Overall disappointment but individual satisfaction for Cassidy

THE overall result may not have gone the way of Europe’s adaptive golfers in Arizona where they did battle with their American counterparts in the 31st Phoenix Cup, but Cookstown’s Kevin Cassidy more than held his own over the weekend, recording an unbeaten record throughout.

Playing in soaring temperatures, which reached the high 30s, Cassidy and his European colleagues found the conditions, including the course at Raven Golf Club, challenging but they certainly made their hosts fight for victory, with just two points officially separating the teams at the end of three days of intense action.

Much like what happened at Bethpage Black during the Ruder Cup, it was Europe who held the upper hand after the first two days, although in Arizona, the Phoenix Cup team held only a one point advantage ahead of the singles.

But on this occasion, the Americans managed to overcome the deficit, but only just, as they reclaimed the trophy, although Dungannon Golf Club member, Cassidy, certainly did his best to stop them.

He and playing partner Jeroen Coumou, who were out first during the first two days, won their foursomes match and halved their fourball with America during clashes that both reached the 18th hole, before Cassidy thumped his opponent 8&6 in the singles to continue his unbeaten record in the competition.

“I did my part but unfortunately it’s a team game,” Cassidy observed. “I have a 100 per cent record in the singles at the Phoenix Cup so it didn’t matter who I played, I was going to beat them!

“I played Isaac Berger, who is a lovely, lovely guy, but because of the handicap system I had to give him six shots and I knew I had to have him beaten by the 15th because he would have had shots on the 16th, 17th and 18th holes.

“Thankfully I absolutely blitzed him.”

Throughout his time in Arizona, Cassidy had to deal with extreme heat, including during a practice round at TPC Scotsdale, and tough course conditions, but he admits the biggest opponents was definitely the heat.

“You had to keep yourself hydrated, that was the big thing,” he added. “It was 44 degrees the day we played TPC Scotsdale, which was too hot!

“I have never played in harder conditions in my life – physically and mentally I have never been as drained in my entire life. Give me a bit of wind and rain any day!

“And we were in the high 30s over the next four days, the heat was brutal.

“You were in a desert so it’s to be expected, but it was so tough and there are benefits to it – you’re playing in dry conditions, the greens were beautiful, it was a beautiful course and it was good to meet so many new people.”

Kevin is hoping to return to Phoenix Cup action next year when the action takes place in Ohio, but before then he will take part in the final DIGA event of the season this coming weekend when he aims to retain his Order of Merit crown before he travels to Portugal in November for a final event in 2025.