Mansell relishing ‘biggest career achievement’ at Foxhills

13/09/2022

Ashley Mansell has described playing in the upcoming PGA Cup for Great Britain & Ireland as the biggest achievement in his professional career.

Mansell qualified for David Russell’s team after finishing third in the PGA Professional Championship at Slaley Hall back in July.

The 32-year-old, who is attached to Clevedon Golf Club, is one of seven debutants in the Great Britain & Ireland team for the matches against America at Foxhills Club & Resort from 16-18^th September, 2022.

“Professionally, playing in the PGA Cup will be my highest accolade to date,” said Mansell. “It will be my biggest achievement so far.

“I can’t wait to represent Great Britain & Ireland in a PGA Cup match. They (GB&I team) are such a great bunch of guys. I get on well with all of them, we have such a good laugh and I’ve played against a few of them over the years in different events. We’ve all always got on well when we’ve had a bit of time together so I’m really looking forward to it.

“The standard of the American golfers is going to be high, but we know we can play to a very high standard as well. With the knowledge of Matthew Cort, Greig Hutcheon and David Higgins and our Captain David Russell and Vice-Captain Chris (Russell), I think we’re in for a good match.”

First played in 1973, the PGA Cup is a biennial contest between the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland and America. Widely regarded as the pinnacle of a PGA Professional’s career, the winner of the Ryder Cup style format at week’s end at Foxhills will win the famous Llandudno International Trophy. The USA are this year’s defending champions after defeating GB&I 14-12 at Barton Creek Resort, Texas in 2019.

Asked if he is looking forward to playing as part of a team, Mansell continued: “I only really played in team events as an amateur really when I played for Somerset, but apart from that not massively. Playing competitively over the years as a professional, there’s not been many team matches for you to play in. This is probably the highest level it gets for us and then you’ve got the Ryder Cup as far as team golf goes.”

Mansell has kept his schedule busy as he prepares to make his PGA Cup debut, but he admits preparing for the format of team golf is a challenge.

He added: “I had a busy schedule through August and at the start of September but it’s different when it comes to matchplay. It depends on what golfer turns up on the day.

“In terms of my preparation, for me it’s all about being the best golfer I can be on the day and if that’s good enough to win a point, then brilliant, if it’s not, so be it, but as long as I can give it my best, that’s all I’m asking myself to do.”

CLICK HERE to find out more about the 2022 PGA Cup.