Two-time US Open Champion Retief Goosen will make his debut in the £1.5 Celtic Manor Wales Open in May, further underlining the event’s growing stature among The European Tour’s prime summer events.
Goosen, the World Number Nine, has been one of the leading forces in world golf, winning the US Open in 2001 at Tulsa and then repeating that success in 2004 at Shinnecock Hills.
The South African is currently second on The European Tour Order of Merit having won his 14th title in The Commercialbank Qatar Masters in January.
He has already forged a partnership with The Celtic Manor Resort after appearing at its sister venue, Mission Hills in China, as the captain of the International team which defeated the combined Ryder Cup Countries in the inaugural Goodwill Trophy in November. The victorious captain is delighted to strengthen his ties by appearing in his first Celtic Manor Wales Open.
“I have watched the Celtic Manor Wales Open grow in strength year after year and I am really looking forward to making my first appearance in the tournament,” he said.
“From what I have seen in recent years, there will be a very good field but I hope to make a strong challenge and try to win another trophy on The European Tour.
“The Celtic Manor Resort has been chosen to host The Ryder Cup in 2010 and I have heard from Colin Montgomerie, my opposing captain at the Goodwill Trophy, just how great the facilities are there. I look forward to seeing them for myself.”
The Celtic Manor Wales Open tournament director Jon Phelps added; “We are delighted to have attracted a golfer of Retief Goosen’s stature to this year’s tournament.
“Every year, we strive to raise the profile and the standard of the Celtic Manor Wales Open and having a player of Retief’s proven talent and position within the world game will undoubtedly help us to achieve that.
“We know many more of the world’s top players are returning to fight it out for the trophy this year, and we believe we can attract more new players to keep adding to the tournament’s appeal for the golf fans who always make this such a well-supported event.”
Last year, England’s Phillip Archer came within a hole’s edge of claiming golf’s holy grail – a first-ever round of 59 on The European Tour – before Robert Karlsson produced a masterclass of low scoring to win by three strokes on 16 under par. It was the Swede’s first victory since the 2002 Omega European Masters and paved the way for another win at the Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship of Europe as well as a richly-deserved Ryder Cup debut in Europe’s record victory over the United States at The K Club.
The top tour players have one final chance to shoot for immortality with a sub-60 score on the par-69 Roman Road layout in 2007 before the Celtic Manor Wales Open moves next year to the new course re-designed for The Ryder Cup, a par-71 layout measuring some 7,459 yards.
The Celtic Manor Wales Open always aims to provide an experience that is much more than just a golf tournament. Ladies Day, complete with champagne hospitality, on the Saturday of the event has become one of the hottest dates on the sporting social calendar, relaxed master-classes on the range give spectators a unique insight into some of their favourite players, and a family tented village complete with KidzZone provides additional entertainment for all.
For ticket, hospitality and sponsorship information, call the Celtic Manor events team on 01633 410318 or visitwww.walesopen.com
