With 2 Majors in the bag, half of the Q-School done, and half of the Order of Merit regular season events all completed, we’re taking a rest for the last weekend in May and heading to Cowdenbeath Dora Golf Club to cover the much-anticipated return of the Carnegie Cup.

Held for the first time in 2023 the Carnegie Cup sees the best of the EuroDov Toru take on the SanWedge Tour.

In this our first article on the 2024 event we’re going to focus on the SanWedge Tour. Hosting – for the first time in 2024 – they are looking for revenge after losing 13.5 – 10.5 in 2023.

So, let’s start at the top, their Captain in 2024, Richard Mair. Very well known to EuroDov Tour aficionados he is a 3-time event winner on the EuroDov Tour, winning the MCM @ Aberdour and the Forrester-Lochgelly Open in 2023 and backing that up with a win at the MCM @ Pitffirane this past week. Mair also currently holds the #2 spot on the EuroDov Tour’s Official Tour Rankings.

The SanWedge Tour’s Vice Captain’s are also well known to the EuroDov Tour Daniel Peck, Ally Greenshields, Callum McNeill and Joel Morrison.

McNeill is the stand-out player in this group winning his first Major, and the SanWedge Tour's only Major, back in September 2023.

Greenshields and McNeill hold top 10 spots in the EuroDov Tour Official Tour Rankings – 10th and 8th respectively – with Peck sitting 12th and Morrison 18th.

Another pair of names familiar to the EuroDov Tour followers are Craig Miller and Adam Blyth, who both play in the Tour’s Q-School – with Miller currently leading qualifying at the halfway point.

The rest of the team includes 2023 debutants Callum McAndrew, Dan Forrest and Dan Wood and 2024 rookies Duncan Tweedie and Dean Black.

Looking at the 2023 tournament Captain Mair is the only player returning who took maximum points in 2023, however Craig Miller joins him as the only 2 players who went undefeated for the SanWedge Tour.

At the other end of the table Daniel Peck, Daniel Woods, Daniel Forrest and Callum McAndrew will all be hoping to score their first ever points in the Carnegie Cup after failing to win a single point in 2023.

Of the 10 returning players they average 1.1 points, something they’ll need to improve on if they hope to lift the Cup come end of play Sunday.

We had the chance to catch-up with Richard Mair – Captain of the SanWedge Tour – to discuss all things Carnegie Cup, the SanWedge Tour’s chances and what he’s been telling his team ahead of the big day.

Thanks for your time today Rich - the Carnegie Cup is back upon us - how excited are you to lead the SanWedge Tour out again?

“Excited and honored to lead the SanWedge boys out this year. The inaugural tournament was a big success and I’m delighted to be captain this year.”

Does your Captaincy come with added pressure given the loss in 2023 and the fact you are hosting in 2024?

“I think we’re still firm underdogs, the pressure isn’t on us. The EuroDov team has all of the experience of these types of tournaments. We ran a close race last year though, so you never know…”

Has your approach been helped given the inaugural tournament was last year?

“We’ve definitely benefitted from seeing how it went last year and it’s given us a lot of experience. We’ve tried to approach things slightly differently this year so will hopefully come in fairly well prepared.”

The SanWedge Tour team features 3 players in the top 10 of the EuroDov Tour OTR - (Mair, McNeill & Greenshields) will you be looking for these players to stand-up and be counted?

“Absolutely. These boys are all Vice Captains too. They’re experienced operators and they know the standard.”

Let's look at the comparison - The EuroDov Tour team has 47 Tour honours, the SanWedge Tour has 5 - how do you prepare your team to face such an imbalance?

“It’s similar to the Ryder Cup and the USA team that tends to be favourites.

As I’ve said before the pressure isn’t on us. We’re looking to disrupt the status quo but we know it will be an uphill battle. The boys will have a good time win or lose though.”

Finally what message do you have for the team right now?

“Remember we’re at home. Stick in and win your point.”

Well, that’s a look at the 2024 SanWedge Tour Carnegie Cup team and some thoughts from their Captain, Richard Mair.

Join us Sunday May 26th for all the news, insights and analysis from the second playing of the Carnegie Cup.