PARISIAN GOLF COURSE Le Golf National has won the race to host the 2018 Ryder Cup, beating off competition from courses in Spain, Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands.

The decision to award the 42nd edition of the biennial match between Europe and the United States was announced by the competition’s selection committee at Wentworth earlier this afternoon.

2018 will be only the second time in the history of the Ryder Cup that the match has been played in continental Europe, with Seve Ballesteros captaining the home side to a 14.5-13.5 victory when it was hosted in Valderrama in 1997.

It had been suggested that the selection committee might have been swayed into awarding the event to another Spanish course as a tribute to the recently deceased golfing legend. However, a statement issued by the European Tour earlier today indicates that the body are still considering the other options which are available to them, including the redesign of the Tour’s current logo and creation of a new tournament, the Seve Trophy, which is likely to be held in Spain in September.

Le Golf National has hosted the French Open for 18 of the past 20 years with organisers deeming the course’s dramatic back nine to be a perfect fit for the golfing showpiece.

The Independent also reports that the selection committee was very impressed by the government and private sector backing which the French bid had received, a fact which may have tipped the balance as they made their final decision.

The 2012 Ryder Cup will take place at the Medinah Country Club in Illinois from 25-30 September 2012.