As reports rage on about some handbags between, the two captains at Tour HQ we’re taking the opportunity to sit down with them and hear how their preparations are going ahead of the 10th playing of the RyDov Cup.

The defending Captain Andy Love make his 8th appearance since featuring in the founding event in 2013. In 2023 he captained a team for the first time and led them to a 14-10 win over defending captain Kevin Brannan.

Following the team selection change in 2024, Love is at the helm of the Founding member team. He will be able to call on 5 founding members who all played in 2013 including David McColgan, Barry Cunningham, Kevin Brannan, Stuart Sutherland and John Hedges, as well as 6 other players who all add up to 82 total appearances in the RyDov Cup.

We sat down with Andy to hear his thoughts on the 10th match and defending the RyDov Cup for the first time.

Welcome back Andy, as the defending Captain, do you feel the need to change anything? or is it business as usual after your win in 2023?

“With a whole year of golf between events so much can change, it’s hard to read much into last year. Hopefully coming in as the winning team gives the boys something to protect.

As Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “the wolf on the hill is not as hungry as the wolf climbing the hill, but when he wants the food, it’s there.””

The defending Captain has a lot of scrutiny in the build-up, is the pressure different this year compared to last year when you were challenging?

“⁠Not at all, I have a great team around me, and we have some really strong pairings. Once the lineups are picked then the attention shifts to the day itself where it’s very much not about the captain, it’s about the collective effort.”

There have been rumours of you and Team Gowens Captain, Paul Gowens, trading barbs what advice would you give to the challenging Captain after your success in 2023?

“⁠Bring your best, you’ll need it.”

The Tour is changing the selection process for the RyDov to mark the 10th Anniversary match, do you feel a weight of expectation leading out the team representing the Founding players?

“⁠I think it’s an interesting twist, but I think the pressure is equal on both sides - we’ve been around a long time and are more established, but the newer members will all want to get one over on the old guard.”

Your team boasts 82 appearances over the 9 preceding matches that's got to be an advantage?

“⁠Possibly, but things fluctuate so much over the years, and the other team all know the course well enough that I don’t think those extra appearances count for too much. It all comes down to how you handle it on the day.”

Your team features Barry Cunningham, Kevin Brannan, Greig Baxter and David McColgan – including yourself that’s a total of 18 major; add in Stuart Allan, Denis Duncan, Alan Duncan, Stuart Sutherland and Daniel Peck and that’s another 18 OoM wins and 10 other Tour wins under your belt - who are you looking to as the talismen in the line-up?

“⁠I think singling out anybody isn’t much use; each group will be so focussed on their own rounds, and they’ll take care of themselves.

I’d back every one of the boys to give it their best. Each point is as valuable as the next, no matter who’s putting it on the board.

You have a highly experienced team, what advice do you have for them as they prepare for the RyDov Cup?

“As defending champions, we welcome the chase, so just enjoy it, let your golf do the talking and fucking pump them.”

Well, there we have it folks a quick catch-up with Captain Andy Love as he prepares his team ahead of the 10th anniversary match of the RyDov Cup.

Join us on September 7th for all the news, insight and analysis of the EuroDov Tour’s marquee event.