Back in 2023 the EuroDov Tour top brass unveiled a new event for this year. It was billed as filling a gap in the competition offering and bringing a new dimension to the Tour.

That event – The Matchplay – had 16 entrants this year, with all the top players throwing their hats in the ring for the chance to be the first name on the Matchplay salver.

After 14 matches (one semi-final was forfeited) it all came down to the 18th hole in the Final with number 1 ranked David McColgan playing number 6 ranked Paul Gowens. But when the final putt finished inches short and McColgan conceded the match with a handshake Paul Gowens stood atop of the 15 players who had fallen below him to claim the inaugural Matchplay tournament.

We caught up with after the game to get his reflections on the tournament, the match and his historic win.
Congratulations on winning the 2024 Matchplay, how does it feel?

“Yes, feels great in the inaugural year, great format and played new courses not on the roster and also with some lads I hadn’t yet played with.”

Your win today was your first solo win since the Bruce Shield in 2022, what's your reflections on that?

“We all know last year I wasn’t great, and it’s been a bit of a dry spell so great to get back to winning ways. The back-to-back Anstruther Plates were great, but my thanks need to go to Scott and Rory my partners who carried me both years to be honest.”

Along the way you took on Daniel Peck, Graeme Connor and David McColgan - who are all top-10 players, it must feel good to have come out on top of a group like that?

“Yes, very tough competition for sure and great lads to spend a round with and let’s not forget it was unfortunate Stevie Orr couldn’t play as he's on top form and I am sure he would have done well but family comes first, and I was very much helped with getting a bye in the semis.”

What are your reflections on the matches against Peck and Connor?

“Both of them were tough games that went up and down in the matches but I was steady in both games and managed to pinch the wins, matchplay really suiting my style.”

The Matchplay final was played in some challenging conditions, how did you enjoy the match?

“I have to be honest I really struggled on the front 9 in the conditions into the wind, McColgan gave a driving masterclass in the conditions all day. and was glad to see the halfway house if I am honest.”

You were 3 down thru 8...what goes through your mind at that point?

“I was just thinking to trying to keep the score respectable and take the match into the later stages. Dave helped saying that the wind would be behind us, and I still had some holes with a 2 shot advantage to come.”

You managed to claw one back before the turn and 2 back on 12 and 13 what was the thought process for the next 5 holes?

“Looking back 9 was massive and to be only 2 down was a relief. I had crashed on 7 and 8 and my head had gone but steadied on 9 with some words of wisdom from McColgan.

7 and 8 I had tried to place the ball but with the wind it didn’t work I was getting frustrated that even when trying to do that I was finding bunker after bunker and was losing any shot advantages I had, my head had gone.

Then we turned and was going into the holes with the wind behind. I was able to play a little more attacking and McColgan was the ultimate sportsman sharing his course knowledge throughout regarding the best attacking lines to take.”

Talk us through your wedge from the rough on the par 3 14th?

“McColgan had hit an amazing tee shot almost aceing it.

I was in the deep rough on the left banking, but the ball was sitting up. The pin was in the lower part of the green with the bank running along the green creating the ideal backstop. I opened the face and played it like a splash bunker shot. It popped up and into the bank just as I had planned, and the ball rolled to a few inches past the hole just as I had tried to make it happen.”

You commented on the nerves you felt on the 18th tee box as you teed of All square - talk us through that hole?

“Well firstly I actually though it was 16 we were coming off, so that was a bit of a surprise first.

Normally I don’t get nerves as I don’t take notice of the score but being matchplay I was aware we were all square with 2 stroke advantage heading down the last. On the tee looking at a long carry wasn’t great but the wind behind was going to help, and I can’t reach the trouble on the far right.

I was aware Dave and I both were in a similar position in the EuroDov Cup in Penna Longa going down 18 and I got myself in trouble then. I got my drive away well and Dave was down the left. I then knocked a 3 wood to the front of the green and Dave played a miracle shot up over the club house, trees and to the centre of the green. Then I just got my putts close with the handicap advantage really favouring me and David shook my hand showing the ultimate sportsmanship he had shown all round.

Then photos beside the Ryder Cup sculpture and a few malts in the club house to make for a great day and 2024.”

What would you say to anyone thinking of signing up for the matchplay in 2025?
“Just do it - great format and more golf.”

It was an incredible day of golf and Gleneagles was the perfect canvas for it all to play out on. But it felt almost like it was written in the stars as – sport often has a way of unfolding – Gowen’s wins his first solo trophy on Tour since September 2022, a year to the day he received the all clear from his cancer treatment.

We write great stories here at From the Locker Room but some even we can’t write.

Chalk this one up as one of those truly great sporting moments and buckle in for the 2025 Matchplay which is sure to be an exciting tournament.