Two firsts will herald The 2008 Celtic Manor Wales Open this week; the first appearance in the event of reigning Open Champion Padraig Harrington, and the first competitive action seen on The Twenty Ten Course, the venue for The 2010 Ryder Cup.
The debut of Irishman Harrington, who ended an eight year wait for a European winner of a Major title when he defeated Spain’s Sergio Garcia in a play-off for The Open at Carnoustie last July, is sure to generate great excitement.
The Dubliner’s stunning triumph in Scotland confirmed his status as one of the world’s leading players following 11 previous victories on The European Tour International Schedule. “I’m really looking forward to making my debut in The Celtic Manor Wales Open, having watched the tournament go from strength to strength in recent years,” he said.
“It also gives me an opportunity to get an early look at the course which will stage the next Ryder Cup in Europe and I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. I hear that it should provide a great challenge which will hopefully suit my game and provide good preparation for the tough conditions we can expect at the US Open a couple of weeks later.
“Last year was quite a year for me with everything that happened at Carnoustie and I’ve enjoyed a fantastic reception all over the world since winning The Open Championship. I’m sure the fans in Wales will give me a special Celtic welcome and I hope to give them something to cheer about in return.”
One of the players standing in his way will be home favourite Bradley Dredge, who hopes to go one better than last year when he was squeezed into joint second place by a single stroke by South Africa’s Richard Sterne.
Currently one of Wales’s leading golfers with two European Tour wins and a World Cup triumph alongside Stephen Dodd under his belt, Dredge was also narrowly beaten by Harrington in a play-off for The Irish Open last May and would dearly love to turn the tables in his own home Open.
“The Celtic Manor Wales Open is one of the highlights of my year,” he said. “It’s always great fun to play in with the way we are looked after here and all the support that we home players receive from the fans.
“It was great to be in such strong contention last year and an absolute thrill to be leading the tournament during the final round. Hopefully, I can finish the job this year.”
Other top players in action in the Principality include Ryder Cup men Thomas Björn, Darren Clarke, Niclas Fasth, David Howell, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Robert Karlsson, Paul Lawrie, Thomas Levet, Paul McGinley, Colin Montgomerie and Phillip Price.
Karlsson, Lawrie, McGinley and Jiménez have all, of course, tasted success in The Celtic Manor Wales Open in the past and all will return with increased fervour, none more so than Jiménez, who will travel to Wales on a spectacular high after triumphing in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club last week.
Now in its ninth year and with an increased prize fund of £1.8 million, The Celtic Manor Wales Open is one of the top ten events on The European Tour International Schedule and continues to enjoy a prime early summer date.
Having been staged on the Roman Road course for the past three years, this year’s tournament will move to the newly opened Twenty Ten Course. Naturally, the course has been built with the match play drama of The Ryder Cup in mind, but it will provide an equally exciting arena for the traditional 72 hole stroke play of The Celtic Manor Wales Open.
