St Andrews pulls out of Ryder bid

Scotland has reduced the number of venues

St Andrews has pulled out of the bid to stage the 2009 Ryder Cup.

The St Andrews Links Trust said on Friday that they had withdrawn to boost chances of the biennial match returning to Scotland.

St Andrews was one of five courses involved in a concerted bid to ensure the event returned north.

But Trust general manager Alan McGregor said: "It has become clear that Scotland's bid would be strengthened by a more concentrated focus on fewer venues.

Land where golf began

"Consequently, the St Andrews Links Management Committee took the decision not to pursue our bid.

"We remain totally committed to the Scottish bid and will do everything in our power to ensure that the 2009 Ryder Cup is played in the land where the game began."

McGregor denied that St Andrews had come under pressure from the Scottish Executive to drop out of the running.

The Executive this month ploughed £750,000 into European Tour and Scottish PGA events in an attempt to boost Scotland's chances.

Front runners

There had been press speculation that Scotland was about to reduce the number of courses, although as late as Thursday a spokeswoman for the Scottish bid was insisting that they were still working on the basis of five courses.

Gleneagles and Loch Lomond are being tipped as the front runners, with Carnousie and Turnberry lagging behind and it could be that they too will drop out soon.

"This is our decision and other courses have to make up their own minds," said McGregor.

St Andrews is known as the home of golf

"I am convinced that the Scottish bid is the best one and that the unsuccessful courses will get behind the chosen course."

St Andrews had been lauded for last year's Open but has appeared to have been hampered by an American dislike for links courses.

But McGregor insisted: "I don't rule out the Ryder Cup being held on links courses in the future - and run well."

The Ryder Cup Board this month decided to delay the announcement of the venue for the 2009 tournament until September.

Northumberland's Slaley Hall and the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales are the other contenders.

A Ryder Cup committee source told BBC Scotland they will not be caught up in any debate about the reduction of courses in Scotland's bid.

Written off

They did say previously that it would be easier for Scotland to manage the bid process with fewer courses.

The committee will be making a detailed tour of all the courses in for the event from April onwards.

They say that Slaley Hall is still very much in contention, despite being written off from certain sources.

An audit is also being done on whether each bid has finances in place for their commitment to introduce all youngsters under nine into golf.