PGA Cup captain Gary Alliss has warned his American counterpart Brian Whitcomb of his determination to win back the Llandudno Trophy.
Alliss spelled out his aim on Monday at a 'Breakfast with the Captains' at Georgia's Reynolds Plantation - host of the previous match where the GB & I team came within a point if being the first side to win on US soil.
"The sting of that loss has remained, but I am so honoured and so excited about being named once again as Captain, and it is our job to win back the Llandudno Trophy," said Alliss,
Having suffered that heartache, the PGA Master professional is shaping up his game plan in advance of the 24th PGA Cup matches at The Carrick on Loch Lomond in September.
"The trophy symbolises the passion by which our PGA Professionals play the game," he added.
"The trophy is part of the most important professional tournament for club professionals in terms of matches."
Alliss' sentiments were matched by his rival Whitcomb.
"These PGA Professionals have invested their whole life in the game of golf and now they have the chance to play for their country," said Whitcomb.
"I don't think that I ever saw one team more proud to have earned a victory than our PGA Cup Team in 2007. All of the spirit of the game was brought together that week.
"It is humbling and a great honour for me to be able to serve as captain and work to keep the Cup in the United States. The PGA Cup has been of great significance to our PGA Professionals on both sides of the Atlantic."
Whitcomb said that he wants to make his team come away from Scotland feeling that the PGA Cup 'was one of the great experiences of their lives'.
He also said that he has been doing some advance homework in preparing to serve as captain.
"I was fortunate to have spent a little time with our past Ryder Cup captain, Paul Azinger," said Whitcomb.
"I watched behind the scenes what he did to bring his team together, and I have taken home some of those things and made mental notes. I salute Paul for his tremendous work as captain, and I hope that I can emulate his example in Scotland in September."
The build-up to the 24th matches has begun in earnest but the momentum will truly begin to gather at the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship final at Dundonald Links in June, which will determine the make-up of Alliss' team.
And PGA chief executive Sandy Jones stressed what the PGA Cup means to the players and how the tournament is the pinnacle of many careers.
"I believe that the general public has misconceptions about the PGA Cup," said Jones.
"This is not just another competition, but rather one that brings together the best playing club professionals. I can tell you that any PGA Cup team would beat any Walker Cup team. These guys are high quality players, and at some time in their lives they chose not to chase around the world.
"This is not a second-rate match. To qualify is the pinnacle for them. Once you have played on a PGA Cup Team you always played. It remains on your résumé and our guys are so proud of it."
16 April, 2009