Khalid Javed’s tartan troubadors were no match for their French rivals at Carnoustie in the 29th Wryter Cup.
PGS captain Khalid had made no secret of his passionate desire to win back the Cup we lost in spectacular fashion last year at Chantilly.
But even his inspirational team talks could not produce the victory we all craved at the toughest course in the UK.
Khalid said: “We tried our best but it wasn’t meant to be. The French put out a very strong team and they have some great players.
“I’m very proud of the team and it was a privilege to be their captain.”
At the end of the first day foursomes and fourballs, played over the Buddon and Burnside courses, the PGS trailed by three points.
That meant Khalid had no choice but to front-load his singles team for the final day challenge over the brutal Championship course.
But the French, shrugging off the memories of Jean Van de Velde’s infamous capitulation at the 18th in the 1999 Open, proved too tough. They eventually closed out victory to win 20-12.
Carnoustie 2019: PGS 12, APG 20
PGS Captain: Khalid Javed, APG Captain: Guillaume Baraise
Foursomes (Buddon Course): PGS 2½ APG 5½
Jonny Bramley/Brian Lee v Jean-Jacques Brehier/Edouard Combette L2&1
Jon Jones/Ian Woods v Damien Houles/Guillaume Michel L2&1
Jamie Weir/Ben Monro-Davies v Remi Meyer/Frederic Stevens L1DN
Tim Allan/Roderick Easdale v Jean-Louis Aragon/Didier Largillier W6&4
Jono Baker/Colin Hancock v Laurent Louet/Alex Campi Halved
Felix Duckworth/Jim Murray v Francois Scimeca/Davide Baroudh W3&2
Dylan Dronfield/Khalid Javed v Nicolas Doucet/Gilles Payet L1DN
Peter Solomons/Andy Glen v Christophe Lassault/Guillaume Baraise L3&1
Fourballs (Burnside): PGS 4 APG 4
Dylan Dronfield/Jonny Bramley v Damien Houles Jean-Jacques Brehier L2&1
Ben Monro-Davies/Brian Lee v Guillaume Michel/Remi Meyer L1DN
Peter Solomons/Jono Baker v Edouard Combette/Didier Largillier L4&3
Ian Woods/Jim Murray v Jean-Louis Aragon/Frederic Stevens W1UP
Tim Allan/Colin Hancock v Francois Scimeca/Laurent Louet L 1DN
Felix Duckworth/Khalid Javed v Alex Campi/Gilles Payet W4&3
Andy Glen/Roderick Easdale v Nicolas Doucet/Christophe Lassault W3&2
Jamie Weir/Jon Jones v Guillaume Baraise/David Baroudh W6&5
Singles (Championship): PGS 5½ APG 10½
Khalid Javed v Damien Houles W5&4
Jon Jones v Nicolas Doucet L5&3
Dylan Dronfield v Jean-Jacques Brehier W6&5
Ben Monro-Davies v Edouard Combette W5&4
Jim Murray v Remi Meyer L4&3
Roderick Easdale v Christophe Lassault L2DN
Felix Duckworth v Francois Scimeca Halved
Jonny Bramley v Laurent Louet L1DN
Peter Solomons v Guillaume Baraise L5&4
Tim Allan v Alex Campi L6&5
Ian Woods v Gilles Payet W4&3
Jono Baker v Davide Baroudh L4&3
Colin Hancock v Jean-Louis Aragon W4&2
Andy Glen v Didier Largillier L3&1
Jamie Weir v Guillaume Michel L5&4
Brian Lee v Frederic Stevens L2&1