This year’s PGA Pro-Captain Challenge returns to Argentario Golf Resort & Spa for a fifth straight year as 10 pairings look to claim victory in Tuscany
The competition dates back to 1993 when Wentworth played host to the first six editions, with the finalists watching the last day of the PGA Championship before playing their own final using the same tees and pin positions. It then moved to Bahrain, Turkey, Spain and Morocco before settling in Argentario, which hosted this year’s Italian Open.
Ferndown’s Kevin Garwood and his partner Phil Irving will be making their debut in the final having come through qualifying at Salisbury & South Wilts with a superb score of 45 points. The final will be held over two rounds in a betterball format.
“It's always a really good event to play in and it's one of those where the winner takes all," explained Garwood, who has been at Ferndown for four and a half years.
“It was the first time that we had played the course and we really enjoyed it and it all just came together.”
Last year's finalists in the PGA Pro-Captain Challenge
This year, Adrien Saddier prevailed at Argentario on the DP World Tour and Garwood has already begun to familiarise himself with the course.
"I watched some of the Italian Open and I've done a little bit of research online. It looks like a really interesting course and maybe not the most typical course in Italy. There is a bit of water and longer grasses so hopefully it will suit us quite nicely as we've got a lot of trouble around Ferndown to dodge all the heather. We've been both working on our game a little bit and you would imagine that it will come down to the putters – like it normally does.
“It will be great to meet other Pros from around the UK and the team who run the national PGA tournaments. It’s definitely given me a bit more of an emphasis to practise and compete” - Kevin Garwood
"We do a lot of Captain/Pros so you get used to each other's games and I can see where holes will work really well for him and vice versa. It definitely helps when you are used to playing a lot of betterball matches and it's a fantastic prize fund.
"We're very competitive so that helps and we will certainly be going for the win, like everyone else will. It will be great to meet other Pros from around the UK and the team who run the national PGA tournaments. It’s definitely given me a bit more of an emphasis to practise and compete. The whole resort looks wonderful and, when you've been standing on a driving range in the pouring rain, it makes it even nicer to make it to the finals so we feel very lucky."
Mark Richecoeur, Ian Davies, Stephen Gray and William Cumming at last year’s final
One former winner is this year's PGA Captain, David Scott, who captured the title in its second year at Wentworth in 1994.
"Last year’s Captain Peter Laugher said it's an amazing resort with a great golf course with superb hospitality. I can't wait to get out there. I've spoken to a couple of the Pros who are going along with our captains. They are super excited to have qualified around the UK and then to have the grand final over in Argentario. There's a lot of excitement there," added Scott.
"It's a really good bonding opportunity as well for pros to get closer with our captain to the clubs. Sometimes there's a bit of fragmentation going on. So to work closely on the course and have a bit of sociability afterwards, that's really good bonding for PGA Professionals and their club captains. The club captain can go back to the board and say, we had such a great time, and actually I didn't realise how much Ryan or James did. Maybe it'll improve the retainers. I think overall, fantastic. We're thrilled with the sponsor to actually make this happen."
This year Callaway, Abacus, Silverhand, QHotels and Coca-Cola are the National Tournament Partners and there is a fantastic total prize fund of £22,000, with £5,000 to the winner and £1,000 for 10th spot.
