McGrane and Higgins target PGA Cup success
Pride and passion spurring on pair as team chase back-to-back victories in Surrey.
P RIDE and passion will inspire Damien McGrane and David Higgins as they team up for Great Britain and Ireland determined to retain the PGA Cup at Foxhills Resort.
The PGA in Ireland stalwarts will tee it up at the Surrey venue in the biennial clash with their US counterparts tomorrow with skipper Albert MacKenzie seeking back-to-back wins in the Ryder Cup style competition for the first time since 1984.
Higgins, who is making his debut in the event, is relishing the opportunity to represent his country and is backing his team-mates to rise to the occasion and win at home for the first time since The K Club in 2005.
“It would be wonderful if we could win and we’ll be doing everything we can to do just that,” Higgins said.
“We’ve got a lot of experience, and I’m sure those guys will be very experienced players, but all we can do is try to play to the best of our ability.
“We have to do our job, and that’s all we can do, we can’t be focusing on the past, we must only focus on what we are doing.
“Getting used to the situation we’re in is something we’ll have to adjust to because there is pressure playing for your country.
“We need to get used to that, wearing the team uniform and stuff like that. That will be the biggest thing and whoever gets used to that will probably perform the best.
“Getting onto the team was a great honour and a great achievement, but it wasn’t until I went over to the warm-up at Foxhills that the juices started flowing and that feeling starts to run through your veins that you’re representing your country. I haven’t done that in over 20 years.”
McGrane, meanwhile, is one of only two players in the GB&I team set to make a second PGA Cup appearance.
The Kells man, who leads the Irish Order of Merit from Higgins this year, was part of the side that lost by one point at Celtic Manor in 2000 when he won two of his four matches as the hosts lost 13.5 - 12.5.
Admitting the narrow defeat was hard to accept, McGrane said: “It was a great win for them but for us, it was very disappointing because it was so achievable at that time.
“It was disappointing because halfway through the final day I remember it being very evenly matched and needless to say our side didn’t produce enough to win the match.
“I found it to be tough, very competitive and all of the matches were played in the right spirit.
“It was my first time so obviously the thrill of the whole week was fantastic and David Llewellyn was a super captain and Celtic Manor was a fantastic venue, so I have very fond memories of playing in my first PGA Cup.
“I hope I can be part of a winning team this time around, none of us are going there to finish second and we’d love to do it. The team spirit is good which is very important and Foxhills is a beautiful venue.
“We certainly have all of the factors that will be needed to win the matches, but on the day it’s a different matter. This year there will be no stone left unturned.”
McGrane is also hoping that he will be part of an all-Irish pairing at some stage during the week.
“David is playing well, and I am playing reasonably well, and I think, if we get the chance to play together, we will be a very strong combination,” he said.
“I know David very well, he’s a super player, and if there was an opportunity to partner with him, I would cherish that.”
Royal Dublin’s Niall Kearney claimed the winning point at CordeValle in California two years ago, giving GB&I just its sixth win in 27 editions. The United States has won 17 with four tied.