Report: Ryder Cup heading to Spain after insider reveals "messy" process

The 2031 Ryder Cup could be heading to Spain, which will come as a bitter blow for three courses in England hoping to stage the biennial showdown.

Ben Smith's picture
Sun, 15 Jan 2023
Report: Ryder Cup heading to Spain after insider reveals "messy" process

The Ryder Cup could be heading to Spain in 2031. 

According to a report by James Corrigan of The Daily Telegraph, it has emerged that PGA Catalunya is the frontrunner to host the biennial event. 

The news will come as a bitter blow to three courses based in England. 

Related: Tiger Woods to play 2023 Ryder Cup? There are two conditions

Luton Hoo, in Befordshire, Bolton's Huyton Park Championship and the London Club in Kent are all hoping to stage the event. 

It has been suggested that it is likely the 2035 dust-up will likely be played in England. 

Ryder Cup Europe director Guy Kinnings, who is also the deputy to chief executive Keith Pelley, did not comment on the report. 

PGA Catalunya was built to stage the 1997 Ryder Cup but delays saw the match head to Valderrama.

The resort is now known as Camiral Golf & Wellness.

Valderrama will host a LIV Golf League event in 2023 after it was snatched from the DP World Tour

Camiral Golf & Wellness is owned by the Irish businessman Denis O'Brien, who has spent millions upgrading the venue after he bought it in 2007. 

The Telegraph quote an insider as saying:

"The Tour was finding that they would have four or five bids, with loads of money spent on each, and at the end there would only be one happy party, with the others suddenly against the Tour. This way, it's much less messy.
"The Tour had intended to announce by the end of 2022 but because of everything that has happened, it is understandable that there's been no rush. It is eight years away and in Europe, it's not like in America who are a bit ahead of us with their future venues."

The 2023 Ryder Cup will be played at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome. 

It will be the 44th match between Europe and the U.S. 

The U.S. battered Europe at the 2021 Ryder Cup, winning 19-9. 

Just this week Shane Lowry - who made his Ryder Cup debut at Whistling Straits - claimed Europe are now in a "transitional period". 

He also claimed that Europe have the two best players in the world in Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy

Next page: Ian Poulter annoyed at Ryder Cup birthday snub