Cort eyes famous double

Matthew Cort will lead a posse of midlands-based PGA pros into the final of The PGA's flagship event, the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship. 

The Rothley Park PGA Professional, 39, came into 2014 riding the crest of a wave after securing an unprecedented three successive Powerade PGA Assistants' Championship victories.

But having completed the PGA's training programme and secured his status as a fully qualified PGA Professional, he is no longer eligible to play in that event and graduates to compete in the prestigious £75,000 championship at Blairgowrie on August 5-8

The winner will, as well as claiming the lion's share of the prize fund, secure the use of a Peugeot car for 12 months and gain entry to the Titleist PGA Play-Offs at Antalya Golf Club in Turkey later this year. 

They will also gain points towards the qualification process for the 2015 PGA Cup, a prestigious matchplay event competed for biennially between Great Britain and Ireland and the United States of America.

Should Cort emerge victorious he will be the first golfer to secure both the Powerade and Glenmuir titles since Craig Goodfellow, who completed the feat in 2011 when he won the PGA Professional Championship at The Belfry.

And the former European Tour player remains confident of making the step up successfully, backed by an impressive showing in the qualifying round at Little Aston, where he finished tied second, one shot off the lead. 

He said: “It would be really good to follow on from the Powerade last year, go up to Blairgowrie and do really well.

“Obviously you look at the calendar at the start of the year and this event stands out as a real highlight and one that you really look forward to.

“So far this year I feel like I’ve been playing good golf, but I’ve not really taken my chances – like at the BMW PGA Championship and the Scottish Open where I felt my performance levels were good but I didn’t manage to make the cut.

“I guess the key will be to just keep consistent over the four rounds. I believe I can win it – and wouldn’t go there thinking otherwise – but I’m just going to have to turn up and make sure I perform on the day.”

Defending champion Daniel Greenwood (Forest Pines) will be among the other competitors making the journey up from the midlands, he found excellent form last year to dominate proceedings and claim the title by nine shots at Slaley Hall.

Yet he will not be the only past champion on display at Blairgowrie. Brian Rimmer (Little Aston) last secured the championship in 1997, and the 48 year old will be keen to make his experience count when the pressure's on in Perthshire.

Matthew Eagle, UK and Eire Sales Director at Glenmuir, said: “We are delighted to be once again sponsoring the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship, recognised and respected as the flagship event for PGA Professionals in Great Britain and Ireland.

“The qualifier venues were of outstanding quality this year as was the standard of golf played throughout, with the magnificent Blairgowrie Golf Club offering a fine venue for this year’s final on the 5^th–8^th August, which is sure to be as intriguing as ever.

“Our longstanding commitment to the PGA Professional is something very dear to our hearts alongside the game of golf at grass roots level. We hope that these relationships will carry forward for many years to come.  

“We look forward to another exciting tournament, and wish all the competitors the best of luck ahead of the event.”

Other players from the midlands competing in the final include: Craig Shave (Whetstone), Richard Copsey (Enville), Kevin Crossland (Worksop), Ian Lyner (Leicestershire), Shane Rose (Cold Ashby), Warwick Stevens (Bramcote Driving Range), and Andrew Willey (Bulwell Forest).