Few tickets remain for October's Ryder Cup

(AFP PHOTO/Pornchai KITTIWONGSAKUL)

Though the Ryder Cup's standard spectator passes have all been snapped up, there's still time to secure tickets for the biennial contest to be held in Newport, Wales October 1-3, in the form of both VIP packages and budget practice day passes.

The tournament, which is between teams made up of European and American PGA Tour golfers, is one of only three such group events on the PGA Tour and of four team competitions on the European equivalent.

Practice day passes are going for £30 to £60 each (€37-€73), and September 30 sees both professional and youth players take to the course as the Junior Ryder Cup teams will play an exhibition match to warm down from their own series at Gleneagles, Scotland, earlier in the week.

At the other end of the scale, the Celtic Manor Resort are offering the last remaining six-day VIP tickets at £690 (€840), allowing access from Tuesday, September 28 until the end of the tournament.

Held every two years, the Ryder Cup Matches also alternate between British and American golf courses, with three exceptions - the 1997 venue was in Andalusia, Spain, the 2006 venue in County Kildare, Ireland, and the 2018 meeting will be on continental turf. France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands are all in the running to host.

Golfing legend Colin Montgomorie is to captain 2010's European team while record-breaker Corey Pavin leads the American challenge. Both will be joined by 2010's proven best, with a handful of wildcard picks to make up the 12-man teams.