It’s a long way from the Clydeway Golf Centre to CordeValle – about 5,044 miles on the pedometer – but Graham Fox is hoping his transatlantic trek from his working base in south Lanarkshire to sunny California will be rewarded this weekend as Great Britain & Ireland’s club professionals try to do something they’ve never done before: win the PGA Cup on American soil.
With the inspiring words of Ian Poulter ringing in their ears – well, a video recording of the Ryder Cup talisman urging them to get stuck in – Fox and the rest of the 10-man team line up in the biennial battle determined to create a little bit of history.
It’s not going to be easy, of course. GB&I last won the Llandudno Trophy a decade ago in Ireland and their best results on US turf have been a couple of draws, in 1977 and 1981. There is reason for optimism, though. A rousing rally by the GB&I side in the last meeting between the sides at Slaley Hall in Northumberland two years ago has given them renewed belief and confidence. Forget the ‘Miracle of Medinah’ in the Ryder Cup of 2012, the ‘Salvage at Slaley’ was almost as a jaw-dropping as the hosts fought back from five points behind on a stirring final day to grab a morale-boosting 13-13 draw and end a run of heavy defeats.
In the matchplay format, anything is possible and Fox, the former Scottish PGA champion who was a member of that 2013 team, is relishing the prospect of another topsy turvy tussle.
“Everybody wants to win so badly,” said the 38-year-old, who has former Walker Cup player Lorne Kelly acting as caddie this weekend. “I always expected the unexpected in matchplay. Never ever think you are down and out because you never know in this game, momentum can shift very quickly.
“If you’re four up, you try to keep going but at the same time if you’re a few down you don’t let it get to you. You keep on going and keep believing you can pull the shots off.”
Fox’s Tartan Tour colleague Gareth Wright, the Edinburgh-based Welshman, is also looking to feed of the feel-good factor of 2013. “What happened two years ago was very Medinah-esque but we just fell that half point short of winning,” he said. “It inspires you to go out there and try that bit harder to bring the trophy home.”
Fox and Wright were both involved in this morning’s opening session of fourballs as the 27th meeting between the sides got underway.
Fox was paired with former European Tour champion David Dixon, who won the silver medal in the 2001 Open Championship, for an encounter with the US double act of Bob Sowards and Jamie Broce in the second tie out.
Wright, meanwhile, was teamed up with Englishman Jason Levermore in the anchor match against Allan Morin and Grant Sturgeon.
“Graham and David are one of the stronger pairings,” said Jon Bevan, the captain of GB&I. “Dave is a tour winner while Graham is experienced in this before so we felt we had power in that pairing to back up the guys that are leading us out.
"I’m calm and I’m expecting massive resistance from the US but as a team we are very happy with the order.”
The PGA Cup, Great Britain & Ireland v USA, CordeValle, California, Day One draw
Fourballs (GB&I names first)
07:30 (15:30 GMT) Michael Watson & Cameron Clark v Matt Dobyns & Ben Polland
07:45 (15:45 GMT) Graham Fox & David Dixon v Jamies Broce & Bob Sowards
08:00 (16:00 GMT) Lee Clark & Paul Hendriksen v Omar Uresti & Sean Dougherty
08:15 (16:15 GMT) Jason Levermore & Gareth Wright v Allan Morin & Grant Sturgeon
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