2011 Solheim Cup goes to Ireland

The Ladies European Tour has said that the success of this year's Ryder Cup, held in Ireland for the first time, played a major role in the selection of Killeen Castle Golf Club in County Meath, Ireland for the ladies' version of the event.

The Jack Nicklaus-designed course will also be one of the first venues to host the Ladies Irish Open, a new tournament for the Ladies European Tour. The new event will be moved around Ireland from from its inaugural year in 2008, but it has already been pencilled in for Killeen Castle for the 2010 staging.

"We have chosen Ireland for the 2011 Solheim Cup for a number of reasons," said Alexandra Armas, the executive director of the European Tour.

"The first is the superb way the whole Irish nation supported the Ryder Cup in September, while the second reason is that Ireland is a young and vibrant society compatible for the image we wish to promote for ladies golf. It is true that Ireland does not have a rich tradition of women's professional golf, but we firmly believe that the decision to take the Solheim Cup there will change all that."

"Finally, the quality of the venue at Killeen Castle is of the highest class. The course and facilities are excellent and it has been designed with the spectator in mind. To emphasise our faith in Killeen Castle and in Ireland as a venue we have reached an agreement with the Irish Tourist Board to stage a new event, the 'Ladies Irish Open'. We have a five-year agreement beginning in 2008, with Killeen Castle due to stage the event in 2010."