Great Britain & Ireland’s 2022 PGA Cup team will include seven debutants after DJ Russell confirmed Paul McKechnie and James Ruth as his final two ‘Captain’s Picks’ for the event at Foxhills Club & Resort in September.
PGA Professional Championship winner Matthew Cort booked his place in DJ Russell’s team along with four other players thanks to their performances at Slaley Hall last week.
Runner-up Daniel Whitby-Smith along with Ashley Mansell, David Higgins and Simon Lilly all qualified through The PGA’s ranking system.
Simon Thornton, Adam Keogh and Greig Hutcheon had already qualified for DJ Russell’s side through the PGA Play-Offs earlier this year.
And this week DJ Russell confirmed Paul McKechnie and James Ruth as his two ‘Captain’s Picks’ for the eagerly anticipated contest against the United States from 16-18th September, 2022.
McKechnie is a three-time winner on the PGA EuroPro Tour, has been a regular on the Challenge Tour and he has also played in a number of DP World Tour events. He currently works as part of the coaching staff at the Braid Hills Golf Centre in Edinburgh.
Ruth has also played alongside some of the very best players in golf on the DP World Tour and is currently based at the China Fleet Golf Academy in Cornwall.
Commenting on his 10-man PGA Cup team, DJ Russell said: “I am delighted that Paul McKechnie and James Ruth will be part of our Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team for the matches at Foxhills Club & Resort. They are both very good players who will fit nicely into what is proving to be a very strong team to take on the Americans in September.
“Both Paul and James performed very well during the PGA Professional Championship last week at Slaley Hall and their form made my two selections a very simple task.
“When you’re picking from PGA Professionals you’re likely to end up with players who have already played in the PGA Cup, but this year we seem to have quite a few rookies which is brilliant. They are all very solid players so we’ll certainly give the Americans something to think about.
“I’m very pleased with the final team we’ve got and I’m delighted with the quality we have. These two picks will strengthen what is already a strong team so we’re now looking forward to the challenge of taking on the Americans at Foxhills Club & Resort.”
Great Britain & Ireland will be looking to win back the Llandudno Trophy at Foxhills Club & Resort in September following a narrow defeat at Barton Creek Resort, Austin in 2019.
Albert MacKenzie led Great Britain & Ireland to an emphatic 16-10 victory over the Americans the last time the PGA Cup was played at Foxhills Club & Resort in 2017.
CLICK HERE to find out more about the 2022 PGA Cup.
