Galway’s David Mortimer is gearing up for a golfing battle with the USA when the Great Britain and Ireland PGA Cup team faces its trans-Atlantic counterparts in California at CordeValle Resort from September 16 to18.
The 36-years-old Galway Golf Club head professional is part of the 10-man team that hopes to become the first to win on US soil since the event began in 1973.
A two-time Irish PGA champion, Mortimer, who turned professional in 2002, has played against some of the top names in the sport, Padraig Harrington, Peter Lawrie, and legendary Walker Cup player and captain Garth McGimpsey.
The PGA Cup offers Mortimer another opportunity to indulge his passion for matchplay.
“Matchplay is my favourite type of competition,” he says. “It’s a different, more aggressive style of golf. You are playing the opponent rather than the entire field as you do in strokeplay.
“Ultimately, it is about who wants it the most. You can practise and be prepared technically as much as you want but it comes down to do you want it as much as they do. “
Mortimer says although his game time has been limited, he believes mental preparation is the key.
“I’m not hitting as many balls as I would like but that does not mean I haven’t been preparing mentally. The PGA Cup will be more of a mental battle. It’s not how well we hit it but it is a matter of believing. If they hit it close, we can hit it closer.We’ve never won on US soil but there is no reason why we can’t do it if we believe enough.”
