Walker's GB&I call-up

PGA Master Professional Graham Walker of The Oaks has been named as a Vice-Captain for Great Britain & Ireland in next year’s PGA Cup match against the PGA of America. Walker will assist Captain Tim Rouse for the 2024 match at Sunriver Resort in Oregon next September. “I was very honoured when Tim asked me and I was very happy to accept,” said Walker. “Being a PGA member is close to my heart, I got close maybe once or twice as a player to making the team but I’ve not been involved in it before. “The PGA Cup has always been massive, it’s the [club] Pros’ Ryder Cup. To represent your nation is incredible and, to be involved in it, is huge. “I’ve known Tim for a lot of years and we’ve always got on well. Our primary objective is to give the players every opportunity to have their best game out on the course and to give it their best go.” Walker was the lead coach of England for 11 years up until 2022 and he is Tommy Fleetwood’s short-game coach. GB&I are looking to regain the Llandudno Trophy for the first time since 2017. “I would say that I bring simplicity to a team. Over the years, when with England or Yorkshire teams, the first goal is to get the best out of each player and to get them to be as good as they can be. “If you can get every player to do that then you have a great chance. So what helps them settle into the team, what happens to help them manage the course and what gets the best out of their game? Then it is all about the ‘win’ and that stands for ‘What’s Important Now’. I pinched it from an American Football coach. So, at any given stage, in the match, team room or prep, ‘what’s important now’ ? “If you’ve won by a lot, then you need to get ready for your next match, if you’ve just been in a tight match then go and have a cold shower, wake yourself up and go again. I want to be a support and resource for Tim, I will go as a Vice-Captain but I will also go as a coach as well and it will hopefully be an advantage to have a recog- nised coach to call upon.” Qualification began at the 2023 PGA Professional Championship where Paul Hendriksen won by six shots at Sherwood Forest. The team will be made up of 10 players, with the top six from the 2023/24 PGA Professional Championship points list over a two-year counting period joining the top three from the 2024 PGA Play-Offs. Then there will be one captain’s pick to round out the team.