A MULTI-MILLION pound bid to bring golf's most prestigious competition to the North-East was launched yesterday.

The £44m attempt to bring the 2009 Ryder Cup to Slaley Hall, in Northumberland, is being backed by the Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Regional development company One NorthEast is underwriting the bid with £24m and a further £20m is available from the private and public sectors. It is estimated that the event could generate up to £140m for the region.

One NorthEast and its partners, Brendan Foster's sports marketing agency Nova International, Northumbria Tourist Board and De Vere Hotels, which owns Slaley Hall, will face fierce competition to hold what is thought to be the world's third biggest sporting occasion.

Scotland, Wales and Sweden are also in the running, with the the winner to be announced next September.

Mr Blair said: "As a North-East MP, I am well aware of the importance of sport to the people in the area.

''Thousands participate in a wide variety of sports, on a regular basis, and the organisation committee can be assured of tremendous local support should the competition come to the region.

"I eagerly look forward to joining the people at this great sporting occasion."

Dr John Bridge, chairman of One NorthEast said: "Sport is the stuff of legend in the North East. We are competing with the very best in football and athletics, but not golf. Here we have a chance to change all that.

''If everyone has the chance to play, we multiply the chances of a world-class player of the future hailing from this region.

''The strength of our bid lies in these thousands of new, committed golfers and the use of sport to promote economic growth.

"One NorthEast is underwriting the costs necessary to deliver the full programme of events, which will culminate in the Ryder Cup itself.

''This £24m will be the catalyst for private sector investment and sponsorship should the bid be successful. The economic benefits alone will far outweigh the costs."

Sports Minister Kate Hoey and Sport England have pledged their support.