Back in 2019, Great Britain arrived at the Home of Golf having endured a four-year drought in the Simpson Cup, and were desperate to regain the trophy. Fortunately for them, an inspired performance over the course of the week secured victory, sparking joyous celebrations. It was the very pinnacle of what this unique event has to offer, and no one enjoyed it more than veteran Greig Phillips, who was vice captain at the time.

"That week, it felt like I was just living the dream," Phillips recalls fondly. "It was incredible to be walking on such hallowed turf, and to get the job done for GB was the cherry on top. Cracking open the champagne bottles on the 18th green afterwards, and just enjoying that moment with the whole team - these are memories I will always cherish."

Yet for Phillips, whose right leg has been amputated below the knee, things are set to get even better. Having been a regular for the British team since his debut in 2013, he will now have the honour of leading his country into battle when the Simpson Cup returns at The Creek in October.

"It’s a huge honour to be representing GB as captain for this year's Simpson Cup," the 41-year old beamed. "We have a great team, and I feel extremely proud to be taking on the role of skipper.

"Especially with the Ryder Cup just a couple of weeks before - it's certainly going to get the competitive and patriotic juices flowing. I'm hoping to find some inspiration from Team Europe!"

But such dizzy heights are the culmination of a long journey in recovery for Phillips. His military career began in 2005, and he served for six years in the RAF Regiment - including two tours of Afghanistan. But one fateful day, it all came to an abrupt end.

"I decided to join the Armed Forces at a time of conflict," he explained. "A lot of my friends were serving at the time and I wanted to do my bit. Also, I didn’t want to be lugging breeze blocks around rainy building sites for the rest of my life!" Phillips added with a wry smile.

He continued: "During my second tour in Kandahar, whilst on foot patrol, I detonated an IED, and the blast took off my right leg below the knee. It also left me with severe muscle tissue damage to my left arm."

Like many who depart the Armed Forces due to injury or illness, Phillips found the transition back into civilian life a challenging one. However, one day he noticed a flyer for the On Course Foundation outside a local golf club. His interest was piqued, but he remained apprehensive - so much so, that a friend would make contact with the charity on his behalf.

But after some positive engagement, Phillips attended his first OCF event shortly after, and the rest, as they say, is history.

"I had very little golfing experience at that stage - I'd only been playing for six months, so I was a beginner," Phillips said. "But the tuition we receive is excellent. We have world-class coaches at some of the best facilities in the country. Also, having been a member of the Simpson Cup team on a few occasions, I've been privileged to play on some of the best golf courses in the world.

"Additionally, OCF has given me back a lot of the confidence that I had lost through serious injury, and put me back in touch with competitive sport. I'd thought this was lost to me. There is also that familiar feeling of being part of a unit again, which is something that I missed massively when I left the military. We're all in the same boat within the Foundation, and some of us have forged friendships that will last a lifetime."



Perhaps underlining the impact this renewed confidence has had on Phillips, he was made captain of Whitsand Bay Golf Club in 2017. As a result, he became one of the youngest golf club captains in the UK. And, earlier this year, his recovery ramped up further, as he took up a job working as a greenkeeper at the same club.

"Thanks to OCF, I was able to secure three months’ work experience on the greenkeeping team at St Mellion in Cornwall, which is a Jack Nicklaus-designed course," Phillips explains. "I learned a lot from the staff down there, and it's set me up nicely for this new role at Whitsand Bay. It’s a cliff-top course, right on the Atlantic. The views are incredible, and it really is a great place to work.

"Helping people like me find employment opportunities in the golf industry is what the Foundation is all about, and it makes all the difference to have that direction and purpose in our lives once again."

As it happens, in mid-October, Phillips will also find himself on a cliff-top course overlooking the Atlantic. This time, however, it will be on the other side of the pond, as he seeks to engineer the defence of the Simpson Cup for Team GB. And when asked to predict a score, his response exemplifies just how close a contest it is set to be.

"The Americans have shown in recent years how tough they are to beat, and the fact that the series score stands at 4-4 illustrates how evenly matched we've been. But I look at our team this year, and I'm convinced we've got enough to get over the line. I'm going to say we'll win it 10-9," Phillips concludes with a grin.

If his prediction comes to pass, it's fair to say that the experience will likely eclipse that heady day at St Andrews back in 2019.

RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS FOR GREIG:
Player to look out for this year? Sam Stoddart
Teammate with worst fashion sense? Bish (Ian Bishop). Hands down
Teammate with best sense of humour? Dave Onions
Favourite sports team? Exeter Chiefs
Childhood Hero? Spider-Man :)
Favourite Food? Chinese
Favourite Drink? Knob Creek Bourbon with ginger ale
Favourite Band? Green Day