Mann for all seasons

If good things come in threes then Fraser Mann could be the ace up Russell Weir’s sleeve as the Great Britain & Ireland captain strives to mastermind the recapture of the PGA Cup at De Vere Slaley Hall.

Mann, a two-time PGA Cup player, (pictured above left) will be among the supporting cast as caddie to fellow Scot Greig Hutcheon (right) but could well end up a lucky mascot having never tasted defeat against the United States.

He tied on his debut in 1996 at Gleneagles and nine years later played his part in a memorable victory at The K Club which ended GB&I’s barren run of 21 years without winning. Among the US team of that year were Bob Sowards and three-time national champion Mike Small who in Northumberland will be making his fifth straight appearance in the biennial contest.

Mann, who lost to Small in the singles in 2005, is on the Tartan Tour No.1’s bag having offered his services a few weeks back but the pair are good friends stretching back to when Mann was a young assistant at Banchory and used to eject a teenage Hutcheon from the pro shop for always messing with equipment.

“He was a little pain in the neck, I used to throw him out of the shop all of the time because he was always in the shop touching the clubs,” recalls the former Musselburgh head pro who takes up a new teaching role at Carnoustie next month.

“Greig will tell you how I used to deal with them. I used to give them the Forfar run out, which is when you grab them by the back of the trousers and lift them out. I think nowadays if I did that I would get into trouble!”

Come Friday, Mann will be offering another kind of helping hand in the shape of good yardage calls and club selections when the 26th PGA Cup matches get underway although he admits carrying the 40-year-old’s bag is not such a hardship.

“The thing with Greig is that he has so much experience, having played in big tournaments that he is quite easy to caddy for. All I will be doing is backing him up on any decision as any good caddy would do, help with his yardages and help where required.

“For me, it’s nice to be involved in the matches. Greig is class, he has all the shots and plenty in reserve. Every time he tees it up in Scotland, he is the man to beat.

“The thing is that he is enjoying his golf as well, he is not battling to find form. He is just an all-round good player and will fit in with the team. He can play with any of the other nine guys – foursomes or fourballs.”

Playing with confidence will be key to GB&I’s chances while Mann (above second left with Hutcheon right) believes it is important they also play without fear.

“The advice to pass on to the boys is just not to be scared. Having played in two, I enjoyed my second experience much more because I realised the second time we were just as good players as the Americans but just had to be more aggressive and hole more putts.

“I’ve played in two matches and have yet to lose and the plan this week is to not to lose because we have a great team this year and I think we have a great chance, particularly if the weather stays as it is - it’s not often you go out on the golf course hoping it is going to be wet and windy but I hope it is at the weekend.

“If we can’t give them a close run thing this time with this team, we’re never going to give them a close run game and with Russell (Weir) he will have left no stone unturned.”

Win, lose or draw, however, Mann is determined to make the most of his week.

“It is just a great week, a carbon copy of the Ryder Cup week, the players are treated the same, the players are made to feel very special, their families are all here, it is just a fantastic week, it is the build-up, the ceremonies and then getting stuck into the golf. Then at the end of the week, either celebrating or commiserating with your team members.”