Great Britain and Ireland prepare for PGA Cup

The PGA Cup gets underway in September with Great Britain and Ireland looking to defend the trophy against the United States.

Great Britain and Ireland won the event - the Ryder Cup for golf professionals - in California two years ago by a single shot on a dramatic final day and they are looking to retain the Llandudno Trophy for the first time since 1984.

Their 10-man team for the biennial match has been assembled and they have been preparing at Foxhills golf club in Surrey where the tournament will be held in six weeks time.

Albert MacKenzie, who was the vice-captain two years ago, is captain this time and he is ready for the challenge. He told Sky Sports News: "I am absolutely delighted that we've got ten great guys. We are very prepared. California told us to be on top of the strength of the opposition and to be prepared. We will never underestimate our opponents."

Mackenzie recently met up with a man who knows a thing or two about team golf for some advice, Europe Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn.

He added: "Thomas Bjorn was very gracious. He relayed a lot of his experiences on past Ryder Cups and how his preparations are going and it was great to feed off some of the advice."

The Surrey club will stage the 28th PGA Cup, which is organised over three days in a Ryder Cup-style format, from September 15-17.

Mackenzie went on: "We are going to be formidable and robust come September so I am very confident of our chances of retaining the trophy.

"Foxhills is a wonderful golf course. It is all about precision more than power and the venue is going to suit us perfectly."