Alliss, GB&I team look to remain undefeated on Scottish soil

GB&I Captain Gary Alliss is well aware that the Ryder Cup, Curtis Cup, Walker Cup and Solheim Cup now reside in the United States. He hopes, however, that the Llandudno International Golf Trophy stays in Scotland when the 24th PGA Cup concludes Sunday.

By Bob Denney, The PGA of America

LOCH LOMOND, Scotland -- As the third generation of a family that features a combined 13 Ryder Cup appearances between his father and grandfather, Gary Alliss can't escape being a student of golf history.

When he was chosen a year ago to return as Great Britain & Ireland Captain for the 24th PGA Cup, Alliss looked to find a historical thread to serve as motivation for his 10-member team, which faces the United States Friday in the opening of the premier international showcase event for PGA Professionals.

Great Britain & Ireland may trail in the biennial series 15-5-3, but it has never lost a PGA Cup on Scottish soil. The U.S. was defeated in 1983 at Muirfield, in 1984 at Turnberry and battled to a 13-13 draw in the rain in 1996 at Gleneagles.

"The guys are aware of that; there is a feel of how it is and it is great for us in having a Scot, Craig Matheson, playing for us," said Alliss, who said it has taken some time for him to get over a 13 1/2-12 1/2 loss to the U.S. in 2007 at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Ga.

When reminded by visiting Scottish journalists Wednesday that the United States owns possession of the Llandudno International Golf Trophy, Ryder Cup, Curtis Cup, Walker Cup and Solheim Cup, Alliss mused, "It's not much fun seeing all the silverware sitting on the other side of the pond."

The winning team this week receives two-year possession of the Llandudno International Golf Trophy, which Alliss' family preserved through World War II and later presented to The Professional Golfers' Association, which has its headquarters next to Alliss' home club, The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, England.

Alliss and United States Captain Brian Whitcomb, of Bend, Ore., the Honorary President of The PGA of America, observed a second straight day of practice for their respective teams at The Carrick on Loch Lomond. The PGA Cup opening ceremony will be conducted Thursday afternoon at the nearby Cameron House at the De Vere Deluxe Resort.

Alliss' father, Peter, the legendary voice of golf in the United Kingdom and an eight-time European Ryder Cup Team member, will be a guest speaker.

Whitcomb reviewed the time he spent with victorious 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Paul Azinger, adding that he has installed Azinger's "POD system" of pairing players with like personalities and tendencies to achieve maximum results.

"I have done that this week and I believe as Paul did that you gain when you put the strengths of each player together," said Whitcomb, who has split his team into two five-member groups throughout practice. "We have one  player [Mike Small of Champaign, Ill.] who is the current national champion and coach at the University of Illinois. He coaches the golf team there, so I have him in the pod with some of the younger players for mentoring reasons.

"I sent out a questionnaire a few months ago, things like: 'Do you like your partner to help you line up putts and do you like talking as you walk down the fairway or prefer to be by yourself?' We have tried to match these up."

Alliss said he had sorted through his notes from 2007 to arrive at a new game plan for this week's PGA Cup.

"I have been picking up things we did right back in '07," said Alliss. "To me, leaving anyone out of competition during one session is the hardest thing to do. I've got three players who played on the last Team and three players who are very experienced. I do believe that we have very similar teams. It will come down to a little bump here, a putt there and one will win."

The talent pool for The PGA of America and its more than 28,000 member professionals, Alliss said, is "formidable. Great Britain probably could fit twice in Texas, right? But really, there are better players now on both sides with more experience."

Whitcomb said that although American professionals do not live as close to one another as would players in Great Britain and Ireland, "we do know each other well enough through many other competitions, recognize one another and do get to play in many of the same events over the course of a year.

"We have complete respect for the Great Britain & Ireland Team and I'm very proud our professionals in this competition -- both sides -- represent the game of golf," he added. "The opportunity to play for the PGA Cup is tremendous. The game will win Sunday."

Following the Captains' appearance before the media, Matheson, a 26-year-old assistant professional at Falkirk Tryst Club, delighted his audience with his career story of having taught himself how to play the game along with carrying no hybrids in his bag along with a five-year-old driver.

"I found growing up that I gained the most by reading books, watching players on TV and noticing their body language with their golf swing," said Matheson. "If there was one author whom I read the most, it had to be Dr. Bob Rotella. His work has helped me."

Matheson, a 2008 runner-up in the Scottish Assistants Championship, said that unlike his contemporaries he shunned football [soccer] for golf.

"I used to play goalkeeper, but the first time I picked up a club I lost interest in football," said Matheson. "To be honest, I'm at the stage now where I'm ready to find someone who can help me when I need something straightened out in my game."

When a writer suggested Scottish teaching professional Bob Torrance, father of former Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance, Matheson's eyes opened wide.

"Certainly, I would love to meet Bob and have a chance to work with him and help me to get to the next level," he said. "Perhaps I can get that introduction."

Matheson's golf equipment choices, he said, come through his developing his game to meet the demands of Scottish weather.

"I keep a 2-iron in my bag, not a hybrid," he said. "I can keep the 2-iron under the wind and shape it. The hybrids have heavy heads on them and they don't work well at all for me. As for my driver, you probably never heard of it. It's a five-year-old 9-degree Ben Ross. It's Irish and has a ceramic head. I like it."

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