Opening Golf to the World
Walker Cup
Preston Stout relishing opportunity presented by away Walker Cup
04 Sep 26
7 mins
Preston Stout is relishing an opportunity to 'play the villain' at Lahinch during the 51st Walker Cup this week.
A total of 8,000 spectators are expected to attend each day as the top amateur golfers from Great Britain and Ireland and the United States of America compete for the trophy. The majority of those will be in support of GB&I, and backing Dean Robertson’s men to win the team’s first Walker Cup since 2015. While many players like to be liked, and use the support of the fans to spur them on, that isn’t something Stout is concerned with this week. “We’re excited to be the villain this week – to be the bad guy,” the 22-year-old, who is the world's top ranked amateur golfer, said. “We have spoken about trying to hush the crowd. There are going to be a lot of people out there, and it’s going to be loud. “It would be awesome for us to win and bring the cup back home to the United States of America.”
Preston Stout is relishing playing in front of an away crowd.
Stout is competing in the Walker Cup for the second time, having won both of his singles contests as the USA cruised to a 17-9 victory at Cypress Point in 2025.
While faced with a fresh, and very different, challenge 12 months on, he is in confident mood and ready for the test that lies ahead.
“Golf is a lot different over here, but it’s been good to be here and get used to the conditions,” he added. “There’s a lot more wind and it’s colder, but it’s been good so far.
“We have all clicked well, and we’re all fired up.”
Stewart Hagestad is the most experienced member of the USA team. The 35-year-old has played in five Walker Cups, including two away matches, and he believes performing in front of a passionate away crowd will be an important experience for the team.
“There’s going to be a tremendous amount of support for Great Britain and Ireland,” he said. “If you look at your development as a player this is a really great opportunity to see how you react mentally, physically and execution-wise.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn more about you and your game. It will be a great test.”
Hagestad added: “When your name gets called on the tee, you just have to remind yourself that you've played in big events before and this is just the next step in your development.
“The crowd might be rooting for the other side, but all you can do is control what you can control, execute to the best of your ability, and go from there.”
Stewart Hagestad is an experienced member of the USA team.
Ryder Cowan is another of the stars representing the USA this week, arriving at Lahinch on the back of a summer which saw him share low amateur honours at the 2026 US Open.
The 21-year-old, who is sixth in the World Amateur Golf Rankings® (WAGR®), isn’t fazed by the prospect of performing in front of a passionate Irish crowd.
“It’s definitely different. We are a long way from home but I am excited,” he said.
“The crowds aren’t going to be rooting for us, and that’s totally okay. I know if they [GB&I] came to the USA it would be the same thing for them.
“Mentally, I think we have to stay focused on our team and just being able to focus on each shot.”
Kihei Akina is no stranger to links golf having reached the quarter-finals of The 131st Amateur Championship at West Lancashire and Royal Liverpool earlier this summer.
While he has been impressed by the welcome of the Irish people since arriving, he says he and his team mates will be focused on the job at hand come Saturday.
“What we have seen as a team so far is that the people here are nothing but really kind. They have welcomed us with open arms which is cool to see.
“Once we step on our first tee it will be us versus them. We’re just going to try to control [what we can] and play golf to the best that we can.”
Kihei Akina is among the top amateurs representing the USA at Lahinch.
Captain Nathan Smith spoke about some of the other challenges playing an away Walker Cup presents, and believes the key to success is ensuring his players are able to adapt to their new surroundings.
“You need to listen to the players and their needs,” he said. “Everybody is going to adjust differently to the time change, the surroundings – everything.
“I’m listening to them and what they feel comfortable with. Logistically it is different.
“With the conditions it’s something that they are going to face. We are adjusting, but it’s a tight team and we’re having fun.
“I think the biggest thing is to enjoy the experience, the town itself is such a cool place. We just want to make the most of it.”
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The Walker Cup 2026 Practice Days gallery
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