RICHARD McEvoy says he’s been inspired by Europe’s Ryder Cup heroics ahead of his tee off at St Andrews today.

The Thorpe Hall pro will get the chance to congratulate some of Europe’s heroes at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, with the entry list including Paul Lawrie, Peter Hanson and Martin Kaymer, who sunk the put which won the Ryder Cup in America.

McEvoy said: “I said to my wife ‘there’s going to be a buzz’ this week following what happened at the Ryder Cup. There always is.

“I remember after we won it two years ago in Wales when it went into that Monday, it was incredible then.

“And there will be a few of them here in St Andrews and I’m looking forward to congratulating them on that performance because it was inspirational stuff.

“I’m sure they will all have had a very good week with some celebration evenings. And, to be honest, I would have loved to have been there for the party after they won the Ryder Cup because there will have been a few sore heads in the morning!”

Although McEvoy’s looking forward to giving them a well-earned handshake, he admits he’ll be all business when the action gets underway as he goes in search of the big result he needs to guarantee his spot on next season’s European Tour.

After competing at 25 tournaments on this year’s Tour, McEvoy is currently 142nd in the Race to Dubai rankings and needs to make up about 60,000 euros in prize money to secure the top 115 spot he needs.

But he’s in the perfect place to that because he enjoyed a career-best haul of 78,000 euros at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October 2010. “Two years ago I secured my card here so it does hold good memories for me,” he said.

“I love links courses anyway and St Andrews is very special to me. We come up here every year and stay in the same house and enjoy the week.

“So it’s somewhere I feel comfortable and somewhere I know I can do well.”

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