May 19, 2011

Le Golf National in Paris will play host to the 2018 Ryder Cup beating strong opposition from Madrid by what European Tour Chief Executive, George O’Grady described as a ‘narrow but clear margin’. He added “The French bid had a first-class stadium already. In these hard economic times, we have gone for certainty. The ground has still to be broken on the Madrid course. I’m convinced they will get the Ryder Cup in the near future because the location is so good.”Magnanimous in defeat Spanish Golf Federation, President, Gonzaga Escauriaza said “We have to congratulate the French, we have to give them a hug and tell them they are the best. We did what we could. We had a fantastic site, the perfect place. It couldn?t have been better.”The site for Madrid’s bid was 20 minutes outside the city by train, but the fact that work has not begun on constructing the course counted strongly against it. Le Golf National was opened in 1990 and has hosted the French Open 18 times..