The Welsh Assembly recognised the impetus and identity the Ryder Cup could bring to Wales and set up an

The Welsh Assembly recognised the impetus and identity the Ryder Cup could bring to Wales and set up an impressive amalgamation of just about every organisation in the country under the chairmanship of Lewis, one of the nation’s best-known sporting figures. They also supplied the bulk of the £1.25m already spent on the bid.The Ryder Cup bid document is a complicated affair that demands the creation of new tournaments, development programmes, moves towards equality of opportunity for both sexes and all ages and the commitment of millions of pounds over the next eight years.Wales have answered every demand, apart from final details on such matters as the 5,000 hotel rooms at cost that have to be supplied, even to the extent of amalgamating the men’s and ladies’ golf unions, and what’s more can lay claim to European Union help via their Objective One status. It all amounts to the opportunity to invest £50m into the golfing infrastructure of Wales.They politely point out that Scotland, as the home of golf, can hardly develop much more while Wales, by far the poorest of the four home golf countries, can emerge as strong as the others with the help of the Ryder Cup. Since they delivered their bid the Welsh have strictly adhered to a set of deadlines for delivering their promises; deadlines that now seem obsolete.Scotland, who apparently have seen the details of the Welsh bid, announced their latest “initiative” last Wednesday, the day the decision should have been made.

The Scots now have an unspecified period to catch up on all the other facets of the bid they are behind on. Only now are the Scottish Parliament taking a financial interest.The Welsh have fired all their ammunition in the allotted time Now they wait for their big guns to be spiked, one by one.. New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell successfully defended his 2000 Heineken Classic title in Perth today, winning this year’s version by five strokes after coming within a stroke of the course record at The Vines. New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell successfully defended his 2000 Heineken Classic title in Perth today, winning this year’s version by five strokes after coming within a stroke of the course record at The Vines.
Four behind after one hole of the final round, the 31-year-old Campbell shot a 64 Sunday, including 11 birdies – one short of the European tour record – for an 18-under-par total of 270.”I played great from tee to green and it was probably better than my first three rounds,” said Campbell “I’m just happy to win back-to-back. It’s a great feeling.”Countryman David Smail (66), winner of the previous two tournaments on the Australasian circuit, including the New Zealand Open, eagled the last hole to take second spot from Australian left-hander Nick O’Hern.O’Hern, who shot 72 Sunday, could not recover from a quadruple-bogey eight on the par-4 sixth, which turned a two-stroke lead into a two-shot deficit.Jarrod Moseley of Australia shot a closing 67 to finish in a tie for fourth with Dean Robertson of Scotland (70), Paul Devenport of New Zealand (69) and Steen Tinning of Denmark (70).Campbell, who dominated the Australasian Tour last season with four victories, began the day two shots behind local hope and overnight leader O’Hern.The two were set for a head-to-head battle and Campbell made a shaky start by dropping a shot on the first hole.O’Hern hit a fine approach to the first green, while Campbell sent his over the back.

After chipping up, Campbell two-putted, while O’Hern made no mistake with his birdie attempt.Suddenly four behind, Campbell made his move, getting birdies on each of the next three holes. O’Hern was still leading by two shots on the sixth when a wayward tee shot resulted in his eight.Showing fine iron play and solid putting, Campbell continued to make birdies from all positions, including three in a row on nine, 10 and 11. When he sunk a testing putt on the 11th, his lead grew to five shots.It was the first time Campbell had successfully defended a title in his professional career.Leading final totals in the Heineken Classic at The Vines, Perth, Australia, today (GB and Ire unless stated, par 72):270 M Campbell (Nzl) 69 70 67 64 (123,449)275 D Smail (Nzl) 71 72 66 66 (69,954)276 N O’Hern (Aus) 66 69 69 72 (46,293)277 J Moseley (Aus) 70 70 70 67, S Tinning (Den) 69 66 72 70, P Devenport (Nzl) 71 68 69 69, D Robertson 65 74 68 70 (26,747 each)280 I Garbutt 78 66 68 68, T Bjorn (Den) 67 71 73 69, R Karlsson (Swe) 72 66 72 70282 H Nystrom (Swe) 75 69 70 68, F Jacobson (Swe) 71 72 70 69, K Druce (Aus) 72 72 66 72, G Turner (Nzl) 70 71 69 72, P Lonard (Aus) 70 71 66 75283 B Rumford (Aus) 72 70 71 70, G Norman (Aus) 66 73 70 74, C Parry (Aus) 70 70 69 74284 S Hansen (Den) 76 69 71 68, N Green (Aus) 72 70 72 70, D Carter 73 70 71 70, P Price 75 70 69 70, M Brier (Aut) 71 73 68 72285 C Hanell (Swe) 74 70 72 69, S Gardiner (Aus) 71 72 71 71, P Broadhurst 74 69 70 72, J Rose 70 75 68 72, A Gilligan (Aus) 71 73 69 72, P Fulke (Swe) 67 76 69 73, D Howell 72 73 66 74, B Jones (Aus) 72 70 69 74. The last time I saw Bobby Rahal he was sitting in the sunshine at the Phoenix International Raceway in Arizona, musing on the prospects of the first current Formula One champion to take his title across the pond. A posse of English journalists were enthralled by Rahal’s laconic eloquence. The last time I saw Bobby Rahal he was sitting in the sunshine at the Phoenix International Raceway in Arizona, musing on the prospects of the first current Formula One champion to take his title across the pond.