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Walker Cup
Walker Cup: USA prove too strong for GB&I
08 Sep 25
5 mins
As the ever-thickening haar rolled in off the Pacific to replace what had recently been clear blue skies, so the curtain came down on the Great Britain and Ireland side’s attempt to beat the United States of America and win the 50th playing of the Walker Cup at Cypress Point.
Only one point ahead going into the fourth and final session of matches, the home team underlined their greater strength in depth by totting up eight-and-a-half points from the ten afternoon singles. Thus, the final margin of victory was eight points, 17-9. Ironically, amidst a sea of college-age teammates, it fell to 34-year old Stewart Hagestad - competing in his fifth Walker Cup - to make the putt that took the US to 13 points and meant they would at least retain the famous old trophy. Just a few minutes later Preston Stout’s 2&1 victory over Luke Poulter clinched overall victory. Thereafter, the inevitable feeling of anti-climax was dotted with four more American victories. Only Irishman Gavin Tiernan - a 2&1 winner over Michael La Sasso, whose Walker Cup concluded with an air-shot, his ball hard against a fence well left of the penultimate green — bucked that almost relentless trend. To conclude the 103-year old contest that will reconvene 12 months from now at Lahinch in Ireland, Jacob Modleski’s par on the 18th was good enough to pip Dominic Clemons, one up. Inevitably, it was a subdued GB&I Captain who spoke with the assembled media. For Dean Robertson, the optimism of the first three sessions had been replaced by acceptance of what was ultimately a comfortable defeat. Familiar too. Only twice has GB&I won the Walker Cup on American soil.
Gavin Tiernan was the only GB&I player to win a singles match on Sunday
“We came here with a focus to raise our standard, to emulate what's only been done a couple of times in over 100 years,” said Robertson, who was a playing member of the losing GB&I side at Interlachen back in 1993. “We had a belief. We had a goal, and the goal was 13 and-a-half points. Even at lunchtime today, we had to come out and we had to get momentum. But the red went on the board early.
“We were in it though. We fought hard. Our foursomes performances were exceptional. I think the big difference for us is we need to be better putters. The US team is loaded with talented individuals. We are too. But certainly when it came right down to it, we never really managed to see out some of the games. Then this afternoon team USA performed brilliantly. Hats off and big congratulations to them. They've played fantastic.”
All of which only reaffirmed Robertson’s earlier assessment of what it would take for his side to emerge victorious. At lunchtime the former Italian Open champion had spoken of his player’s need to be “tighter down the stretch.” Sadly for the visitors that was a wish that failed to materialise. Time after time, it was an American who would make the vital putt over the closing holes.
“I'm just blown away,” said USA captain, Nathan Smith. “They showed up all weekend and I don't know if I've ever seen a Walker Cup team bring it like they did this afternoon in singles. In the morning, so many matches flipped. Then in the afternoon, I looked up and there was red all over the board. I couldn't believe it. I had to do a double-take and just stay away from it. I just got out of the way and let the horses run. It was pretty special.”
At glorious Cypress Point, that aspect of this Walker Cup was easily the most predictable. Lahinch in 2026 has much to live up to.