Six nations target 2018 Ryder bid

Six European countries have declared an interest in staging the 2018 Ryder Cup.

France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden all intend to submit formal applications before the deadline in April 2010.

An announcement of the venue for the match, between Europe and the United States, is set to be some time in 2011.

And European Ryder Cup director Richard Hills said: "Assuming all necessary criteria are met, the 2018 Ryder Cup will be played in mainland Europe."

Valderrama in Spain staged the event in 1997 when Europe won a thrilling match by a single point.

And it has been the intention to take the event back to the continental mainland ever since Celtic Manor in Wales and Gleneagles in Scotland were confirmed as the host venues for 2010 and 2014.

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The six countries will have staged a combined total of 700 tournaments by the end of the year - 491 on the main European Tour, 162 on the Challenge Tour and 47 on the Seniors Tour.

"We have set the date by which bids must be received in order to provide each country with the optimum opportunity in the current economic climate to present their strongest possible bid," added Hills.

"In setting the sporting and commercial criteria that will be used to assess bids, we have been quite clear that each country bid must be channelled through its National Golf Federation and that no bids from individual venues will be considered.

"We look forward to working with all six countries over the coming months as they develop their bids."

The 2018 match will be the 42nd in the history of the biennial competition.

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