Dalgleish sees ‘motivational’ Edwards as ideal captain

NIGEL Edwards may have come in for criticism over David Law’s controversial omission but, according to one Walker Cup stalwart, Great Britain & Ireland “could not have a better man” as captain than the Welshman at Royal Aberdeen.

His praises have been sung by Colin Dalgleish, who played in the 1981 match against the Americans and then captained the last two GB&I teams, losing by a point at Royal County Down in 2007 before going down heavily at Merion two years ago.

“Nigel is an absolutely first-class act and was the clear and stand-out candidate for captaincy of the 2011 team,” Dalgliesh told The Scotsman. “He has had a great playing career, a career amateur who has been passionate in representing Wales and GB&I.

“At a time when it is more common to play in one, he was a four-time Walker Cup player from 2001-07. He has played alongside and against many of the current finest players in the world in that time – the two most recent US Open champions (Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy) to name but two.

“He is a man of the highest integrity, very motivated and motivational. He is a thoroughly gritty competitor who has been a member of two winning Walker Cup teams and few can forget the part he played in winning the 2003 match at Ganton.

“He was a first-class team member during my own captaincy in 2007 and 2009 and brought great experience to the team room. Simply, GB&I could not have a better man at the helm for this match than Nigel.”

His opposite number in the north-east is Jim Holtgrieve, another “strong captain” according to Dalgleish. “I have known Jim since we both played in the 1981 match at Cypress Point,” added the Scot. “He had a great playing career as an amateur over many years and, although I didn’t follow it, a successful few years on the Seniors’ Tour before reinstatement. He certainly has a lot of experience.”

In purely Walker Cup terms, the same can’t be said of the ten players Edwards has at his disposal. Stiggy Hodgson is the sole survivor from Merion, where the Englishman made a big impression on the GB&I captain for that encounter.

“Stiggy was an extraordinary team member in 2009,” noted Dalgleish. “He has huge heart, is afraid of no one, and I think his passion, character and experience will play a big part for GB&I. I also think Royal Aberdeen will really suit his game.

“It is an outstanding links course which should provide a great test for the Walker Cup. One of the many highlights for me about the Walker Cup is that it is consistently played on the really classic venues on both sides of the Atlantic, which, for instance, is simply not possible with the modern-day Ryder Cup due to the demands of space and money.”

Spectators this weekend will be hoping to catch a glimpse of players who might go on to become leading lights in the professional game over the next few years. The winning GB&I team at Nairn, for instance, contained Luke Donald and Paul Casey, while the 2007 clash in Ireland involved Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson, to name but a few.

“At the time, I think it was viewed that the 2007 match had particularly strong players on both sides,” recalled Dalgleish. “The match itself was a classic, right down to the wire and just a point separating the teams. It was just our ultimately-crucial Sunday morning foursomes performance that cost us the match.

“Since then, the success of players on both sides in professional golf has been exceptional, although given how good they were maybe it should not be a total surprise.

“While world rankings can give some indications as to form, one of the features of the modern-day Walker Cup is that it is the first time that players have seen players of the other team let alone compete against them, so it is much more difficult to call how it will unfold.

“That’s different to the Ryder Cup, where the best players on both sides play regularly in the same major events together around the world to give a better comparison of form.

“Clearly the benefit of a home match is a plus. I think we have a very strong team, the US will always have a strong team. Our chances are good, but there are just so many factors at play in what is relatively a short sprint match.”

While he was entertaining Perry Golf clients on a cruise that took in Ireland, Wales and the Iberian Peninsula earlier in the week, Helensburgh-based Dalgleish is now back on dry land and will be heading up to the Granite City.

“Aside of when I played and when I captained the team, I have attended almost every match as a spectator since the 1987 match,” he said. “I just think the match is a great occasion which has such a rich history.

“I loved being involved as captain, it was a great honour and privilege, although it was and remains a great disappointment to me not to have been a part of a winning team, particularly at Royal County Down.

“As much as I loved the team camaraderie and buzz of it all, I am looking forward to attending on this occasion simply as a past player and enthusiastic supporter without any pressures.”