The stage is set for the 51st Walker Cup at Lahinch as the players from Great Britain and Ireland and the United States of America prepare to contest the historic international match on Saturday, 5 and Sunday, 6 September.
The encounter is being staged at the renowned Irish venue for the first time in the 104-year history of the Walker Cup with sell-out crowds of 8,000 fans due to attend each day. More than 1700 young people are attending through The R&A’s successful ‘Kids Go Free’ initiative, which provides free entry for under-16s when accompanied by a paying adult.
GB&I are searching for their first victory in the match since a memorable 16½-9½ victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2015. The USA come into the match on the back of a convincing 17-9 victory at Cypress Point last year and will be looking to extend their run of five consecutive victories.
Dean Robertson will captain his second Walker Cup team and has six players returning from last year in California – Amateur Champion Stuart Grehan, Connor Graham, Eliot Baker, Luke Poulter, Niall Sheils Donegan and Tyler Weaver. US Amateur champion Jack Whaley, Ben Bolton, Sam Easterbrook and Josh Hill are making their debut appearances.
“Well, first of all, we’re going to master the challenges that are in front of us with the golf course,” said Roberetson. “We’ve got confidence in our preparation and we have got a game plan and we’ll stick to our game plan.
“It’s going to be a brilliant Walker Cup match, I’m sure. It’s going to be extremely difficult. The Americans are so strong but we are prepared. We’ll be playing our own game and we’ll just see where that takes us.”
The USA team, captained for a second time by Nathan Smith, features three players returning from last year – world number one and winner of the McCormack Medal Preston Stout, Ethan Fang and Stewart Hagestad, who is competing in his sixth Walker Cup match. They are joined by Miles Russell, Tyler Watts, Kihei Akina, Ryder Cowan, Josiah Gilbert, William Jennings and Jay Leng Jr.
“I think it’s going to be an incredible golf course atmosphere, crowds,” said Smith. “I think it’s a special golf course for both sessions that we’re going to play with alternate shot and singles but I think you’re going to need all the shots out there.
“You’re going to need every club in your bag and watching these guys it’s beautiful when you get on that side of the golf course and then inland there’s some challenging holes. You’re going to need them all.”
The opening foursomes get underway from 08.30am BST. Stuart Grehan and Eliot Baker will lead GB&I off against Preston Stout and Ethan Fang. Please visit The R&A website for the full draw.
The match is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Golf Channel in the US with live coverage also available on R&A TV and R&A YouTube.
Tickets for the match are sold out on both days and so fans are being advised not to attend without one.
