Catalonia to bid for Ryder Cup 2022

The Ryder Cup could return to Spain after a gap of 25 years with the Spanish region of Catalonia set to bid to host the biennial contest in 2022.

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Catalonia’s public institutions and the Spanish Golf Federation are planning to submit their proposals when the bidding process opens, although no course has yet been specified.

The announcement was made on Thursday by Xavier Espasa, director of the Catalan Tourist Agency, who said that hosting events such as this week’s Spanish Open at PGA Catalunya Resort and next year’s tournament at Real Club de Golf El Prat were aimed at preparing the bid for 2022.

Gonzaga Escauriaza, president of the Spanish Golf Federation (RFEG) added: “The process has not yet been defined by the European Tour.

“Hopefully it will be less complex than the Madrid bid for the 2018 edition. Once we know the guidelines to be followed, all our institutions will work together in order to achieve our goal as we are doing at present. All of us are willing to pursue our dream.”

Along with Portugal, Holland and Germany, Spain lost out to France for the right to stage the 2018 Ryder Cup, with Le Golf National in Paris becoming only the second continental venue - after Valderrama in 1997 - to host the event.

After this year’s clash at Gleneagles in Scotland, future venues already decided are Hazeltine National in Minnesota (2016), Whistling Straits in Wisconsin (2020) and Bethpage Black in New York (2024).