Ireland will host a World Golf
Championship (WGC) event for the first time in September 2002,
the PGA European Tour said on Thursday.
The fourth edition of the WGC-American Express Championship
will be played over the Jack Nicklaus designed course at Mount
Juliet in County Kilkenny.
The American Express Championship is one of four WGC events.
James McDaid, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, said: "Over the
past decade we have seen an unprecedented level of investment of over
£200million in golf in Ireland.
"The country now boasts 30% of the links courses in the world as well as a
number of top championship parkland courses (Mount Juliet fits into the latter
category).
"In recent years we have been working hard to attract world-class sporting
events to Ireland. The successful partnership between the Irish Government and
the private sector has resulted in securing this World Championship."
