Colin Montgomerie today launched the £1.5million Celtic Manor Wales Open 2005 which promises to be the most high profile tournament yet staged at The Celtic Manor Resort. For the first time, the event will be played on the resort’’s Roman Road course, while the development of the new Ryder Cup course continues apace.
Thomas Björn, Nick Faldo and Miguel Angel Jiménez will all make their Celtic Manor Wales Open debuts this year, whilst Montgomerie returns for the third time, and will hope to build on a creditable 15th place in last year’’s tournament.
Alongside Björn, Faldo, Jiménez and Montgomerie, no fewer than 17 former European Ryder Cup players have so far confirmed that they will grace the Roman Road course from June 2-5, 2005. Hero of The 2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry and 2001 Celtic Manor Wales Open winner Paul McGinley will be joined by, among others, Gordon Brand Jr, Paul Broadhurst, Andrew Coltart, Niclas Fasth, Pierre Fulke, Ignacio Garrido, Joakim Haeggman, Barry Lane, Sandy Lyle, Jarmo Sandelin and Costantino Rocca.
Other stars of The European Tour who are confirmed their participation for this year’’s event include last year’’s champion Simon Khan, who will be remembered with affection by the galleries for shooting an unprecedented 61 in the second round of the 2004 event. Wales will be well represented by Stephen Dodd, Jamie Donaldson, Bradley Dredge and David Park who will each be out to earn victory in front of their home crowds at The Celtic Manor Resort. New Zealand’’s Michael Campbell will also make his third appearance at the tournament.
Last year’’s Celtic Manor Wales Open was attended by a record 46,314 spectators over the four days of action and this year the event will offer the crowds a great deal more than just a golf tournament. On the Friday afternoon, Nick Faldo will host a golf clinic on the driving range to give budding golfers the benefit of his experience. On Saturday, the PGA Junior Golf Championship will be held on the Wentwood Hills course with the best of the country’’s young talent taking on the course which has hosted previous years’’ Wales Open tournaments. Previously held in October, this event has now become an integral part of The Celtic Manor Wales Open tournament week.
Monday sees the eagerly anticipated final of the World Trick Shot Championship as an array of professional golf trick shot specialists perform their incredible repertoire of skills in an attempt to lay claim to the £20,000 winner’’s cheque. Taster demonstrations will also be held every day during The Celtic Manor Wales Open in order to whet the appetite for Monday’’s shoot out.
On the Tuesday and Wednesday that follow the tournament, The Celtic Manor Resort will also play host to the International Pairs World Final which will see pairs from all over the world congregating on the Wentwood Hills course to compete in the final of the world’’s biggest competition for club golfers.
Away from the golf, entertainment abounds for all of the family. The family village will offer children’’s entertainment such as bouncy castles, face painting, hair braiding and will also feature a magic show, soft play area and a balloon zoo. There will be a big screen relaying the action as it takes place out on the course and the 19th Hole tented village will consist of both beer and champagne bars. Spectators will also be treated to live jazz after play on each day of the tournament. For shopaholics there will also be a golf superstore offering savings across a wide range of equipment and apparel.
This year will also see the second year of The Celtic Manor Wales Open Ladies Day with celebrities and socialites including Kirsty Gallacher, Tamara Beckwith, Lisa Butcher, Mica Paris and Jason Donovan lined up to enjoy the party in the Laurent-Perrier Champagne Ice Bar at the hottest event on the social calendar.
Jon Phelps, Director of The Celtic Manor Wales Open, said: "This year’’s Celtic Manor Wales Open is going to be the most exciting event we’’ve ever hosted and that applies both on and off of the course. We’’ve attracted some truly great names from the world of golf and it’’s a pleasure to welcome back the likes of Colin Montgomerie and to give a warm greeting to players of the stature of, Thomas Björn, Nick Faldo and Miguel Angel Jiménez who will all make their debuts this year.
“Away from the tournament, we really have a lot going on. With the PGA Junior Championship, the World Trick Shot final and the International Pairs final all taking place around the event, it’’s a real celebration of the game of golf.
“Thanks to our efforts to make The Celtic Manor Wales Open much more than simply a golfing event, we’’re also looking forward to hosting our second star-studded Ladies Day on the Saturday of the tournament and, with the family village and a little live jazz at the end of play, we think we’’ve put together an entertainment package that is unrivalled at any sporting event in Britain.”
