GOLF NEWS:DESPITE AN emotional late push from Spain following the death of Severiano Ballesteros, the 2018 Ryder Cup will be hosted by favourites France and played on the established Le Golf National course.

Spain, Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands were all in the running, but only the Dutch and the winning French bid presented their case with courses already in place, a point not lost on George O’Grady, European Tour chief executive.

“They have a first-class tournament venue already built, which can take it,” said O’Grady at yesterday’s announcement at Wentworth, Surrey. “In these tough economic times we can see where we are going. We are leaving nothing to chance on building a new course.”

Le Golf National is 20 miles outside Paris and will host the €3 million French Open for the 10th successive year at the end of June and 19th in all since it’s inception in 1991. “Having an existing course we thought it was an asset,” said Pascal Grizot, chairman of the French bid.

The only other time the biennial team event has been played on the continent was when Ballesteros captained Europe to victory at Valderrama in 1997.

By way of a legacy over 400,000 members of the French Golf Federation agreed to pay an annual €3 levy for 13 years towards the bid which is committed to 100 new six- and nine-hole urban courses, while €6 million will be invested in Le Golf National course before 2016.

Gonzaga Escauriaza, president of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, was disappointed that Ballesteros’ name ever became part of the bid discussion.

“I saw some comments from some bids that they shouldn’t give it to Spain because of Severiano,” he said. “I don’t think that was fair because there wasn’t a single press release from me mixing anything Ryder Cup with Severiano.”

The European Tour are also considering the best way to honour Ballesteros with former Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo calling for the iconic fist-pumping image of the five-time major winner to replace the current silhouette of Harry Vardon as the tour’s main logo. O’Grady said all options are “being considered”.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods said he plans to tee it up in next month’s US Open at the Congressional where Graeme McDowell will defend the second Major of the year. Woods didn’t suffer any new damage to his left knee and Achilles tendon, which forced him to retire from last week’s Players Championship at Sawgrass.

“I’ll do whatever is necessary to play in the US Open,” said Woods.