TIM MAHONY is ready to pay "whatever it takes" to bring the Ryder Cup to Mount Juliet. But the owner of the Co Kilkenny complex insists he will not be drawn into an auction with other venues anxious to gain the distinction of staging the coveted, biennial event in this country in 2005.

The target of an Irish Ryder Cup has been accorded full Government backing through the Minister for Sport, Bernard Allen, who named an eight man committee of golfers and businessmen last week to spearhead the project. And Mahony is hoping they will see Mount Juliet as a logical choice.

"There are probably three leading Irish candidates - ourselves, The K Club and Portmarnock," he said. "It would be invidious of me to comment about The K Club which as it happens. I don't know well enough to allow me make direct comparisons.

"Portmarnock, meanwhile, is highly regarded internationally with a wonderful tradition of staging important events such as the Canada Cup, the Irish Open and, more recently the Walker Cup. It also holds a very special place in the affections of the golfing community in this country.

"But for logistical reasons, it is simply not suitable for an event of this nature. Traffic has always been a major problem and a comparison between the stagings of the Irish Open there and at Mount Juliet where, incidentally, we cleared all the car parks in less than 90 minutes - tells us all we need to know in that regard."

It is 10 years since Mahony had the dream of building his own golf complex. It came to him after the so called Toyota Challenge of Champions at Royal Dublin in 1986, when the then US Masters champion, Jack Nicklaus, played the reigning Irish Open champion, Seve Ballesteros.

The upshot was that he bought the 1,500 acre Mount Juliet estate and promptly contracted Nicklaus to handle the design of a world class golf course at a fee of 1.25 million. After playing host to the Irish Open in 1993, 1994 and 1995, Mahony is now looking for the biggest prize of all.

"We are competitors in everything we do and given that the Ryder Cup is likely to come to Ireland only once in my lifetime, we want to be a part of it," Mahony explained. "Let's put it this way: if there's a substantial entry fee for sitting into the game, we're prepared to pay it."

When I suggested to him that the figure could be as high as £5 million, he didn't balk. Indeed it is clear that Mahony has been pursuing ambitious plans for Mount Juliet since Murphy's moved the Irish Open from there to Druids Glen this year.

For instance, as the company's Irish franchisee, he has attempted, without success, to have Toyota move the World Matchplay Championship to Mount Juliet from Wentworth, where Ernie Els gained the unique distinction of a third successive triumph last weekend. And there are ongoing negotiations about staging a world seniors' matchplay event at the Thomastown venue.

Though attendances at Wentworth over the weekend were down on last year, it remains a highly prestigious venue as far as the Japanese sponsors are concerned. And Mahony seemed prepared to accept that it was likely to remain that way.

Meanwhile, plans are complete for a substantial increase in the accommodation at Mount Juliet from 70 to 120 bedrooms. This latest development awaits the all clear from Kilkenny Co Council.

As far as playing facilities are concerned, Mahony went on to point out that the argument for bringing the Ryder Cup to Mount Juliet, had already been made by some of the game's leading practitioners. For instance, Bernhard Langer, winner of a third Irish Open there in 1994, remarked: "This a superb set up, the kind of place that could easily stage the Ryder Cup. I think the course is spectacular and so well manicured."

Nick Faldo, who had completed an Irish Open hat trick there the previous year, said: "It is among my favourite venues, not least for the beauty of the complex. And the course is perfectly presented. Other promoters and golf course managers should come here and see how it should be done.

Given that we are talking nine years hence, it may appear rather early to be taking the Ryder Cup so seriously. Mahony disagrees. "We are talking big business and for that reason, I'm delighted to see the Government so wholeheartedly involved," he said. "Whatever venue they support, they must ensure that the country gains the maximum benefit from the event, as far as tourism is concerned. That is going to require careful and thorough planning.'

So, if they were to get Government backing, what would Mount Juliet have to do to gain favour with the European Tour, who will have the decisive say in choosing the Ryder Cup venue? They would need to win over officials at Virginia Water by making a substantial contribution to European Tour coffers, preferrably through the backing of an important tournament.

In this context, there is plenty of scope in the European Seniors' Tour which is struggling to make a worthwhile impact.

Meanwhile, Mahony insisted: "The Ryder Cup has become a very important objective as far as I'm concerned. In fact I will be seeking an early meeting with the Minister so as to leave him in no doubt about our position."