Edinburgh pro targets PGA Cup glory

Gareth Wright is hoping to cap a memorable year by helping Great Britain and Ireland claim victory over old adversaries America in the PGA Cup at De Vere Slaley Hall from September 20-22.

The West Linton ace has had a fine year to date, his June call up to GB&I captain Russell Weir’s team coming weeks before a successful outing in the Open Championship at Muirfield where he made the cut. He followed this up with a solid second place finish in the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship.

More recently he impressed at the Johnnie Walker Championship, where he finished one shot ahead of PGA Cup team-mate Greig Hutcheon, and he is currently in action at Tour School at Roxburghe Hotel and Golf Course in Kelso, with his focus firmly set on gaining his European Tour card for next year.

Yet despite his hectic schedule, Wright is still eagerly anticipating his chance to join up with Weir’s team of PGA Cup rookies as they prepare to renew the long standing rivalry with Allen Wronowski’s American charges.

He said: I know on paper this year’s team is made up of rookies, but in reality it is a fantastic team with an incredible amount of experience,” he said.

“We have a great chance of winning as long as we can hole the key putts at the right time. Most of the team have already played at Slaley Hall so hopefully that can give us a bit of an edge.

“It’s going to be great to play for the team and to play for my country. It will be an honour.”

Part of the challenge awaiting Wright in Northumberland will be his return to team golf, an element of the sport he admits he has little experience in.

“The last time I played team golf was in 2005 when I played for Wales in the European Team Championships,” he recalled. “Since then I haven’t really had many opportunities to do it.

“But aside from the match play format there aren’t too many differences, it’s all about holing your key putts and having the ability to change matches.”

Wright now hopes to use the experience of a successful year to his advantage, and help register a first victory over the Americans since Scotland’s Jim Farmer led GB&I to victory at The K Club in 2005.

“You learn every time you play a tournament,” he explained, “and there is no bigger stage than The Open – It really was an invaluable experience.

“I played with Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood on the Wednesday, and you learn a lot just from being around them.

“I feel like I’ve taken a lot of confidence from the experience, I’ve been playing steadily over the last few weeks and I’m looking forward to the challenge of the PGA Cup.”

Dubbed the equivalent of the PGA pro’s Ryder Cup, this year will see the biennial contest celebrate its 40th anniversary since the first matches were staged at the legendary Pinehurst No. 2 course in North Carolina in 1973.