STUART LITTLE is not in the mood to bestow any largesse at the PGAs of Europe International Team Championship next week.

Minchinhampton New Course pro Little has winning on his mind when he captains the three-man England team against strong European competition, as well as a side representing South Africa, at the prestigious tournament on the Algarve in Portugal (November 20-23).

Little, 45, knows all about the pressure of big-time golf as he has four international victories to his credit and was a European Tour regular.

Nowadays, though, he admits to spending ‘almost 90 per cent’ of his time as a teaching professional. As you might expect, however, he is still no mean player.

He earned the right to represent England when finishing tied for third at the Grand Final of the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship at Carden Park in Cheshire with an 11-under par total back in August.

England have a good record in the PGA team tournament, having won it three times previously, most recently in 2011, and Little is keen to bring the trophy back. It is currently held by the French.

“I’m pretty happy with my game at the moment,” he said, “and I am looking forward to playing alongside Steve Parry (NW Golf Academy) and Craig Shave (Whetstone Golf Club), both of whom I know well.

“I think they made me captain as I am the most responsible of the three!

“We have a good team, if we get it right during the week, and our intention is to get the job done.”

By way of a warm-up, Little has been lucky enough to have received an invitation to play in the BEKO Classic Pro-Am (November 15-17) at the Cornelia Golf Club in Belek, near Antalya in Southern Turkey.

The line-up includes 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke, who was also one of the vice captains in this year’s successful European Ryder Cup team.