Editorial

United States Team Heads to England for the 30th PGA Cup

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Captained by PGA Honorary President Suzy Whaley, the U.S. Team looks to defend the PGA Cup against Great Britain & Ireland at Foxhills, and win on European soil for the first time since 2009. The United States Team of 10 of the country’s top playing PGA Professionals heads to Surrey, England next week for the 30th PGA Cup against Great Britain & Ireland, Sept. 12-18, at the Foxhills Club & Resort.  The PGA Cup was first played at Pinehurst (North Carolina) Country Club in 1973, and is an outgrowth of the PGA Professional Championship. Following the format of the Ryder Cup, with match-play competition between the U.S. and Europe, the PGA Cup features PGA Club Professionals from both sides of the Atlantic. The U.S. leads 18-7-4 overall, but has not won outright in the United Kingdom since 2009.  The Americans secured the Llandudno International Trophy in the most recent playing of the PGA Cup, in September 2019, with a historic 14-12 comeback victory that featured wins in eight of 10 Sunday singles matches. 2022 United States PGA Cup Team Captained by PGA Honorary President Suzy Whaley, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the 2022 United States PGA Cup Team includes 10 PGA Members, featuring five veterans and five other players making their debut : Alex Beach — Stillwater, Minnesota — Played in 2019 PGA Cup (2-2-0) Frank Bensel Jr. — Jupiter, Florida — Debut Michael Block — Mission Viejo, California — Played in 2015 PGA Cup (3-1-0) Larkin Gross — Center Cross, Virginia — Debut  Jared Jones — Houston, Texas — Debut Jesse Muelle r — Phoenix, Arizona — Debut Ben Polland — Jackson, Wyoming — Played in 2015 PGA Cup (0-3-2) Omar Uresti — Austin, Texas — Played in 2015 & 2017 PGA Cups (4-1-3) Ryan Vermeer — Omaha, Nebraska — Played in 2019 PGA Cup (3-2-0) Wyatt Worthington II —  Reynoldsburg, Ohio — Debut “It’s a tremendous honor to serve as United States Captain for the 30th PGA Cup, as we come together at a magnificent venue to celebrate the game of golf,” said Whaley, the President of Golf Nation and PGA Director of Instruction for The Country Club at Mirasol in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. “We’re certainly aware of the formidable challenge we will face from another talented GB&I squad and the difficulty that comes with winning on foreign soil.” The U.S. Team in the biennial international showcase for PGA Club Professionals was determined through a two-year points system that included the past two PGA Professional Championships and two PGA Championships. The points race ended with the 2022 PGA Championship held at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 2022 Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup Team Captained by David Russell, of Scotland, the 2022 Great Britain & Ireland Team includes three PGA Cup Veterans and seven players making their debut: Matthew Cort — England — Played in 2017 & 2019 PGA Cups (6-3-0) David Higgins — Ireland — Played in 2017 PGA Cup (3-1-1)/2019 Vice-Captain Greig Hutcheon — Scotland — Played in  2013 & 2017 PGA Cups (3-4-1)   Adam Keogh — England — Debut Simon Lilly — England— Debut Ashley Mansell — England — Debut Paul McKechnie — Scotland — Debut James Ruth — England — Debut Simon Thornton — Ireland — Debut Daniel Whitby-Smith — England — Debut “I’ve been very fortunate in my career in golf, and this is very much a high point in my career,” said David Russell, whose son Chris will serve as Vice Captain. “I’m honoured to be Captain of Great Britain & Ireland in a PGA Cup.” PGA Cup Schedule  Tuesday Sept. 13 Official Practice Wednesday Sept. 14 Official Practice and Team Photos Thursday Sept. 15 Official Practice and Opening Ceremony Friday Sept. 16 Fourball Matches and Foursome Matches Saturday Sept. 17 Fourball Matches and Foursome Matches  Sunday Sept. 18 Singles Matches and Closing Ceremony