Fox is captain’s pick for PGA Cup

Graham Fox has been handed the captain’s pick to make the Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup line-up to face the United States at CordeValle Golf Club in September.

The seasoned Tartan Tour regular Scot completes Jon Bevan’s 10-man team that will bid to win the trophy on US soil for the first time in California from September 18-20.

Fox from Clydeway Golf Centre got the call from Bevan en route back to his West Kilbride home having narrowly missed out on automatic qualification at last week’s Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship at Burnham & Berrow where six spots were on the line.

The 37 year old beat off stiff competition from the likes of fellow 2013 PGA Cup team-mates Greig Hutcheon and Benn Barham to earn the call.

“It’s great to get the captain’s pick and very humbling when Jon has got the entire GB&I to pick from,” said Fox, who was part of the GB&I team that tied at Slaley Hall two years ago.

“The PGA Cup is a great event, there was a strong camaraderie with the guys last time and it was a shame we didn’t win two years ago when we came so close.

“Looking at the team this time out, if they all play well then there will only be one outcome.

“It’s an added incentive given the fact we’ve never won in America but once the gun goes off you’ve just got to concentrate winning your match.

“I played a lot of amateur team events and it is something you miss when you turn pro. A PGA Cup week is very intense and it’s only after it’s finished that you realise just how good it is so I’m over the moon to make another team.”

Fox joins 2013 team-mate Gareth Wright in the 2015 version alongside Cameron Clark (Moor Hall), Lee Clarke (Beeston Fields), David Dixon (Enmore Park), Paul Hendriksen (Dinnaton), Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Jason Levermore (Channels), Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre) and Alex Wrigley (Hartlepool).

With eight rookies in his side, Bevan believes Fox will add some valuable experience both on and off the course.

“At Slaley Hall in the last PGA Cup matches, there was definitely an air of calmness and doggedness about Graham and the right kind of attitude and character.

“His playing qualities are exceptional – I saw him at first hand shoot 61 in Turkey last year around a very challenging course.

“And with eight rookies we felt it was important to have someone who had PGA Cup experience under the belt so I expect both Graham and Gareth to be leaders on and off the course.”

The PGA Cup is played along the same format as the Ryder Cup with foursomes, fourballs and singles.

America has a stranglehold on the biennial event with 17 wins compared to just five GB&I wins with four ties. The last of those came at the Northumberland resort of Slaley Hall where GB&I swept the singles 7.5-2.5 to tie the match although as holders the US retained the Llandudno Trophy which the teams contest.