Ryder Cup nations set to meet

Next month the six nations bidding to host the 2018 Ryder Cup in Europe will meet to discuss the staging of the biennial contest.

Bids must be submitted by the end of next April and candidate countries France, Germany, Holland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden are meeting to share ideas and opinions.

The winning nation will be confirmed in 2011, but there is much to consider in terms of the perfect venue for the event that has only once previously been held outside Britain and Ireland in Europe, when Valderrama in Spain staged the contest in 1997.

"This is as thorough an evaluation process as we have ever embarked upon in determining a host nation and venue," said Ryder Cup Europe director Richard Hills.

"We have already been impressed by the level of commitment and the clarity of the bids and we are keen to ensure that by providing additional information to all parties at one time they will leave London even better placed to further develop their individual tenders."

"From the announcement in 2011 the successful host nation will be contracted to embrace this programme, which will take in 12 years of tournament support for the European Tour, Senior Tour, Challenge Tour and other professional events."

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