McKechnie relishing a return to the team environment as Scot makes PGA Cup debut

13/09/2022

Paul McKechnie returns to the cut-and-thrust of team golf for the first time in 15 years at this week’s PGA Cup at the Foxhills Club & Resort.

The 45-year-old Scot was handed a wild card by GB&I team skipper DJ Russell for the biennial bout with the USA and is hoping his fortunes improve in the fickle arena of head-to-head combat.

McKechnie, a former PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit winner, last experienced the team format back in 2007 when he was part of a Scottish PGA side that squared up to a Scottish Golf Union squad of elite amateurs in the now defunct Bunkered Matchplay Challenge.

A closely fought encounter on the banks of Loch Lomond ended in a 12-12 tie and McKechnie was chosen to play-off with Scott Henry to decide an outright winner.

“I was the sacrificial lamb,” chuckled McKechnie. “In the play-off, Scott hit to about 60-feet and I was in to 15-feet. But Scott holed his putt and I missed and that was it. I still slag him about it to this day. Hopefully my fortunes improve this week.”

A vastly experienced campaigner on a variety of circuits down the seasons, McKechnie is relishing the all for one and one for all solidarity of the PGA Cup environment.

He’s also savouring a new lease of golfing life after a niggling hand injury saw his outings severely hindered over the past 18 months.

“It was the first time in my career that I was properly sidelined and it took a while to get back in the full swing,” he said. “But it makes you appreciate what you do a lot more. It gets taken away from you so when you get the chance to play again you think, ‘just enjoy it, dry your eyes and stop moaning’. This week is a nice reward after those tough months.”

McKechnie had no hesitation in accepting captain Russell’s invitation and the Glasgow man is keen to get cracking. He may not display the chest-thumping histrionics of an Ian Poulter in the heat of the battle but McKechnie’s measured approach will stand him in good stead amid the matchplay tumult.

“I’m quite a calm person and don’t get too up or too down on the course,” he said. “It’s probably quite boring to be honest. But I’ve got plenty of experience. I’ve played in some big events down the years so hopefully I can use that to good effect.

“We’re all itching to get going but you have to pace yourself in the build-up. It’s a long week. Team golf really stirs the senses. There are the nerves because you don’t want to let your team-mates down. On the other hand, there’s the elation of contributing to the team effort if you win. It doesn’t matter if I play one game or five games, I’ll just do my best whenever I’m called upon.”

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 Foxhills will win the Llandudno International Trophy. The USA are this year’s defending champions after defeating GB&I 14-12 at Barton Creek Resort in Texas in 2019..