Ryder Cup places up for grabs at Gleneagles

Aug 5 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

RYDER Cup stars Paul McGinley and Lee Westwood yesterday confirmed they will play in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles next month.

This year’s tournament is the final counting event for players to qualify for the Ryder Cup in September and it’s expected to lure one of the strongest ever to the Big County venue.

It’s also the event at which team captain Nick Faldo will confirm his own Wild Card selections.

Both players have had top ten finishes in many European Tour events already this year and will be looking to building on this at the 2008 Johnnie Walker Championship.

Westwood, in particular, has hit a fantastic run of form lately, pushing Vijay Singh close in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at the weekend in Ohio.

Currently placed fifth in the European Tour Order of Merit and at 18 in the world, Westwood had an extremely successful US Open, finishing in 3rd place, narrowly missing out on the exciting play off with Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate.

Graeme Marchbank, championship director, said: ‘It is always a pleasure to welcome players such as Paul McGinley and Lee Westwood back to Gleneagles. We know that for some, Ryder Cup qualification will be a special focus and for the Scottish golfing public the Johnnie Walker Championship will become an exciting climax to what is proving to be a fascinating race to be in the team.’

Locally-based Ryder Cup hopeful Colin Montgomerie is chairman of the Johnnie Walker Championship.

Yesterday he said: “This year’s event will break new ground when it becomes the first Ryder Cup venue in history at which a Ryder Cup team is finalised.

“‘We always knew that the special nature of this year’s event would make it even more attractive for the players.

“We’re delighted that these well-known names have confirmed.

“They will certainly help to give the spectators some exciting golf to watch as they continue their own quest for selection.”

The prize fund for the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles is £1.4m and it will be played over The PGA Centenary Course from August 28-31.

Tickets, from the gate each day, are priced at £19 per adult per day, £16 per concession per day, £38 per adult season, £28 per concession season. Free parking.