CordeValle poses ideal PGA Cup test

Great Britain & Ireland’s PGA Cup players will definitely need to bring their ‘A’ games for the challenge at CordeValle in September predicts Jon Bevan.

The man charged with leading GB&I’s bid to regain the coveted Llandudno Trophy from American hands paid a whistle-stop visit to the Californian venue along with vice captain Albert MacKenzie to get a sneak preview.

“It was impressive, and if you have your ‘B’ game then you might as well stay in the chalet,” said Bevan.

CordeValle has been a regular fixture on the US Tour circuit and next year will host the US Women’s Open so the pedigree of the Robert Trent Jones Jr layout is second to none – a view confirmed by Bevan.

“It was everything I expected, condition wise it was fantastic and will only get better when we play in September,” he said.

“The greens were quick, but will be quicker and it strikes me as a driver’s course. If you drive it well you give yourself a chance.

“You have to hit it to sections of the green, not just on the green and you’ve got to have a good short game.

“It’s one of those where if you miss you need to be missing in the right places because it will be a struggle to get up and down.

“The biggest difference will be the pace of the greens, you can miss by a couple of metres and chipping on to the green becomes like chipping on to an ice rink. It makes it important that you know the risks if you are taking on a certain flag.

“But it’s all part and parcel of course management and in their practice rounds the guys will be figuring out the risks.”

The next piece of the jigsaw will slot into place for Bevan when his team is finalised at the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship at Burnham & Berrow in the first week of June (2-5).

Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Jason Levermore (Channels) and David Dixon (Enmore Park) are already in the team having qualified via the PGA Play-Offfs but there will be six places up for grabs at Burnham & Berrow based on a points accumulation over two years.

Bevan will have one remaining captain’s pick to complete the ten man team.

“I’m very happy having seen CordeValle and I’ll be even happier when I have got the six other guys in the team,” he added.

“It’s taking a while but it’s breaking up nicely. It will be three or so weeks until the team is decided, then six weeks after we have a get together at The Belfry and then the guys will have six to eight weeks to concentrate on tournament golf and sharpening themselves up.

“The biggest thing is that we will arrive on the Saturday in September which gives the team plenty of time to be primed and ready for the Friday off.

“Golfers tend to be very good at learning golf courses – a lot better than remembering birthdays and anniversaries!”

The PGA Cup matches between The PGA and The PGA of America are a Ryder Cup style format with foursomes, fourballs and singles.

The 27^th staging of the PGA Cup will take place at CordeValle, California from September from September 18-20.

For more about the history of the PGA Cup click here.