大象传媒

This week sees the opening of one of the world's biggest sporting events - the 2010 Ryder Cup. On Friday, this glamorous golfing tournament tees off in Newport - a South Wales city hit hard by the economic recession.

In the first of a new series, we go behind the scenes to follow the ups and downs of the last year's preparations (from October 2009 to October 2010) - from building a course fit for the golfing elite, to overhauling an area devastated by an economic storm.

With twelve months to go, Bryn Terfel's in full voice at a celebrity match to mark the countdown... If everything goes to plan, the Ryder Cup could change Newport's fortunes forever...but Newport City Council leader Matthew Evans has his work cut out enthusing the locals - and ensuring vitally important building projects finish on time.

Newport has seen record job losses; plans for a new shopping centre have just collapsed after investors pulled out. Now all hope rests on the Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor Resort...

But as Christmas approaches, golf hits the headlines for all the wrong reasons...Tiger Woods emerges from a reported car crash to announce his break from the game ...but...will he be back in time for the Ryder Cup?