Q&A with the PGA Cup Captains

Before their respective teams of PGA Professionals commence with trying to win the coveted Llandudno International Golf Trophy, PGA Cup captains Brian Whitcomb (left) of the United States and Gary Alliss (right) of Great Britain & Ireland participated in an exclusive Q&A session.

GARY ALLISS, Captain, Great Britain & Ireland Team
PGA Master Professional
The Belfry -- Sutton Coldfield, England

Q. The PGA Cup competitive level has risen steadily over the past decade, as evidenced by a decisive victory in 2005 for Great Britain & Ireland followed by coming within a point of a historic first road victory in the United States in 2007. What can you attribute to GB&I's increased level of play?

ALLISS: I believe the GB&I team players have drawn on the inspiration of Ryder Cup sides. Many of our players qualifying this year grew up watching Faldo, Seve, Sandy, Bernhard, Woosie, Ollie, etc. They are steeped in those players beating USA teams, winning majors and they are not frightened.
In addition, the players of the PGA Cup are day-to-day golf professionals, but they truly believe themselves to be professional golfers. The PGA Cup is just another way they can show themselves off to be great players. Because of this, the desire to make the side has risen almost immeasurably. PGA members really want to make the GB&I team, play for their country and win points against the strongest golfing nation in the world. They also relish the fact that the PGA Cup is the last remaining GB&I team, not Europe.

Q. You will be serving for a second straight time as Captain. What does it mean to you at this point in your career in golf?

ALLISS: It is without doubt the pinnacle of my career to date, I hope that after the match there may be more highlights for me, I'm only 55, but if I do no more or much more the two opportunities I have been given to Captain my country in the sport I love will very likely be unsurpassable. In addition, it allows me my small niche in golfing history alongside my very illustrious grandfather and father and I hope will be an inspiration to my son as he enters his final year of PGA training, by showing that it is possible to make your own mark even when your predecessors appear to have achieved everything.

Q. Can you describe The Carrick, and what challenges it presents for both teams? What advantages do you believe that your team will have apart from being conducted on familiar ground?

ALLISS: The Carrick is a very new course but does not give that impression, it has molded into the loch side landscape seamlessly. It is a mix of several types of course, pine and heather, moorland and a hint of links when the wind gusts across mighty Loch Lomond. Each hole is different offering 18 individual challenges, perfect for exciting match play.
I suppose if there is any advantage for home players it is that the course is a British type, but I don't see any big advantage for the home side. As far as the challenges I think the winning side will have kept the ball in play, will certainly have controlled where to position the ball on the greens, as being the wrong side of the hole will prove taxing. Finally, the winners will not have given holes away, as is always the case in a match.

Q. If you were addressing an audience of PGA Professionals from either side of the Atlantic who knew very little about the PGA Cup, what could you tell them about what they could aspire to should they ever qualify for a team?

ALLISS: Mostly, this is the opportunity for the PGA Professional to represent his country. Nothing in golf compares to playing for your home nation. To enjoy the pomp and ceremony, to be able to play with and for your teammates in what is essentially the most selfish of games, but, at the same time, securing your own winning record by amassing points. When it is all done, in years to come, you can look back on the photos, the memorabilia, to see your name on the record books, to relive the memories. Not my quote, but, 'memories are better than dreams.'

Q. What may be the keys to victory for either team in this year's PGA Cup?

ALLISS: It would be remembering that match play is 18 little matches. You just have to win one more than the other guy; you can win shooting 79 and lose shooting 65, so don't give holes away, make the other guy win them. Keep the ball in play and take your chances when they come along. It ain't over 'til it's over!

BRIAN WHITCOMB, Captain, United States Team
Honorary President, PGA of America
PGA Director of Golf
Lost Tracks Golf Club, Bend, Ore.

Q. Having seen Paul Azinger operate at close quarters during his Ryder Cup captaincy at Valhalla [Golf Club, 2008] what lessons have you learned that you can apply to your PGA Cup captaincy?

WHITCOMB: What I witnessed was how Paul was very aware of not over-coaching. It was critical to pair players well, then get out of their way and provide good counsel when needed. The other thing that I learned was the type of players to pair. The pairings become so important that you have to work in matching what best skills each player may have along with their personalities. I believe that through such observations watching Paul Azinger that I will work to accomplish the above and just tell our players to go out and have some fun. It is important that players stay loose and have fun.

Q. America is a huge country, what is the secret to molding a successful team with players coming from all corners of the USA?

WHITCOMB: I would like to turn it around and believe that golf is actually a very small circle. We all have a commonality, have been around each other at various times of the year or in the past and it lends itself to some bonding already among us. For the players who will be making their PGA Cup debut, the impact of the opening ceremony, the raising of the flags of each country will be enough to transmit how huge an event this is for them. They will realize as our veterans have realized on this team that there is a commitment to the fact that you are playing for pride and playing for our great country.

Q. What do you think you will bring to the captaincy role?

WHITCOMB: I have been around most of the players for years, and those I don't know as well, I have seen how they have competed and reacted under pressure in our [PGA Professional] National Championship and the PGA Championship. I also have had the opportunity to play with a lot of the players over the years in our National Championship [pro-ams]. They know how much I respect their abilities, and I feel that it is special to know that they have a sense of what I'm about and will play hard for their Captain.

Q. Americans love the traditions of the game, so how do the team and you feel about the prospect of contesting the Llandudno Trophy at the Home of Golf?

WHITCOMB: It all starts with a respect that we all have for the privilege of being able to compete in Scotland, the "Home of Golf." Scotland and its people are held in the highest regard. We feel a kinship to them, a strong respect for the club professionals of Great Britain & Ireland. They may be an ocean away, but step for step their share many of the same feelings and experiences that we do in our daily business.

Q. With the matches having been so close in the last few encounters, what will be the key to victory for either team?

WHITCOMB: The key to victory for either team is that the players can enjoy themselves, yet stay loose and let their skill sets come out. A team has to have that on any aspect of the game. If you are playing without conviction, you rarely can win at this level. That is what is needed to be competitive.

The level of play I have seen in recent years in the PGA Cup is outstanding. As the matches go on and you get to the Sunday singles, the shotmaking is spectacular. I just wish that every player could play that way in their Section event as what I see on those Sundays. If they could do that, they would never lose a Section event.

Q. In many ways the PGA Cup is the "unknown" Ryder Cup, but an equally exciting and dramatic event. What have been your most memorable moments from past PGA Cups?

WHITCOMB: The most recent memory I have is of Ryan Benzel birdying the last hole at Reynolds Plantation in 2007. That was pretty incredible. And, later that same day, Chris Starkjohann made the necessary putts to ensure that we could win the Cup.

The time spent in the Team Room over the years has been very special. The opening ceremonies are when you can meet the families and friends and see how proud that they are of being a part of the PGA Cup.

I also look back to the PGA Cup of 2005 at The K Club in Ireland and in 2003 at PGA Golf Club [in Port St. Lucie, Fla.]

In 2005, we trailed by a large margin entering the Sunday singles (12½ to 3½). Despite facing an impossible task, our guys got things close before a fine Great Britain & Ireland Team won down the stretch. In 2003, we had a great team [a 19-7 victory] and I felt a lot of pride that we could play the PGA Cup at our club -- one owned and operated by The PGA of America.