Ryder Cup ace set for Welsh PGA National

Former Ryder Cup hero and leading European Tour player Phillip Price will bid to add a second Welsh National PGA Championship to his name later this month – two decades after last lifting the title.

The 46-year-old is part of an 84-strong field competing at Royal St David’s from October 17-18 with the £10,000 tournament being sponsored for the first time by Asbri Golf.

Price, who famously beat Phil Mickelson in the Ryder Cup singles at The Belfry in 2002, won the historic Welsh crown at Mountain Lakes Golf Club, Caerphilly in 1993.

Worcester Golf Club’s Graham Farr finished third behind Price in that year and will also in action in north Wales as will be John Peters (Southerndown) and James Lee (Caerphilly) who finished in the top eight 20 years ago.

Other past Welsh champions in the field include three-time winner Simon Edwards (Windermere) and two-time victors Sion Bebb (Vale) and Paul Mayo.

Price is the highest profile player in the field and enjoys a reputation as one of Wales’ best-ever golfers with his Tour victories including the Portuguese Open in 1994 and the European Open in 2003.

The tournament also marks the first of a two-year sponsorship by Asbri Golf, a successful golf accessories company specialising in bespoke and logo merchandise, which launched just eight years ago and has flourished with dedicated sales teams throughout Europe.

Paul Williams, Asbri Golf’s sales and marketing director, commented: “We are looking forward to the Welsh National PGA Championship and delighted to hear the recent news that past winner and Ryder Cup hero Phil Price will be in the field.

“It just shows what a fantastic and historic tournament it is and one that any Welshman would be proud to win. Indeed, as a Welsh company, we are very proud to be sponsoring the event.

“PGA Professionals have contributed massively to our success as a company, particularly in Wales and it’s now nice to be able to give something back and show how much we appreciate their support.”

Simon Higginbottom, PGA head of tournaments, added: “Asbri has been key supporters of professional golf in Wales for many years. Indeed, many PGA Professionals and their members in Wales and throughout the country will be very familiar with the Asbri product line.

“I also thank Gareth Lewis, PGA Professional at Harlech, and all the officers, members and staff at the club for their warm welcome and support of this historic Championship. We all look forward to the Welsh National PGA Championship where a distinguished field of PGA Professionals will compete over the magnificent links at Harlech.”

Past winners include Ryder Cup-winning captain Ian Woosnam, Ryder Cup player and captain Brian Huggett and Sid Mouland, who holds the record with six victories.

Royal St David’s will be hosting the tournament for the third time having previously staged it in 1939 and 2010.