PGA pros fly flag at Wentworth

Ten of the PGA’s leading players will be in action at this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Led by reigning PGA Play-Offs champion Gareth Wright, the ten will each be vying for the coveted Silver Salver awarded to the highest placed PGA pro.

The posse of PGA pros earned their spot in the European Tour’s flagship event by finishing in the top ten at Antalya Golf Club in Turkey last November.

Here is a brief factfile on each of the players who will be flying the flag for the PGA this week:

1. Gareth Wright, 34, (head PGA pro at West Linton Golf Club, Edinburgh). The big-hitting Wright won the 2015 PGA Play-Offs to earn his second appearance at Wentworth having previously played in 2013. A member of Great Britain & Ireland’s victorious 2015 PGA Cup team that won for the first time on US soil, Wright is a past winner of the national PGA Professional Championship (2012) and also won the Scottish PGA Championship in 2014. Played county rugby and football as a junior and was at Everton’s School of Excellence as a right back.
2. Matt Cort, 41, (Beedles Lake, Leicester). Runner up in the 2015 PGA Play-Offs, will be making his fourth appearance at Wentworth. The first man to win three successive PGA Assistants’ Championship titles (2011-13).  Midland Order of Merit champion in 2015. Didn’t join a golf club until 15 having previously played football for Leicester Boys. Financed early golf career by working in a glass factory during the winter.
3. Greig Hutcheon, 43, (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre/Inchmarlo Golf Resort). A two-time winner of the PGA Play-Offs (2010 & 13), the Scot will be making his sixth appearance at Wentworth. A three time Challenge Tour winner, has topped the Tartan Tour Order of Merit on six occasions.  Two-time winner of the Scottish PGA Championship (1999 & 2014).
4. James Ruth, 31, (China Fleet G&CCC, Cornwall). Spent 10 years on European and Challenge Tour. Just completed the second year of the PGA Training Programme en route to getting fully PGA qualified. Former Challenge Tour player Ross Whitelock will be his caddy at Wentworth. Given a set of Bernhard Langer Wilson Clubs at the age of seven, and soon became hooked on the game. A keen surfer.
5. Colm Moriarty, 36 (Drive Performance Golf, Ireland). One Challenge Tour victory (Wales Challenge 2007). Tied 37 in 2010 Open Championship. Member of victorious 2003 Walker Cup team at Ganton.
6. David Higgins, 43, (Waterville Links, Ireland). Tied tenth in the 2012 BMW PGA Championship. Won three times on the Challenge Tour in 2000 to finish second in the Rankings. Was Ireland’s leading amateur by the age of 21 and enjoyed match play victories over Padraig Harrington in the finals of the South of Ireland and the Irish Amateur Close Championship. Broke his left wrist and right elbow in a horseriding accident in 1997. Father Liam is a former European and Senior Tour winner.
7. Graham Fox, 38, (Clydeway Golf, Glasgow). Making his second appearance at Wentworth having played in 2014. A key member of the victorious 2015 GB&I PGA Cup team at CordeValle Resort in California, Fox was the catalyst for dramatic Sunday singles turnaround – two down on the ninth tee to Ben Polland, he reeled off five straight birdies to seal a vital point towards GB&I’s first win on US soil. Won the Scottish PGA Championship in 2012. Fluent in French he also is a dab hand as a mid-wife having delivered his second child, Trudy, at home when his wife went into labour early.
8. Eamonn Brady, 41, (head PGA pro at Clontarf Golf Club, Dublin). The 2015 PGA in Ireland Order of Merit winner is reaping the rewards of a concerted effort to put in extra practice and training after turning 40. Is a three time winner on the PGA EuroPro Tour and has also won on the Canadian Tour. His uncle is legendary Arsenal and Juventus midfielder Liam Brady.
9. Guy Woodman, 38. (Longball Inc, Berkshire). UK ambassador for Canadian golf and leisure clothing company Longball Inc, Woodman is a two-time winner of the PGA Assistants’ Championship (2008 & 10). A former Berkshire county team-mate of Luke Donald, he made his debut at Wentworth in 2009 and also played in 2011. As a child was a regular visitor to Wentworth to see his idols like Nick Faldo and Greg Norman.
10. James Ablett, 38. (Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire). Won The PGA in England (South) Order of Merit in 2015. The left-hander makes his second appearance having debuted in 2009. Ablett was boyhood friends with Justin Rose. As a 17 year old, Ablett drove Rose to Wentworth to watch the 1995 BMW PGA.