Watson relishing PGA Cup opportunity

Michael Watson will finally realise one of his golfing ambitions by teeing up for Great Britain & Ireland in the PGA Cup against the United States at CordeValle, California from September 18-20.

The Wessex Golf Centre pro has been determined to make the team since being pipped in a play-off for a place in the team four years ago when the matches were also held at CordeValle.

At 45, he will be the senior man in Jon Bevan’s ten-man team but Watson is delighted to just be a part of it having come through another play-off at the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship at Burnham & Berrow to secure his place in the team.

“It was quite emotional to finally make the team,” admitted Watson.

“I’ve always been aware of the PGA Cup, especially for us PGA pros, we know how big an event it is - it’s our Ryder Cup. We know how much the European Tour guys want to play in the Ryder Cup and it’s no different for us.”

While 2015 will mark his debut in the PGA Cup, Watson is no stranger to golf on the west coast of America.

Back in the late 80s and early 90s he got a golf scholarship to the University of Nevada, Reno where he spent four happy years – graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and having played on some of the best courses in the US and against some of the best players representing the likes of Stanford, UCL and Arizona State University.

Among his contemporaries were Jim Furyk and Mike Weir plus a certain other left-hander by the name of Phil Mickelson!

“I played against Phil and you just knew this guy was good. He was the man.

“I played in the west coast regional qualifiers with him and he shot something like five under. I can still remember quite a few of the shots. He was still not straight then but was always cavalier, he had so much confidence it didn’t matter where he hit the ball because his short game was unbelievable. His putting was the most confident and aggressive I’ve ever seen.”

There will be a strong west region connection to the PGA Cup team with David Dixon and Paul Hendriksen also in the team plus Albert MacKenzie (Saunton) and Martyn Thompson (Parkstone) vice captains while Bevan has strong links to the region having been based there for many years.

Last month saw the team have a get together at The Belfry which Watson described as a hugely positive experience ahead of the task of winning the Llandudno Trophy on US soil for the first time.

“We’re all aware that we’ve never won on US soil before, but it is not something to be scared of, it is a challenge, something to inspire us as a positive and to drive us forward.

“The character of the team is strong, no one is going to back down. If you get beaten, that’s fine, as long as you’ve played to your best which I’m sure we’ll do.”