2005 Recap: U.S. rally falls short as GB&I prevails

The United States almost overcame a historic deficit at the K Club, rolling up a record seven victories and a halve in a spirited attempt to pull off golf's ultimate rally. But Great Britain and Ireland held on for a 15-11 triumph in the 22nd PGA Cup.

By Bob Denney, The PGA of America

STRAFFAN, Ireland -- Faced with an Everest-like challenge, 10 United States PGA club professionals staged a charge Sunday afternoon in a bid to pull off golf's ultimate rally.

But, it was a gang of 10 from Great Britain and Ireland, without an Irishman on the roster, that now believes there is magic on the Emerald Isle.

Erasing a 21-year hex in this 22nd renewal of the PGA Cup, Great Britain and Ireland posted a 15-11 victory at The K Club's Smurfit Course to win the Llandudno International Golf Trophy for the first time since 1984. The final score was identical to America's triumph in 1992, the last time it competed in Ireland.

In the end, it was fitting that decades of frustration were brought to a close by a Welshman. Matthew Ellis delivered the decisive point that enabled his team to carry off a 26-inch high piece of hardware named for one of Wales' largest ports.

"I'm sure they [his countrymen] were all riveted to the telly in the pubs watching," said Ellis, who defeated Bob Ford of Oakmont, Pa., 3 and 1. "Seriously, it was a great honor."

The United States is now 5-5-1 on the road in the premier international competition for PGA club professionals, and 14-5-3 overall in an event patterned after the Ryder Cup.

"We all are embarrassed about not winning a point in two afternoons, but give their guys credit," said Ford, a PGA Master Professional at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.

Though his team needed but one point Sunday to clinch victory, GB&I Captain Jim Farmer of St. Andrews, Scotland, said he expected an all-out American singles attack.

"We knew they had a great team out there, and though we got way ahead, we knew that they would come at us today," said Farmer, a veteran of four GB&I teams. "Twenty-one years after doing this, the guys are so excited. The way they set about their task, it was in the cards from the first day."

Shut out the past two days in the four-balls, the Americans proved that singles play is their game. They registered a record 7 1/2 points to GB&I's 2 1/2. It was just a few shamrocks shy of a pot of gold.

"It was an unbelievable effort; every one of them knew they had to win their match," said U.S. Captain and PGA Honorary President M.G. Orender. "We got within a few points of doing it, which is pretty amazing.

"We just dug ourselves too big of a hole. They outplayed us in the team competition, and we were so far behind, it was highly unlikely. But, my guys never gave up. I'm very proud of them."

The parade of U.S. players attempting to mount the charge began with Scott Spence of Shorewood, Minn., who faced Wales' Richard Dinsdale, and were all square coming to the 18th green. Both players put an approach in the water, but Spence had reached the green in four to Dinsdale's five. Spence then ran his par putt eight feet past and missed coming back. Dinsdale two-putted for a double-bogey and the halve.

Spence tossed his putter in the stream behind the green, and stalked to the locker room to be by himself. He emerged a half hour later, comforted by his sister and wife, only to learn that the match was halved.

"I went to the locker room, cried and thought I had lost it for the entire team," said Spence. "Then, my sister told me that I had halved my match. I was beside myself, and don't remember anything after I missed the putt. My putter? That was a reflex. I've never done that before."

A 23-year-old Dutch student, Bram Rutten of The Hague, Netherlands, promptly took off his trousers and jumped into the stream to retrieve Spence's putter. Once toweled off, Rutten met Spence near the clubhouse. Spence autographed the putter grip and presented it to Rutten as a gift.

"I'm putterless now, but I do feel that I and all of us had a great learning experience," said Spence, the PGA Head Professional at Burl Oaks Country Club in Shorewood, Minn. "The guys all came back well today. There was a lot of red on the board -- finally. I'm headed back to Minnesota and we start Section Match Play Tuesday. I plan to win that match."

There were a lot of high moments for the U.S. Team despite the daunting task it faced in the singles.

Ron Philo Jr. of Amelia Island, Fla., and Travis Long of Henderson, Nev., each enjoyed 7 and 6 routs. Philo cruised past England's Mark Reynolds, while Long polished off England's Simon Edwards. Brett Melton of Monee, Ill., rolled past Scotland's Gordon Law, 6 and 5. Chip Johnson of Hingham, Mass., drained a 20-foot birdie putt at the 18th to edge England's Andrew Baguley, 1-up.

"All of our team were competitive, but I also think the speed factor had something to do with it," said Philo. "Today, I felt like I was playing golf again."

"I didn't want to be the one that lost the Cup for the United States," said Johnson. "Just like the guys in the Ryder Cup, we're not used to team competition. I got the impression watching their guys that when they got behind, they seemed to feel 'hey, things will change.' It was a good learning experience for us, and I'd love to come back."

Meanwhile, there was a measure of redemption for reigning PGA Club Professional Champion Mike Small of Savoy, Ill., and past national champions Bob Sowards of Dublin, Ohio, and Tim Thelen of Richmond, Texas.

Small, who had not helped score a point, picked up a 2 and 1 victory over Scotland's Fraser Mann. Sowards also posted a 2 and 1 decision, downing England's Tony Nash.

Thelen, a two-time PGA Club Professional Champion, defeated previously unbeaten Paul Wesselingh of Derby, England, grabbing the lead on the 13th hole and then coaxing in a 3 1/2-foot par putt on the 18th for a 1-up victory.

"Yesterday I felt bad, because I played great but couldn't help us win," said Thelen. "It might have been a concentration deal. It's match play and anything can happen. I looked at our team coming in and would have taken anyone as my partner.

"I hit a lot of good golf shots today, and it was just the wrong club. There were a couple out there where I was posing, and the balls went over the green. You couldn't really tell what was going to happen."

Farmer said that he found one key to facing the United States in team competition.

"The difference is that our guys all play in regional events, and get to know each other that way," he said. "We have two Scotsmen, two Welshmen, and pair them up that way. When you've got a guy from L.A. and Florida, it's difficult to play that team sport."

Orender watched the GB&I team celebrating near the scoreboard and reflected upon the change in format all U.S. teams face in match play.

"Our guys are not used to team competition," said Orender. "They told me last night that they were so worried about how they played for their partner that they all tightened up. And, nobody made any putts. When they were able to play heads up, like they did today, they put it on them."

The 22nd PGA Cup, begun in 1973 and patterned after the Ryder Cup, brings together the finest PGA club professionals from The PGA of America and The Professional Golfers' Association.