Team USA win 2024 PGA Cup

Team Great Britain and Ireland made a strong comeback on the final day of the 2024 PGA Cup, scoring 4.5 points out of a possible 10 in the Sunday singles matches, but the existing deficit was too much to overcome after Team USA put up such a strong performance in the fourballs and foursomes matches earlier in the week.

Team USA won the matches with a score of 17.5 points over Great Britain and Ireland’s 8.5.

After a tough first day for Team Great Britain and Ireland, where they scored only one of the eight available points, it was an uphill battle from then on.

Craig Lee & Paul McKechnie scored a point on both the first and second days, and were joined by Toby Hunt & Colm Moriarty and Adam Keogh & James Walker on day two, each pair scoring an additional point.

Going into the final day, Team Great Britain and Ireland trailed Team USA 4-12, and with 13 points being enough for Team USA to retain the Llandudno Trophy, Team Great Britain and Ireland needed to claim all of the Sunday singles matches to win.

A strong start on Sunday meant a number of matches turned ‘blue’, but Team USA fought back and with only one point required to retain the trophy, soon secured the win.

Team Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup Captain, Tim Rouse, said: “My boys have played their hearts out, I couldn't ask for anything more. The Americans have outplayed us on the greens, but my boys have played fantastic. We've had no weak link in the team at all - they've all played their best, they've given it 100% and it's been an amazing experience.”

Gareth Davies was one of the players who scored a point for Team Great Britain and Ireland in the Sunday singles matches, alongside Adam Keogh, James Walker and Colm Moriarty, plus Toby Hunt who scored a half. Davies said: “You want to come and contribute and the whole team wanted to show a bit of pride today and we’ve done that. 

“It’s been an amazing week - I’ve solidified friendships I already had, made some new ones, it’s been great for the family to be here - it’s been really nice, we’ll treasure it for the rest of our lives.

“It’s sport - somebody has to win, somebody has to lose - you can always look back and say ‘we could have done this different’, but the Americans played great, especially the first day, they were unbelievable, so it’s just really nice that we’ve shown that we can play and compete today.”

Team USA Captain, Jim Richerson, said “It’s been the highlight of my professional career. I think the team atmosphere is just different.

"You go to golf events and watch people play and everyone goes their separate ways. With this team atmosphere you have 10 PGA Professionals who are working everyday at their clubs back home, and they get to come together as a team. They get to spend time getting to know one another. Their spouses get to know one another. That’s one of the great things about the game of golf. It’s such a great connector bringing people together. You see the relationships that are formed and how they’re supporting one another, those that lost or won a match. Everybody by the end of the week is one big team, one big family. It’s unique and special to be a part of.”

USA's Ben Polland, who helped seal the victory with a 1-up win against McKechnie on the final day, was delighted with how he and his team performed throughout the week.

He said: "It was a lot of fun. I was happy with how I played. The final match was great and Paul (McKechnie) was playing awesome. Making a putt was fitting on the last hole because that was the club that was automatic and working this week."

"Being able to even play five matches in one of these is fun, let alone winning all of them," said Polland. "The experience of playing in the matches and the team format was so fun. This is the best even that we paly in."

Find the final scores HERE. 

See photos from Sunday HERE.