Photo: Alex Beach. Courtesy PGA of America
The United States Team of 10 of the country’s top playing PGA Professionals heads to Surrey, England this week for the 30th PGA Cup against Great Britain & Ireland, Sept. 13-18, 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 Debut
Jesse Mueller Phoenix 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 honored 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