Bradshaw relishing return to Le Golf National

Alan Bradshaw is one of three PGA Members who will be providing free lessons to the public during the Ryder Cup, and it promises to be an emotional return to the venue for the Bootle Golf Club professional.

The 59-year-old worked at West Lancashire Golf Club in the 1980s and came across a young French player by the name of Mickael Garabedian, who was coached by his employer David Lloyd.

Bradshaw and Garabedian became close friends and when the Frenchman returned home in 1990, he contacted Bradshaw and asked if he could become his personal coach.

Bradshaw recalled: “In January 1991 we both flew to Orlando, Florida to the David Leadbetter Golf Academy for a three-month winter training program after this we returned back to France.

“Mickael became a French international team player and was invited for training at the La Golf National golf course. This was to become our new training base.”

Later that year Le Golf National hosted the French Open (Open de France) with Garabedian missing out, although he was down as a reserve.

Instead, Bradshaw was able to caddie for Australian Ken Trimble, another player he had met earlier in his career at West Lancashire.

Bradshaw continued: “We played in all four rounds and finished well up the field behind the eventual winner Eduardo Romero.

“I remember the course well; lots of water and tight fairways, it was a course for positional play and thinking, it was a very good test of golf.

“I have not returned back to Golf National since but I’m really looking forward to representing the PGA at one of the biggest sporting events in the world and catching up with dear friends.”

Bradshaw will be joined in Paris by PGA Master Professional Peter Ball and Jamie Cundy, who has coached at six Open Championships but never at a Ryder Cup.

He added: “I feel privileged to be coaching at one of the biggest sporting events in the world with some of the best golf coaches in the country. 

“It was watching the famous European victory in the 1985 Ryder Cup at The Belfry that spurred me on to become a golf professional. 

“I am thrilled to be selected and grateful that I have the chance to coach at such a wonderful event. I hope to inspire many golfers to take up this wonderful game and also encourage them to take lessons from their local PGA Professional.”