It's a family affair for Alex

Alex Wrigley won’t have far to turn for some fatherly advice when he tees up for Great Britain & Ireland in the PGA Cup against the United States in California.

The Hartlepool Golf Club pro is part of Jon Bevan’s GB&I team who will be striving to win on American soil for the first time in the event’s 42 year history.

The 25 year old – the youngest player on either team – will have his dad and former rugby union star, Jonathan, caddying in the three day event which takes place at CordeValle Golf Club from September 18-20.

Dubbed the club pros’ Ryder Cup, it is set to be another significant step in Wrigley’s burgeoning career which sees him combine coaching to support his bid to scale the heights of golf through the PGA EuroPro Tour where this season he is targeting a top five finish in the order of merit to secure a Challenge Tour card.

“It is going to be fantastic playing in the PGA Cup and I think the feelings you are going to have – the nerves and pressure – will be similar to playing in big tournaments so from that perspective it will be a great experience,” he said.

Despite being the youngest, Wrigley doesn’t think that will be a factor.

“Whether someone is 25 or 50, at the end of the day we’re all there to do the same job and play our best.

“Having the opportunity to go there and do something that has never been done before is one you have to relish. We’ve got a strong team, lots of self-belief and I feel we’ve got a good chance.”

An added boost for Wrigley will be having his father on the bag and while as a scrum half for West Hartlepool he was used to calling the shots, it will be definitely his son who will be the boss in California.

“Dad has caddied for me quite a few times and I wanted to have him in California with me,” added Wrigley whose mum and brother will also be there cheering him on.

“He understands me better than anyone and knows what to say to me and when to keep his mouth shut. I can’t imagine a dad taking orders from his son but I can assure once we’re off the course he’s still the boss.”

Wrigley junior played all sports as a kid and was a talented fly half in rugby and a good tennis player but it was golf that held sway.

“I played lots of sports growing up and I suppose I wanted to follow in dad’s footsteps with a career in sport and I was just better at golf plus there’s less contact in golf than rugby!”