the Home of Golf is the perfect way to continue Team Europe’s celebrations.”
