Opening Golf to the World
Walker Cup
How historic double could inspire Great Britain & Ireland to Walker Cup glory
03 Sep 26
6 mins
If winning breeds confidence the Great Britain and Ireland team room should be brimming with it ahead of the 51st Walker Cup.
The United States of America have the upper hand so far as history goes, winning 40 of the 50 matches to have been staged - including each of the last five. However a remarkable double success for GB&I players on both sides of the Atlantic this summer means the home side arrive in Lahinch with winners in their ranks and a belief that the tide could be turning. This year, for only the second time in history, both the Amateur Champion and US Amateur Champion will line up on the Great Britain & Ireland team. Stuart Grehan’s memorable triumph at The 131st Amateur Championship in June was followed by Jack Whaley’s stunning success across the Atlantic at Merion in August. They follow in the footsteps of Garrick Porteous and Matt Fitzpatrick who won the Amateur and US Amateur respectively before going on to play for GB&I in the Walker Cup in 2013. Until this year they were the only duo to achieve that feat, however the success of the current crop is something Captain Dean Robertson hopes will rub off on the team when play gets under way at Lahinch. “I wanted to pair them [Grehan and Whaley] together during practice this week, so they could have a little match together. So we did that at the start of the week," Robertson said. “It certainly gives great confidence to the team to know that they have both amateur champions in the team. "It's only the second time in the history of the match that it's ever happened. We are really excited about it."
Dean Robertson (left) during practice at Lahinch.
Grehan is among the six GB&I players with previous Walker Cup experience, while Whaley is one of four rookies competing in the match for the first time.
“Stuart [Grehan] has been great. Having great experience at Lahinch, winning The Amateur Championship, and being the local home player, he has naturally taken on a leading role," Robertson added.
“He’s been galvanizing the first-time players, and he’s really excited for the week ahead.”
Whaley is among the players experiencing the Walker Cup for the first time this week, however Robertson doesn’t see him as having any less influence than his GB&I peers.
“We have five two-time Walker Cuppers, plus a 19-year-old playing in his third Walker Cup [but] even our debutants don’t feel like rookies,” he said.
“There are leaders within the team, and they are playing a leading role, but everyone within the team has a responsibility within that.”
Robertson added: “Jack [Whaley] is someone I’ve gotten to know closely day-by-day, and he’s a fabulous golfer and person.
“He is refining his skills for the test ahead, and I’m really excited to watch him perform this weekend.”
Jack Whaley arrives at Lahinch as the US Amateur Champion.
Whaley's victory at Merion saw him become just the third Englishman to claim the Havemeyer Trophy, and came after he defeated Jay Leng Jr, who is this week representing the USA at Lahinch, 4&3 in the Final.
“The match play element of the US Amateur was awesome, and great preparation for this," Whaley said. "I think the confidence I’ve got from that is going to carry me really well into the weekend.
“I’m hoping I can capitalise on that and win some matches. It’s always been a dream of mine [to play in the Walker Cup]."
Whaley’s triumph in the USA came eight weeks after Grehan’s Amateur Championship victory on England’s Golf Coast.
Grehan defeated GB&I team mate Eliot Baker on his way to victory, eventually getting his hands on the famous trophy with triumph over American Matt Moloney in the 36-hole Final.
It came amid a special summer for the Irishman, who also enjoyed victory on home soil and qualified for The Open courtesy of his Amateur Championship success.
It has been a memorable summer for Stuart Grehan.
“It’s been a great year," he said. "I won the East of Ireland Amateur Championship at home in County Louth which was really special, and then to win The Amateur Championship is incredibly special.
“To top it off this week and win a Walker Cup at home would be the stuff dreams are made of.”
Lahinch is a place Grehan knows well, and he hopes to use that to his advantage when the match gets under way.
He added: "I love this place, it's a classic. I've played here a bunch of times, so it’s always a special venue to come back to.
"Luckily for me I have played here in all different conditions, but I'm excited to see how it goes.
"Everyone here is an excellent player in their own right, and I'm sure they will adapt to the conditions just fine but I'm looking forward to it.
"I have a lot of course knowledge and hopefully can put that to use over the weekend."
Follow all the build-up to the 51st Walker Cup at Lahinch with our live blog.
View all the best images from the practice days at Lahinch below.
The Walker Cup 2026 Practice Days gallery
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