Stephen Dodd will return home to a hero’s welcome this week when the Welshman seeks his third title of the 2005 season in The Celtic Manor Wales Open, played for the first time on the Roman Road course.
Dodd has been inspired over the past six months and can certainly stake a claim as Europe’s most improved golfer, having won the Volvo China Open last November and the Nissan Irish Open a fortnight ago.
After winning the Amateur Championship in 1989 and playing a part in Great Britain and Ireland’s spectacular Walker Cup victory the same year, Dodd turned professional in 1990. It took four years to claim his European Tour card and over the subsequent ten seasons he registered only 12 top ten finishes.
At the end of the 2004 campaign he was 229th in the Official World Golf Ranking but in six months he has soared to 56th. In addition to his two victories, he also narrowly missed out in the Dubai Desert Classic, only beaten by an Ernie Els eagle on the final hole as he finished joint second. Other top tens include sixth in Portugal and joint fifth in Spain prior to his play-off victory at Carton House Golf Club.
This week he is back on home soil, leading the Welsh challenge over the Roman Road course in the sixth Celtic Manor Wales Open after five years on the Wentwood Hills course.
Joining Dodd will be The 2006 Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam, who will lead Europe’s quest for a third successive Ryder Cup victory next year, following in the illustrious footsteps of Brian Huggett, the 1977 Captain, and the legendary Dai Rees, who was Captain on five occasions.
Jamie Donaldson, Bradley Dredge, Garry Houston, Stuart Manley and David Park along with qualifier Matthew Prior complete the Welsh contingent.
England’s Nick Faldo, who will take over the reins from Woosnam for The 2008 Ryder Cup, will be making his debut in the event, while a third Major Champion in the field, Scotland’s Paul Lawrie, winner of The 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie, will be looking for his second victory at Celtic Manor following his previous success in 2002.
Thomas Björn, winner of The Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters, and Miguel Angel Jiménez, will be also be making their debuts whilst Colin Montgomerie returns for the third time.
Faldo, Lawrie, Montgomerie and Woosnam are among no fewer than 18 European Ryder Cup players in action. Hero of The 2002 Ryder Cup at The De Vere 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, David Howell, Barry Lane, Sandy Lyle, Jarmo Sandelin, Costantino Rocca and Philip Walton.
England’s Simon Khan will be defending the title following his stunning victory 12 months ago. In the second round of a compelling championship, Khan posted a superb course record 61 - a fitting score to celebrate the 61st birthday of Celtic Manor Chairman Sir Terry Matthews - before claiming his coveted first European Tour title after a play-off with Ryder Cup player Paul Casey.
It will be the first time the Roman Road course has been used for the tournament as the rebuilding of the Wentwood Hills course, which started last Autumn, continues ahead of The 2010 Ryder Cup. Holes one to four and the 14th and 18th are being redesigned with work due to be completed in time for The Junior Ryder Cup in 2006.
As a result the Robert Trent Jones Snr designed Roman Road course will host the event for the next two years. The Roman Road is some 600 yards shorter than its younger brother and will play to a par 69, presenting a tough challenge for the 156 players in the field. Penal rough and demanding greens will be its main defence.
