Jeremy Wells will add yet another prestigious accomplishment to his golfing resume this week when he makes his debut on the international stage, teeing off for Team USA at the 31st PGA Cup.
The three-day, biennial contest pits PGA Professionals from Great Britain and Ireland against a team of Americans with the winner hoisting the Llandudno International Golf Trophy. The event runs Friday through Sunday at Sunriver Resort’s Meadows Course in Sunriver, Ore.
Wells, the director of instruction at Cypress Lake Golf Club in Fort Myers, will be one of 10 golf pros, four from Florida, competing for Team USA.
“Only 10 club pros in the United States make this team and it’s a two-year qualification period,” Wells said. “I’m really proud of the consistent play over the last couple of years that I’ve put in to be able to get a spot on this roster.
“This is arguably the coolest thing you can do as a club pro so I’m really excited.”
In the past 16 months, the 34-year-old Estero resident turned in clutch performances to qualify for two PGA Championships. After missing the cut at Oak Hill in 2023, his first PGA TOUR event, Wells shot 2-under through the first two rounds at Valhalla in May, becoming the first club pro from South Florida in four decades to make the cut at the PGA. He finished 6-over for the tournament, earning just over $22,000 and all but clinching his spot in the PGA Cup.
“To be able to play all four days up there and to play with so many world-class golfers, not only to play with them but to be competitive, it was a dream come true,” Wells said. “I remember every golf shot, every moment. I mean, it was the most exhilarating week of the year by far.
“For me to leave work Friday, arrive at Valhalla Sunday, take three days to prepare and tee off and be competitive on Thursday, it’s like my greatest accomplishment in my career.”
Weather delays pushed the conclusion of the second round to Saturday morning with Wells needing a par and a bogey over the final two holes to stay above the cut line. He carded two pars and 30 minutes later found himself playing alongside LIV golfers Martin Kaymer and Tyrell Hatten.
After birding the first and third holes, Wells hit what he called a couple of the worst shots imaginable, triple-bogeying the fifth.
“Basically I just ran out of gas,” he said.
Wells, who had his wife Melissa, son Mason and daughter Chloe in the crowd, said following his triple-bogey he spotted Mason “just bawling his eyes out.”
“I didn’t really plan ahead to be playing on Saturday; everything from then on was just a bonus,” Wells said. “And my kid is basically so sad that I made a triple-bogey like he thinks we’re going to win this golf tournament, right? I never forget that. Those kinds of memories are just the best at something like that.”
Melissa will also be joining her husband at the PGA Cup, an event where players’ spouses are included in the team’s activities. The tournament begins with four foursomes and four fourball matches on each of the first two days, followed by ten singles matches on the final day.
Wells said he’ll travel to Oregon Monday and have three practice days before competition begins on Friday. Team captain Jim Richardson, the general manager at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., will be selecting the pairings.
“He’s talked to all of us about how we play and gotten a feel for our personality,” Wells said. “Over the first couple of days of practice rounds, we’ll be grouped based on what he feels is best and you’ll kind of see how you fit. That’s one of the benefits of having three days up there in advance, not only on the course but also off the course to make sure you’ve got somebody you’re vibing with and ready to go to battle with.”
Wells is one of five pros making their debut for Team USA which won the last two PGA Cups in 2019 and 2022.
“I expect it to be a lot of fun the first few days getting to know the guys and getting the feel of the team,” Wells said. “But then I think it’s going to be extremely intense once the matches start. “Representing my country and representing the PGA of America, it’s really a dream come true.”
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cypress Lake golf pro Jeremy Wells to play in PGA Cup for Team USA
