Ryder Cup ticket ballot opens

The ticket ballot for next year’s Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor – the first ever to be staged in Wales – opened today.

A second tranche of tickets will be made available in April next year to accommodate fans unable to make an early commitment, but European captain Colin Montgomerie is encouraging supporters to enter the ballot now.

“I’ve already made my first official visit and you can sense the excitement with history in the making,” he said.

“I’ve been given the task not just to captain the European team in Wales, but to win back the Ryder Cup in Wales.

“It will be a close affair – make no mistake about that – but you cannot help other than be inspired by the new and great young talent emerging to blend with the nucleus of the team we already have there.

“What we need, of course, is strong support, so we will be looking for the fans to get behind us by booking their place now to witness another thrilling chapter in this match.”

The first offer for the match on October 1-3 starts with daily tickets ranging from £30 (€33.70) on the Tuesday and Wednesday practice days to £130 (€146) on Sunday, while season tickets for two, four and six days range from £140 (€157) to £430 (€483).

Applications can be made via the Ryder Cup ticket website www.rydercup.com/tickets and a computerised random lottery draw will place in August.

There are also opportunities to purchase a “premium” ticket for the international pavilion – a six-day ticket there costs £950 (€1,067) – and there will be half price concessions for under-16s and ambulant disabled, plus their carers.

Corporate hospitality options are now on sale as well, while fans are to be encouraged to car share with the £20 (€22.50) cost at the park-and-ride locations being per vehicle rather than per person.

A limit of eight tickets per household is being set for practice days and four on match days, although Ryder Cup Europe is to work with golf clubs and societies looking to bring groups.