Bevan lays down gauntlet to GB&I
10/09/2015
Great Britain & Ireland captain Jon Bevan is calling on his team to be a bunch of stubborn self-believers in their quest to win the PGA Cup in America for the first time.
The Rhos on Sea Golf Club teaching pro leads GB&I in the 27th PGA Cup matches at CordeValle Golf Club from September 18-20.
It is 42 years since the inaugural contest at Pinehurst with two ties in 1977 and 1981 the best results by a GB&I team. Bevan also came close to breaking the US stranglehold in their backyard as part of Gary Alliss’s 2007 team.
Bevan, undefeated in four matches at Reynolds Plantation, Georgia, was part of the team that narrowly lost 13.5-12.5 and the 48 year old is eager for his team to prove equally dogged.
“The challenge is huge, without question, and the key will be attitude,” said Bevan.
“I’ve never doubted our abilities as golfers from a skill sets point of view. It is about attitude, you have got to be able to look them in the eye and feel you are comfortably their equal and believe that you are comfortably their equal.
“I’m looking for dogged, determined, stubborn self-believers.
“I know I am going to get great players, I’m looking for a group of ten to become a team, to become a gang all pushing in the same direction all with the same goal.”
Overall America has a win record of 17 compared to five wins for GB&I and four draws including last time out at Slaley Hall. The last time GB&I won the trophy was in 2005 at The K Club.
CordeValle proved a happy hunting ground for the hosts the last time the PGA Cup was contested there in 2011 when the Americans dominated 17.5-8.5 but Bevan has been meticulous in his preparations and is hoping a strong team mentality can lift them to success.
“As an underdog pretty much all my career, I loved going head to head with powerful players and the feeling of playing for your country, your team-mates, your family and The PGA and representing them and, if you channel it the right way, it raises your standard without question,” he added.
The 2015 PGA Cup team comprises Cameron Clark (Moor Hall), Lee Clarke (Beeston Fields), David Dixon (Enmore Park), Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf), Paul Hendriksen (Ivybridge), Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Jason Levermore (Channels), Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre), Gareth Wright (West Linton) and Alex Wrigley (Hartlepool).
