Orange army assembled. The vibes are confident and slightly unhinged.
Team Tiger arrive in 2026 with a fresh captain, a roster full of tour know-how, and exactly the right amount of chaos to be dangerous. They’re not here to “take part” — they’re here to hunt points, spoil Spider’s title defence, and turn Vilamoura into a three-day argument.
Led by newly promoted Captain Paul Ticehurst, Tiger’s vibe this year is simple: less chatting about potential, more collecting scalps. (Still plenty of chatting though. Don’t worry.)
Team page: https://golftrip.jjs-enterprises.com/teams/team-tiger-page/
2026 Roster
- Paul Ticehurst (Captain) – ENG | Tour Starts: 3 | Best Result: 1st
- Nick Gumm – ENG | Tour Starts: 3 | Best Result: 3rd
- Richard Frayne – ENG | Tour Starts: 3 | Best Result: 1st
- Richard Turner – ENG | Tour Starts: 3 | Best Result: 9th
- Richard Ashby – ENG | Tour Starts: 3 | Best Result: 6th
- Simon Harris – ENG | Tour Starts: 3 | Best Result: 6th
- Barry Tucker – ENG | Tour Starts: 0 | Best Result: N/A
- Jon Mackness – ENG | Tour Starts: 0 | Best Result: N/A
OFFSEASON News
Tiger’s offseason has been a mix of serious intent and complete nonsense — which is exactly how you want your contenders to behave.
- Captain Paul has been quietly building standards behind the scenes… while also reminding anyone who’ll listen about his 100% win record, as if it’s printed on his passport.
- Nick Gumm reportedly began “hydration prep” for Portugal, then was seen abandoning it after three beers and a conversation about how “jet lag is basically a scam.”
- The Richards (Frayne / Turner / Ashby) have been in “training” — which appears to mean arguing over formats, handicaps, and whether a mulligan is a ‘performance enhancer’.
- Barry Tucker has arrived from the Devon tour with big confidence and even bigger volume. Early reports confirm he and Simon Harris have already tested the team’s new tactic: winning matches through noise pollution.
- Richard Turner has reportedly kept things simple in the offseason — no gimmicks, no swing rebuilds, no drama. Which is either elite preparation… or a sign he’s saving the chaos for tour week like a true professional.
- Jon Mackness has dropped the most tragic pre-season update imaginable: he’s ruptured a knee ligament after falling down a step at Wells Golf Club. His knee is now in a brace, leaving him in a race against time to be fit for Day 1.
Early reports suggest Tiger’s medical team is doing everything they can — while Spider’s camp are already calling it “the first Tiger collapse of 2026”.
2026 Objectives
- Win the 2026 Tour
- Paul Ticehurst to maintain the 100% winning streak and set the standard for Tiger
- Richard Ashby to do more than turn up and claim his first point (historic moment pending)
- Nick Gumm to stay awake after three beers (elite-level challenge)
- Jon Mackness to arrive on the 1st tee upright, unassisted, and ideally with a knee that bends.
- Tiger to win at least one match without a 12-minute “rules consultation” (boldest objective on the list)
Player Spotlights
Paul Ticehurst (Captain, unbeaten on tour)
New captain. Perfect record. Big expectations. Paul’s the type who can make calm golf look inevitable — and that’s exactly what Tiger need if they’re taking points off the champs.
Richard Frayne (Proven winner)
A genuine difference-maker who knows how to close. If Tiger are in contention late, Frayne is the guy you want standing over the putt.
Nick Gumm (High ceiling, unpredictable battery life)
On his day, he’s a proper threat. The key is ensuring “his day” lasts longer than the pre-round coffee and doesn’t end at the first marina pint.
Simon Harris (The disruptor)
Solid golf with elite chirp. If Tiger win the psychological battle, Simon’s probably in the centre of it, laughing at someone lining up a putt from a postcode away.
Jon Mackness (Rookie with a mission)
Tour debut. New team. And now a knee brace after the most tour injury ever: losing a fight to a single step at Wells. He’s fighting to be ready for Day 1 — and the drama is made worse by the fact his partner Cath Levell is on Team Spider.
If he’s fit, he’s got instant headline potential. If he’s not… Tiger might have to carry him and listen to him claim he “could’ve won that match” all week.
What the stats suggest
- Tiger have top-end winners (Ticehurst, Frayne) and reliable point-grabbers across the middle of the roster.
- This is a team built for matchplay: scrappy, competitive, and very comfortable in uncomfortable moments.
- If the rookies settle quickly, Tiger’s depth becomes a real weapon — because Spider can’t target “weak links” if there aren’t any obvious ones.
Where can they improve
- Consistency across the full three rounds. Tiger can start hot — the mission is staying sharp when legs are tired and the marina is calling.
- Cutting out self-inflicted damage. Doubles, lost balls, and “I’ll just try something” shots are not a strategy (but they will happen).
- Energy control. There’s a fine line between hype and chaos. Tiger need to stay loud and lethal — not just loud.
Key quotes
Paul Ticehurst, Team Captain
“Being named captain doesn’t change the goal — it just puts a bigger target on my back. I’m fine with that. We’ve got winners in this team, we’ve got lads who love matchplay, and we’ve got a point to prove.
Spider are champions, fair play… but we’re not turning up to clap for them. We’re coming to take points and put Tiger back where it belongs.”
Barry Tucker & Simon Harris
“We’re not saying we’ll drown out the opposition with noise and banter…
…but if someone’s trying to hit a pressure putt in silence, they’re on the wrong tour.”
Jon Mackness
“I’ve waited ages to get on this tour… and my first reward is getting thrown into Tiger while my missus is over on Spider. Perfect.
Now I’ve also managed to rupture a knee ligament falling down a step at Wells — so I’ll be turning up in a brace like I’m on a rehab programme, not a golf tour. Classic.
Look — Cath’s brilliant, I’m proud of her, all that… but if I’m fit enough to stand on the tee and we end up opposite each other, I’m not holding back. I’ll limp to the handshake, sleep on the sofa, whatever it takes — points are points.”
Bottom line
Team Tiger have all the ingredients: a captain with an unbeaten record, multiple proven performers, and enough character to turn every match into a full-scale event. If they bring focus alongside the noise, they can absolutely win the tour — and they’ll love doing it the hard way.
Three bold predictions
- Paul Ticehurst stays unbeaten through tour week — and becomes unbearable by breakfast on Day 2.
- Nick Gumm produces one outrageous round… then celebrates like he’s won the whole tour and needs to be escorted away from the marina.
- Richard Ashby finally wins a point — and immediately starts negotiations for a five-year extension “based on momentum”.