Cort eager to add more than one PGA Cup to his CV

04/09/2017

Cort Web

Matthew Cort is one of eight debutants who make up Great Britain & Ireland’s PGA Cup team to face America at Foxhills this month, but the Leicester man is hoping it won’t be the last time he gets to represent his country in the competition.

This year’s hosts, led by Scotsman and former vice-captain Albert MacKenzie, will be looking to claim back-to-back victories over America for first time since 1984.

It will be an achievement matched only twice in the competition’s 44-year history, and for Cort it will sit proudly at the top of his golfing CV as a career highlight.

“I think playing in the PGA Cup will be right up there with a lot of things that I have achieved,” said 42-year-old Cort, who earned his place on the Great Britain & Ireland team after winning the PGA Play-Offs last October.

“I was quite late to the PGA setup. I played full-time for a number of years and then decided to do my training, so when that was all finished the PGA Cup was something I saw happening. I saw other players playing in it and definitely wanted to make it myself.

“Playing in the PGA Cup will be one of the highspots of my career I guess. It will be good to get a decent performance in and it will be something to look back on.

“This is my first one and I’d like to think I could play in a few more but I will enjoy this experience and hopefully it will be the first of more to come.”

Cort could be forgiven for thinking the chance to represent Great Britain & Ireland had perhaps gone after finishing runner-up in the PGA Play-offs on two occasions – both years in which there was no PGA Cup match.

“I finished runner-up in the PGA Play-Offs in 2015 and that would have been good enough if there was a PGA Cup event the following year, but that’s just the way it worked out. It all fell into place year and hopefully it’s going to be a great event.”

Matt Cort Web

Although maybe lacking experience in team golf, Cort still brings plenty to the table having made almost 100 appearances on the European Tour between 2002 and 2005.

He has also appeared on the Challenge Tour and won twice on the PGA Europro Tour last year en-route to finishing top of its Order of Merit. He also topped the PGA Midland Region’s Order of Merit to cap off a fine 2016.

“I don’t have much experience of team golf,” Cort continued. “I never played for England as an amateur. I just played county golf back in Leicester and that’s a long time ago now and that’s the only experience I have of team golf.

“I’m sure playing in the PGA Cup will be different but I’ve played betterball events and I’ve got experience of playing pairs so it’ll be good I’m sure.

“It’s different aspects of golf. We’re used to playing stuff on our own but I’ve not played foursomes in something like 20 years so it will be a big test that’s for sure.”

There are many familiar faces on the Great Britain & Ireland team for Cort and he feels they have enough quality in their ranks to defend the Llandudno International Trophy.

“We all know each other now," the father of two added. "Cameron (Clark) has created a Whatsapp group so a few of the lads have commented on there but it’s mainly been football results. There’s been a bit of banter.

“Greig (Hutcheon) and Rob (Coles) have been around the Tour for years and we’ve played in each other’s’ company a number of times so we’re quite settled I think and we know each other’s game.

“Having eight guys on our team that have played on the Tour is great, but the two rookies are good players too so it’s a really strong team and I think we can do well.

“I guess there will be a little pressure on us as we’re trying to emulate the guys who did it two years ago. It’s such a prestigious week, but we’ve just got to try to enjoy it and take it all in.

“I think my game is in good shape so it’s just a case of not burning out during the weeks building up to the event.”

For more information about the PGA Cup and to follow all the action and live scoring from Foxhills from September 15-17 click here.

GB I PGA Cup Team 002 Web