New Team Selection Criteria UnveiledKilleen Castle Announced as Venue for the 2010 AIB Ladies Irish OpenSupported by Failte Ireland(Killeen Castle, Ireland -- 24th November 2009) – The Ladies European Tour is thrilled to announce that Alison Nicholas will lead The European Solheim Cup Team as Captain for a second term at Killeen Castle in Ireland in 2011. Nicholas was selected following a unanimous decision by the European Solheim Cup Committee, comprising the Ladies European Tour representatives, Players’ Council and past captains. The Committee felt that the experience Nicholas gained at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois three months ago was invaluable and she deserved to be re-appointed.“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Nicholas at a press conference at Killeen Castle on Tuesday. “It’s a great honour and privilege to be a captain at home. I loved the experience at Rich Harvest Farms and I thought we were going to do it; I really did! That’s why I’m confident for Ireland because I’m confident in my players. From what I understand it was a unanimous decision so it was very pleasing for me.” Alexandra Armas, Executive Director of the Ladies European Tour, explained: “Alison was a natural choice for the selection committee as she was such an inspirational figure at Rich Harvest Farms. Although Europe lost the match, Alison had her team extremely well prepared and we are convinced that she will give Europe the best chance of winning back the trophy in Ireland.” John A Solheim, Chairman and CEO of PING, the founding sponsor and global partner of the event, echoed those sentiments. “I was excited to hear that the LET has selected Alison Nicholas as the European Solheim Cup Captain in 2011. Watching Alison's intensity at Rich Harvest Farms, I am confident that she will have the European squad ready for competition at Killeen Castle for the 2011 Solheim Cup,” he said.The winner of the U.S. Open in 1997, Nicholas made six straight Solheim Cup appearances as a player and was on the European team when it triumphed in Scotland in 1992 and 2000. She retired from tournament play in 2004, but was involved in the competition as Catrin Nilsmark’s assistant captain in 2003 and in 2005.

(Killeen Castle, Ireland 24th November 2009) – The 2010 AIB Ladies Irish Open, supported by Fáilte Ireland, will take place on 6th- 8th August at Killeen Castle on the Jack Nicklaus Signature designed course, that will also host The 2011 Solheim Cup.It is anticipated that the move to August in the week immediately following the Ricoh Women’s British Open, will attract some of the biggest names in ladies golf, not only on the Ladies European Tour but also on an international level as it is presently a free week on the LPGA calendar. In addition to one of the biggest purses in Europe of €500,000 on offer, it will also provide Solheim Cup contenders from both teams the unique opportunity to play the highly acclaimed Jack Nicklaus Signature course competitively a year before The 2011 Solheim Cup. It is unlikely that the event will be played at Killeen Castle in 2011 on the same dates due to the proximity of the Matches, scheduled for September 23-25, 2011.Quote from AIB"We are delighted that the 2010 AIB Ladies Irish Open will be played at the magnificent Killeen Castle in Co. Meath. This is an important part of the build up to 2011 when The Solheim Cup, the largest women's golf team event in the world, comes to Ireland. It will also be hosted at Killeen Castle, which we expect will have a very positive economic impact on the surrounding communities, in both the short term and long term. This is very much in accord with our sponsorship focus on local communities and we have no doubt that the people of County Meath will get fully behind the tournament in preparation for the major event in 2011" said Billy Andrews, General Manager, AIB.Quote from FI“Fáilte Ireland is delighted to be supporting the 2010 AIB Ladies Irish Open which will present a great opportunity to showcase our golfing product on a world stage and will, once again, place Ireland in the international spotlight. It also takes us another step closer to hosting The 2011 Solheim Cup, where we will promote Irish golf tourism to a new global audience.“Golf is one of Ireland’s greatest tourist attractions, contributing an estimated €160 million to the economy. Importantly, when golfers come to Ireland, many also take part in other activities, which provides the opportunity to promote Ireland, not only as a golfing destination but also as a holiday destination of choice. We were overwhelmed by the response in the USA from the 120,000 spectators who attended The 2009 Solheim Cup in Chicago, many of whom expressed interest in visiting Ireland for the event in 2011” said Keith McCormack, Head of Golf & Sports Tourism at Fáilte Ireland.Quote from Killeen Castle“We are very proud to be hosting our first big International tournament; the AIB Ladies Irish Open in 2010 just two years after the course is open. It will be a perfect curtain raiser for The Solheim Cup in 2011. Killeen Castle and its members will welcome with open arms the best lady players in the world over the next two years for the AIB Ladies Irish Open and The 2011 Solheim Cup,” said Barry O’Connor, General Manager of Killeen Castle. “The Signature course which represents the latest in the Nicklaus design philosophy is one of the finest stadium venues anywhere in the world. The 600 acre estate has the added attraction of having a Dave Pelz Short Game School on site, fishing lakes and the magnificent 800 year old Killeen Castle as a backdrop to many fine holes on the course”.