The 2010 Ryder Cup will raise the international profile of golf in Wales, Padraig Harrington has stated.
With the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport due to host the competition in two years'' time, Harrington told the Western Mail that Wales could emerge as a major golfing nation if the tournament is a success.
The Wilson golfer compared the potential effects to those seen in Ireland after the K Club provided the venue for the 2006 Ryder Cup.
Harrington said: "What happened in Ireland was that interest steadily grew and grew over a number of years before things just went ballistic in 2006.
"Once the K Club was awarded the Ryder Cup, you had big tournaments coming to other venues throughout the country."
Celtic Manor also hosts the Wales Open, a European Tour event which begins on May 29th.
This year''s Ryder Cup takes place at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky from September 16th to 21st.
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