TRACY Loveys, a former junior member at Weymouth Golf Club, has described her role as Great Britain and Ireland’s non-playing captain in this month’s inaugural Women’s PGA Cup in Texas as the highlight of her career.

In addition to the host country and Great Britain and Ireland, teams from Australia, Canada, and Sweden are due to take part in the match in Austin, Texas, from October 24-26.

Plans for the match were finalised a year ago but had it been launched a decade earlier Loveys would have been a shoo-in to play.

The 40-year-old, who learned the game at Weymouth Golf Club and is the head PGA Professional at Bigbury Golf Club, Devon, is the most successful player in the history of the Women’s PGA Professional Championship.

She won it four times in eight years, most recently in 2015 but, with selection for the five-strong team determined by performances in this and last year’s Women’s PGA Professional Championship, she missed out.

However, she was the natural choice as non-playing captain and, reflecting on her role, said: “I’m honoured and proud to be appointed, especially as I’m the first.

“When I got the call inviting me to be the non-playing captain of Great Britain and Ireland in the inaugural Women’s PGA Cup in the USA you could have knocked me over with a feather!

“There was no need to think about it. I accepted straight away. It’s a huge honour and one I am very proud of. Without doubt, this is the highlight of my career to date.”

Looking ahead to the match Loveys added: “I feel I have a fantastic team that is capable of making history by becoming the first to win the Women’s PGA Cup.”