Ryder Cup Captains Mark 'Year to Go' Celebration With Exhibition Match

U.S. Ryder Cup Team Captain Corey Pavin and European Ryder Cup Team Captain Colin Montgomerie will play an exhibition match Monday, October 12, on The Twenty Ten Course at The Celtic Manor Resort, as part of a celebration marking the 'Year to Go' before the 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales.

Invited guests from the hospitality industry and media will join Ryder Cup partners and sponsors in walking the fairways of The Twenty Ten Course -- the first course built specifically to host the Ryder Cup -- as Montgomerie and Pavin play ten of the courses' holes.

The exhibition match will also feature on-course commentary from Sky Television's Richard Boxall before the two Captains hold a joint press conference.

"With the Ryder Cup now just over a year away and the European points race having started at the Omega European Masters, I think I speak on behalf of everyone involved in this terrific event when I say that the sense of excitement is really starting to build," said Montgomerie.

"The countdown to the 2010 Ryder Cup now starts in earnest, and the 'Year to Go' exhibition match and Gala Dinner should help build that excitement even further, as well as providing a lot of fun not just for myself, Corey and our playing partners, but also for the many people attending.

"I'm really looking forward to it -- it will be great to relax and enjoy ourselves out on the course and very interesting to spend this time with Corey before we get down to rather more serious matters next October."

"I've been thinking about the Ryder Cup almost non-stop since I was appointed Captain," said Pavin. "Playing in the Wales Open on The Twenty Ten Course helped me understand the golf course better and returning in October to finalize my team's needs at Celtic Manor will be very important as well.

"Lisa and I look forward to enjoying Gaynor and Colin's company once again and of course, our "match" on that Monday. We are also looking forward the fantastic hospitality that we experienced last May, not only from the people at Celtic Manor, but also from the Welsh people."

The 2010 Ryder Cup will be conducted Oct. 1-3.

The initial ballot for Ryder Cup tickets closed last month, but a second ballot for spectators to apply for tickets opened on September 7, 2009. All unsuccessful applicants from the first ballot were automatically be entered into the second ballot. To enter the second ballot please visit rydercup.com.