Ian Woosnam will tee-up alongside no fewer than eight winners of European Tour events this year when the inaugural Wales Open unfolds at The Celtic Manor Resort on June 8-11.
Woosnam has won 28 European Tour events and in all 43 titles worldwide, and he will be seeking a third success in his native Wales where he won the 1983 British Masters and the 1990 Epson Grand Prix.
Jim Mackenzie, The Celtic Manor Resort’’s Director of Golf and Courses Management, said: “ We’’re absolutely delighted that Ian is taking part. He’’s made an immense contribution to Welsh golf, and it will be great to have him here for the biggest tournament ever held in Wales.”
He will face stiff competition from 1999 Ryder Cup captain Mark James, 2001 Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance, 1985 Open champion Sandy Lyle and a strong Welsh contingent led by Phil Price, ranked third in Europe after finishing runner up in the Benson & Hedges International Open.
Moreover Gary Orr (Algarve Portuguese Open winner), Anthony Wall (Alfred Dunhill Championship), Brian Davis (Peugeot Open de Espana), Jamie Spence (Moroccan Open), Rolf Muntz (Qatar Masters), Wei Tze Yeh (Benson & Hedges Malaysian Open), Lucas Parsons (Greg Norman Holden International) and Roger Chapman (Brazil Open), all winners on the 2000 European Tour International Schedule, have confirmed their entries.
Scotland’’s Andrew Coltart, who tied third behind Price at The DeVere Belfry, is also confirmed - and other top names are expected to join the host of stars competing for a £750,000 prize fund on the challenging 7,403 yards, par 72, Wentwood Hills course at the Celtic Manor.
James has the advantage of knowing the venue, having played an exhibition match with Woosnam at the opening of Wentwood Hills last year. “It’’s probably the best new course I’’ve ever seen,” he said after confirming his entry for The Wales Open. “I love the way it winds round the bottom of the Usk valley and then gradually works its way back up to the 18th. It’’s a long, tough test and a genuine candidate for the 2009 Ryder Cup.
“I was fortunate to be the first winner of the Welsh Golf Classic at Wenvoe Castle back in 1979, so it’’s great to see Wales back on the European Tour International Schedule.”
Torrance, a veteran of eight Ryder Cups and with 21 European Tour victories under his belt, added: “I’’m looking forward to the fresh challenge of The Wales Open. I’’ve heard nothing but glowing praise for Wentwood Hills, and I know a tremendous job has been done to make this one of the best events on the Tour.”
Apart from Woosnam and Price, the leading Welsh golfers confirmed to date are: David Park (1999 Compaq European Grand Prix winner), Bradley Dredge (Tour best of 7th in Madeira Island Open in March this year), Paul Affleck (1996 Madeira Island Open runner up), Mark Mouland (winner of two previous Tour events) and Richard Dinsdale (current Welsh PGA champion).
Other well known names on the entry list include Italy’’s Costantino Rocca (winner of the 1996 Volvo PGA Championship), Zimbabwe’’s Tony Johnstone (1992 Volvo PGA winner and 1998 Alfred Dunhill SA PGA champion) and Northern Ireland’’s Ronan Rafferty (Ryder Cup player and winner of seven Tour titles including the 1989 Volvo Masters).
“It’’s already a very strong field - and the names are still coming in,” said Tournament Chairman Andy Stanton. “Golf enthusiasts haven’’t had the opportunity to see a Tour event in Wales for nearly a decade. Now we can certainly guarantee some top class golf played out on a challenging and exciting course. Wentwood Hills is great for spectators, and the resort facilities and tented village will provide everything people need for a memorable day out.”
Edward Kitson, the European Tour’’s Director of Tournament Services, praised The Celtic Manor’’s owner, Welsh telecommunications entrepreneur Terry Matthews, for the major investment he had made in golf.
“We welcome, and salute Terry Matthews on, all that has been achieved by The Celtic Manor in such a short space of time,” he said. “We now look forward to The Wales Open taking place on the exciting Wentwood Hills course.”
