Officials with Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Conn., yesterday said that the course hopes it "will emerge as the No. 1 selection" to host the '21 Solheim Cup, and Pepsi, MasterCard, Google, XL Catlin and Bank of America have already "expressed interest in pursuing sponsorship agreements" for the event, according to Tom Yantz of the HARTFORD COURANT. Brooklawn First VP Rick Ryan said of the region, "Location, location; we have the biggest media market in the world." Ryan also noted that work "continues in landing more corporate sponsors and in other areas before the selection is made" by the LPGA later this year. Yantz notes the competition for the event is between Brooklawn, which made its presentation to the LPGA in late July, and five other courses -- Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio; Inverness in Toledo; Oak Tree National in Edmond, Okla.; Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club; and TPC San Antonio. The Solheim Cup "has never been played in the Northeast" (HARTFORD COURANT, 9/22). In Connecticut, Joe Morelli notes the expectation is "being able to accommodate approximately 250,000 people for the entire week." Also something that "could prove beneficial is a letter of support" written by PGA of America Secretary Suzy Whaley, a Farmington, Conn., resident who will "eventually become the first female president for the PGA of America." Ryan said Brooklawn has secured “30 letters of intent” from other potential corporate sponsors (NEW HAVEN REGISTER, 9/22).
