VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) -- Portugal has dropped out of the race to host the 2022 Ryder Cup, leaving four countries in the running for the event.
Manuel Agrellos, president of the Portuguese Golf Federation, says Portugal pulled out because ''the prevailing economic environment would prevent us from developing as strong a bid as we would wish.''
Germany, Spain, Italy and Austria have hosted inspection visits from a delegation of Ryder Cup officials. They must make their formal submissions by April 30.
Officials say the host country and venue will be announced this autumn.