RYDER CUP: Dredge eyeing debut

IT has been six long years since Wales, when Phillip Price slayed Phil Mickelson in the singles, have had a representative at the Ryder Cup.

In that time five Englishmen, three Spaniards, three Irishmen (two from the south, one from the north), two Swedes, a Scot and a Frenchman have played their part in a pair of record victories while the Principality have drawn a blank.

Bradley Dredge is their best hope this term and he is relishing the task ahead in the coming months.

The 34-year-old from Tredegar has an impressive CV in the team environment.

As a 20-year-old he made it into the Walker Cup side at Interlachen, then partnered Stephen Dodd in Wales’ victory in the World Cup in Portugal three years ago and has played on two winning sides in the Seve Trophy – the latter coming under Nick Faldo’s captaincy in September last year.

He and Phillip Archer picked up three-and-a-half points from four outings before the Welshman added a singles success over Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano as Faldo cut his leadership teeth.

“Phillip and I got got on very well and I think we were the two oldest on the team so maybe that played a part in being paired together,” he said. “I didn’t know Nick very well before, and I don’t think he knew Phillip, so maybe he felt like he understood more how he could get the best out of some of the others.

“Nick was very hands-on. He has so much experience to pass on and was very open in any conversations, which is very important, and open to any suggestions. He was great and definitely good to have a chat with. On the course he was very supportive.”

This year the two-time European Tour winner has plenty of work to do, sitting in 28th spot on the European and 36th on the World Points Lists, and he sees a return to the world’s top 50 as the stepping stone to greater things.

“You really need to be playing in the Majors and WGC events which makes it a lot easier,” he added. “We have a system which benefits the guys, like Luke Donald and Paul Casey, who play regularly in the States and you want to have that sort of quality in the team.

“I don’t tend to play in Asia too much for a number of reasons. If you want to play well I would have to go there quite a few days before to try to adapt to the time difference, conditions, heat and types of grasses.

“I’m not prepared to put that much time into playing one event which isn’t going to benefit me, unless I win it, at the end of the year.”

Should he succeed he would become the sixth Welshman to feature.

Dai Rees and Brian Huggett both skippered the side, but it is the third captain, Ian Woosnam, who was Dredge’s cup hero growing up.

“I was playing a lot of golf when Ian was at his best in the late 80s and 90s and he was awesome in the Ryder Cup,” he reflected. “I was lucky enough to play in a few World Cups with him and he is still a superb ball-striker.

“I love watching them. As a spectacle, for me, it is THE sporting event. I have always enjoyed rugby and football but this is extra special.

“It is the obvious goal for the year. If you are European you want to play in the Ryder Cup.”