Portugal launches official 2018 Ryder Cup bid website

Portugal has stepped up its bid to host the 2018 Ryder Cup by launching its official website.

The other nations bidding to host the 2018 Ryder Cup are France, Germany, Holland, Spain and Sweden.

Portugal, host to two European Tour events this year, has selected the new Comporta Dunes project south of Lisbon, as its bidding course.

The area is situated 110km from Lisbon and 140km from the Algarve in an area known as the Alentejo Coast. The resort will also feature a second golf course, two five-star hotels,and a wide variety of real estate.

Work on the land is in its early stages, although course designer, renowned American Tom Fazio, has said, "The land, with its impressive sand hills and its sandy sub-soil, reminds me of Pinehurst and as far as I'm concerned there is no bigger compliment than that."

The bidding team has enlisted the support of famous Portuguese faces to help out with their bid, such as Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho.

The last three Ryder Cups on European soil were held at the Belfry in 2002, the K Club in 2006 and Celtic Manor in 2010. The 2014 Ryder Cup will take place at Gleneagles in Scotland, home of the Johnnie Walker Championship.

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