Organisers announced yesterday that the Country Club at Sandy Lane would be hosting the World Cup of Golf from December 4 to 10, 2006, one of the biggest events on the international sporting calendar. The details were unveiled at a media conference at the Country Club yesterday morning, at the same spot where Tiger Woods was married 14 months ago.
The tournament is open to the world's top 18 players; and officials believe world No.1 Woods, world No.2 Vijay Singh, along with other members of the game's elite would play in the tournament.
"This is a big event. I believe we recognise now in Barbados that sports and culture are going to be the vehicles to push the future development of Barbados for the better," said Minister of Tourism Noel Lynch.
"Barbados is a world-class destination. We are hosting the Cricket World Cup in 2007 and this will be followed by the Golf World Cup event.
"With these two global events, we believe we will be poised to become a truly global destination for good sporting activity and high-quality hospitality."
Stuart Layne, chief executive and president of the Barbados Tourism Authority, said the tournament formed part of a thrust to have one major event on the island every year. He said details would be coming soon on the big event for 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Jack Warfield, vice-president of the World Golf Championship said his body was delighted to bring the tournament to the Caribbean, and specifically to Barbados.
"We chose Barbados because it is a great golfing destination and it has many of the attributes we are looking for, and the Sandy Lane is a world-class facility," Warfield said. "We have been working well with the organisers here in Barbados and we expect a great tournament in 12 months."
The tournament will have a purse of US$4 million (BDS$8 million). Twenty-five teams – the world's top 18; the top three teams from each of the World Cup qualifying matches in Mexico and Asia, will compete. A team from Barbados also will play.
philipspooner@nationnews.com