Gleneagles to host Ryder Cup finalé

Johnnie Walker confirmed as final qualifying event for European 2012 side

Team arena: The Johnnie Walker Championship will be the last qualifying event for Europe’s 2012 Ryder Cup side

Europe’s aspiring Ryder Cup stars face the prospect of a last-ditch battle at Gleneagles for a place in Jose Maria Olazabal’s side for the 2012 contest.

The European Tour has confirmed that the Johnnie Walker Championship, to be staged on August 23-26, will bring down the curtain on qualification for the European Ryder Cup team that will be seeking to defend the trophy on US soil at Medinah Country Club.

Gleneagles’ PGA Centenary Course, the venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup, was the arena for the thrilling climax to qualification in 2010 when Edoardo Molinari birdied the final three holes to take the title and earn a spot in Colin Montgomerie’s ultimately victorious side at Celtic Manor.

Since then, the Perthshire resort has embarked on a series of enhancements to the course in preparation for the 2014 Ryder Cup under the guidance of the layout’s original designer, Jack Nicklaus.

In particular, the much-maligned par-5 18th hole has been significantly altered, with the constant incline to the green levelled and a steeper embankment at the front of the putting surface making it harder for the top pros to reach in two. With the changes due to be completed by April, the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship will provide the first insight into how the world’s leading professionals respond to the remodelling.

The news came as part of the announcement of the European Tour’s International Schedule for 2012, in which it was also officially confirmed that the Scottish Open would retain its slot the week before the Open Championship.

Still seeking a sponsor, it had been mooted that Scotland’s flagship European Tour event might lose its coveted spot to a tournament with bigger financial backing. However, that outcome has been averted, with the Castle Stuart tournament penned in for July 12-15, the week before the 2012 Open at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s.

The European Tour schedulr gets underway with the Africa Open at the East London Golf Club on Thursday January 5 and comes to a conclusion with the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai – which culminates on Sunday November 25.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered