Turkey is back in the bidding for the 2022 Ryder Cup.
Despite correspondence to the Tour it was withdrawing as a 2022 contender the Turkish Minister for Youth and Sports Akif Çagatay Kiliç has confirmed Turkey has reinstated its bid for the 2022 Ryder Cup and is now among six countries vying to stage the event.
Denmark had been mentioned a bidder but sources from within Denmark indicated all that Denmark sought was the ‘eligibility papers’ and never once advised the Tour of a formal bid.
Turkey intends to build a new course to host Europe’s match against the United States and thus avoiding any environmental controversy in having to cut down thousands of trees as would the case if this week’s Montgomerie Maxx Royal course was chosen.
Kiliç addressed the world’s media on Thursday shortly after the second Turkish Airlines Open by the Ministry for Youth and Sports got underway.
Ahmet Agaoglu watches Tiger Woods during the pro-am ahead of the 2013 Turkish Airlines Open. (Picture Stuart Adams www.golftourimages.com)
He says that Turkey’s exceptional record of hosting tournaments and other iconic sport events, allied with a fast-growing passion for golf makes the country a perfect venue for the biannual competition. Kiliç believes the entire nation would be behind attempts to bring the prestigious tournament to Turkey.
Austria, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain are also in the running to host the event in eight years’ time.
Kilic said: “Turkey has been successful in hosting a lot of international events, sports events, other kind of events. We do not have any shortcomings or doubts in our mind that we would be able to do it.
“Now, I have talked to Mr. Ağaoğlu who is in charge of the Turkish Golf Federation, and there are certain things that might have to be supported by the government. We are more than happy to do that. But I don’t think that it will harm us in any way to pursue our work, which has already been done until today, for 2022.
“But there’s always ‑‑ this is a race. I mean, in the end, it’s a bid. There’s competition. But I don’t think that we will shy away from anything that is put in our way.”
Kiliç says that the necessity of building a new course would not stand in the way of Turkey’s bid.
He also feels that attracting the Ryder Cup would take Turkey’s standing in the global game to an even higher level.
Kiliç added: “There is a need to have a course which can answer the requirements of The Ryder Cup. We have to have one like that but it’s not a hard thing to build one.
“We are at the world agenda in golf, and we know that people are coming to Turkey from all kind of places around the world to play here, and are enjoying it.”
KEY BID CRITERIA FOR THE 2022 RYDER CUP
- Demonstrable Government, Political, Institutional and Golfing Community support
- Commitment to the development ofa world-class golf facility (new or existing) to host The 2022 Ryder Cup
- Provision of ancillary facilities, suitable access and infrastructure commensurate with the staging of an international sporting event, including proximity to a major international city
- Commercial opportunities available to The Ryder Cup
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Contribution of the Bid Country to the development of golf, for example:
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- Contribution to the professional game
- Integration of golf within tourism and business communities
- Development of levels of golf participation
- Professional tournament golf at all levels
- Contribution to The Ryder Cup: eg Player eligibility and participation
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The Ryder Cup – Upcoming Venues
2016: Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota, USA
2018: Le Golf National, Paris, France
2020: Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin, USA
2022: TBC
2024: Bethpage Black Course, New York, USA
