Contrary to expectations, details of Ireland's bid to stage the Ryder Cup in 2005 will be announced during the biennial matches at Valderrama next week.
This was outlined in a statement last night by Jim McDaid, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation.
Only last month, during the Smurfit European Open at The K Club, Ken Schofield, executive director of the PGA European Tour, indicated that there was unlikely to be a decision for some time.
"We met this week and will continue to have dialogue in the months ahead," he said at that time. "The US have yet to announce the venue for 2003, so there is clearly no rush on the matter."
It would now appear that the government has pursued the original timetable which involved an announcement next week.
According to last night's statement, the minister, in personal negotiations with Schofield, has "secured agreement on the terms for Ireland to host the Ryder Cup in Ireland in the year 2005."
The statement went on: "Details of the agreement will be announced by the minister and the Ryder Cup committee during the biennial matches at Valderrama next week."
All of which would point to some sort of breakthrough since Schofield spoke of his discussions with Bord Failte officials Mark Mortell, Matt McNulty and Padraig O hUiginn.
