Ian Woosnam has confirmed his appearance at this year’’s Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open, to be played from August 8-11.
It will be the third successive year that the former World Number One and Masters champion has taken part in the £1.1m tournament on the par 72 Wentwood Hills course, home of the Ryder Cup 2010.
Woosnam, European Ryder Cup Vice Captain for this September’’s Ryder Cup Matches at The De Vere Belfry, tied for third place in the inaugural Celtic Manor Resoer Wales Open in 2000 and has showed some excellent form over the past two years.
After finishing tied third in the 2001 Open Championship, he became the oldest winner - at 43 - of the 2001 Cisco World Match Play Championship at Wentworth Club, beating Padraig Harrington in an epic final.
By defeating the Irishman 2&1 in the 36 hole final, Woosnam set two more records, as the first British player to win the title three times and the first golfer to take the title in three different decades - 1987, 1990 and 2001.
Woosnam’’s long and illustrious professional career stretches back to 1976 and boasts 44 titles worldwide, including the 1991 Masters Tournament. He has also captured 29 European Tour titles, including the 1988 and 1997 Volvo PGA Championship.
Having twice headed the Volvo Order of Merit, in 1987 and 1990, he has also competed in eight Ryder Cups between 1983 and 1997.
"It is always great to get Ian’’s name on our start sheet and we’’re delighted to see him in such good form," said Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open Tournament Chairman Andy Stanton. "The local fans are obviously also thrilled to see him playing at home and he always pulls in big crowds."
Woosnam said: "I always enjoy playing in Wales in front of my home crowd and I am really looking forward to a great week at the Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open."
Woosnam He is just one of a number of Europe’’s leading players among the entries for this year’’s tournament. Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood, who have between them won 34 tournaments worldwide, and defending champion Paul McGinley, have also committed to play. Another Welsh golfer, David Park, is also making his third appearance in the event and acting as an ambassador for The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open over the next three months.
The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open is one of six exciting events in the Wales 2002 Summer Festival of Golf, which also includes The Wales Seniors Open (the joint most lucrative event on the European Seniors Tour), The Wales WPGA Championship of Europe (part of the Evian Ladies European Tour), the Amateur Championship, the Ladies British Open and the Men’’s Home Internationals.
