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Peter Allis fears for future of Ryder Cup

Peter Allis
Allis wants Colin Montgomerie to have more than two wild-card selections

Peter Allis has revealed his concerns for the long-term future of the Ryder Cup just eight months before the event is staged at Celtic Manor in Wales.

Allis questioned the commitment of the USA to the biennial clash with Europe.

"I fear for the Ryder Cup. I would not be at all surprised if they don't play the Ryder Cup in 30 years' time," said the commentator on BBC Wales.

Allis believes the USA have more interest in the Presidents Cup, played against an international team.

"The way they talk about their Presidents Cup: 'Oh it's wonderful. It's such fun'," Allis said.

Allis says that because of the tournament scheduling in the USA the Ryder Cup date is being put back further in the calendar, which is not conducive to the Welsh climate in October.

The weather could be absolutely bloody

Peter Allis

But he hopes the Celtic Manor event in October is a success and produces a European win for captain Colin Montgomerie.

"I get the feeling that the Americans are saying 'look we have got all these big tournaments on [and] I'm sorry this is the only time we can accommodate you'," added Allis.

"They [the Americans] are just squeezing us.

"It really is very awkward to play the Ryder Cup here in October and we are up on the hills in Wales looking over the channel.

"The weather could be absolutely bloody. At best it could be chilly and rather miserable.

"[But] it's very exciting for golf in Wales. A new course. Hopefully it will be okay. I think it will be fascinating to see how Celtic Manor works out.

"We need a home win. I think it's essential that we win. We have got a good captain [Montgomerie]. I think he is enthusiastic.

"He should have a brilliant team. I'd like him to have a couple more picks, rather like Paul Azinger did with four players [in 2008].

606: DEBATE

"He got them in fighting mood. We didn't have a captain [Nick Faldo] that performed very well [at the last Ryder Cup in Valhalla]. We didn't play up to our potential and they beat us. That's what we have got to put right in Celtic Manor."

Allis is not the first to warn of potentially bad weather at the Newport venue in October.

Ryder Cup legend Arnold Palmer admitted he was worried how the American team would cope with the wild Welsh weather when he was over in Wales in 2009.

"They're going to have a very tough battle on their hands when they come here to play," said Palmer.

"They had better be working on their game and be very aware of the conditions.

"If they don't there's a good chance that they could be defeated, right here."



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see also
Ryder Cup team to fly into Wales
13 Feb 10 |  South east
Countdown under way to Ryder Cup
01 Oct 09 |  Wales
City's �200m shops plan scrapped
10 Jun 09 |  South east
Station revamp ahead of Ryder Cup
27 Jul 09 |  Wales
Golf on the BBC
01 Jul 11 |  Golf


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