Oceânico Group bid to host 2018 Ryder Cup in Algarve

THE IRISH-owned Oceânico Group on Portugal’s Algarve has submitted a bid to host the 2018 Ryder Cup. Its acclaimed Victoria course in Vilamoura is one of seven courses in the Oceânico portfolio and is regarded as one of the finest in Europe.

The company is owned by Drogheda man Gerry Fagan and his partner Simon Burgess, but the Potugal bid faces stiff competition from five other countries – France, Germany, Holland, Spain and Sweden – to host the 2018 Ryder Cup.

All six countries have been advised that the deadline for the submission of bids has been set for the end of next month, with the successful bidder to be revealed next year.

Key Ryder Cuppers Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley all have close business and property ties with Oceanico, which won’t hinder their chances, but the fact that Portugal has no Ryder Cup history or talismanic figure could go against the bid.

Bernhard Langer is driving the German bid and the European Tour will struggle to ignore their claims, while Sweden and France will also push hard.

Said Darren Clarke: “The Algarve and specifically Vilamoura would be a great venue for the Ryder Cup. Golfers have been coming down and enjoying the facilities and atmosphere here for years.”

Oceânico Group Director Gerry Fagan added: “The accessibility, infrastructure and amenities in the Algarve makes for an ideal destination and the commitment from the National Tourism Board and the backing of the Portuguese government to bring the event to Portugal shows a great level of determination in making the Ryder Cup happen here.”

Oceanico also owns the five-star Amendoeira Golf Resort on the Algarve, with its state-of-the-art sports centre to be used next week by All-Ireland football champions Kerry for a warm-weather training camp.