Walker Cup
Tournament information
Location2023: St Andrews, Scotland
Established1922
Course(s)2023: Old Course at St Andrews
Organized byThe R&A and United States Golf Association
FormatMatch play
Month playedSeptember
Current champion
United States United States
2023 Walker Cup

The Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested in odd-numbered years by leading male amateur golfers in two teams: United States, and Great Britain and Ireland featuring players from the United Kingdom and Ireland. The official name is the Walker Cup Match (not "Matches" as in Ryder Cup Matches). It is organised by The R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA). In 1921 the Royal Liverpool Golf Club hosted an unofficial contest which was followed by official annual contests from 1922 through 1924. From 1925 they became biennial, held on even-number years. After World War II they switched to odd-numbered years. From 2026 it will be held in even-numbered years following the switch of the Eisenhower Trophy to odd-numbered years to avoid that event clashing with the Olympic Games.[1] They are held alternately in the U.S., and Ireland or Britain.

The cup is named after George Herbert Walker who was president of the USGA in 1920 when the match was initiated. Walker is the grandfather and namesake of George H. W. Bush and great-grandfather of George W. Bush, the 41st and 43rd Presidents of the United States, respectively.

Unlike the Ryder Cup, which similarly began as a competition between the U.S. and the United Kingdom, the Walker Cup has never been expanded to include all European amateur golfers.

As of 2023, the U.S. lead the Walker Cup series 39 to 9, with one match tied, but the two teams have been more evenly matched since 1989 when the Great Britain and Ireland team ended the U.S. team's eight-match winning run. The 1989 match and the three matches from 2003 to 2007 were all decided by a single point.

Founding of the Cup

Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) 1921

A team of American amateur golfers travelled in Britain in 1921, their objective being to win The Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool (Hoylake). A match between American and British male amateur golfers was played on May 21, immediately before The Amateur Championship. This match was announced in The Times on May 10. The Times reports that the match was arranged by Gershom Stewart M.P., Chairman of Royal Liverpool Golf Club.[2]

The British team was: Tommy Armour, Colin Aylmer, Ernest Holderness, James Jenkins, Reymond de Montmorency, Gordon Simpson, Cyril Tolley and Roger Wethered. The American team was Chick Evans, William C. Fownes Jr. (Captain), Jesse Guilford, Paul M. Hunter, Bobby Jones, Francis Ouimet, J. Wood Platt, Fred Wright. The Americans won the match 9–3.[3]

Format

The Walker Cup employs a combination of foursomes (alternate-shot) and singles competition and was originally the format used for the professional equivalent Ryder Cup. Up to 1961, 36 holes matches were played: four foursomes on the first day and eight singles matches on the second day. From 1963, 18 hole matches were played, with four foursomes and eight singles matches on each day. In 2009, the number of singles matches on the second day was increased to 10, so that all members of the team play on this final afternoon.[4]

Results

Half points for halved matches were first awarded in 1971. Note that in the following table, half points for halved matches are included in the total scores prior to 1971 for consistency with later years. The following scores include halved matches: 1923: 1, 1926: 1, 1932: 3, 1934: 1, 1936: 3, 1938: 1, 1951: 3, 1957: 1, 1963: 4, 1965: 2, 1967: 4, 1969: 6

Source:[5][6][7]

YearVenueWinning teamScoreLosing teamCaptains
2023 Old Course at St Andrews  United States 1412 1112  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Mike McCoy
Scotland Stuart Wilson
2021 Seminole Golf Club  United States 14 12  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Nathaniel Crosby
Scotland Stuart Wilson
2019 Royal Liverpool Golf Club  United States 1512 1012  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Nathaniel Crosby
Scotland Craig Watson
2017 Los Angeles Country Club  United States 19 7  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Spider Miller
Wales Andy Ingram
2015 Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club  Great Britain &
 Ireland
1612 912  United States United States Spider Miller
Wales Nigel Edwards
2013 National Golf Links of America  United States 17 9  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Jim Holtgrieve
Wales Nigel Edwards
2011 Royal Aberdeen Golf Club  Great Britain &
 Ireland
14 12  United States United States Jim Holtgrieve
Wales Nigel Edwards
2009 Merion Golf Club  United States 1612 912  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Buddy Marucci
Scotland Colin Dalgleish
2007 Royal County Down Golf Club  United States 1212 1112  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Buddy Marucci
Scotland Colin Dalgleish
2005 Chicago Golf Club  United States 1212 1112  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Bob Lewis
Republic of Ireland Garth McGimpsey
2003 Ganton Golf Club  Great Britain &
 Ireland
1212 1112  United States United States Bob Lewis
Republic of Ireland Garth McGimpsey
2001 Ocean Forest Golf Club  Great Britain &
 Ireland
15 9  United States United States Danny Yates
England Peter McEvoy
1999 Nairn Golf Club  Great Britain &
 Ireland
15 9  United States United States Danny Yates
England Peter McEvoy
1997 Quaker Ridge Golf Club  United States 18 6  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Downing Gray
Wales Clive Brown
1995 Royal Porthcawl Golf Club  Great Britain &
 Ireland
14 10  United States United States Downing Gray
Wales Clive Brown
1993 Interlachen Country Club  United States 19 5  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Vinny Giles
Scotland George Macgregor
1991 Portmarnock Golf Club  United States 14 10  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Jim Gabrielsen
Scotland George Macgregor
1989 Peachtree Golf Club  Great Britain &
 Ireland
1212 1112  United States United States Fred Ridley
England Geoff Marks
1987 Sunningdale Golf Club  United States 1612 712  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Fred Ridley
England Geoff Marks
1985 Pine Valley Golf Club  United States 13 11  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Jay Sigel
Scotland Charlie Green
1983 Royal Liverpool Golf Club  United States 1312 1012  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Jay Sigel
Scotland Charlie Green
1981 Cypress Point Club  United States 15 9  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Jim Gabrielsen
England Rodney Foster
1979 Muirfield  United States 1512 812  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Dick Siderowf
England Rodney Foster
1977 Shinnecock Hills Golf Club  United States 16 8  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Lewis Oehmig
Scotland Sandy Saddler
1975 Old Course at St Andrews  United States 1512 812  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Ed Updegraff
England David Marsh
1973 The Country Club  United States 14 10  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Jess Sweetser
England David Marsh
1971 Old Course at St Andrews  Great Britain &
 Ireland
13 11  United States United States John M. Winters
England Michael Bonallack
1969 Milwaukee Country Club  United States 13 11  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Billy Joe Patton
England Michael Bonallack
1967 Royal St George's Golf Club  United States 15 9  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Jess Sweetser
Republic of Ireland Joe Carr
1965 Baltimore Country Club  United States 12 12  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Johnny Fischer
Republic of Ireland Joe Carr
1963 Turnberry  United States 14 10  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Richard Tufts
Scotland Charles Lawrie
1961 Seattle Golf Club  United States 11 1  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Jack Westland
Scotland Charles Lawrie
1959 Muirfield  United States 9 3  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Charles Coe
England Gerald Micklem
1957 The Minikahda Club  United States 812 312  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Charles Coe
England Gerald Micklem
1955 Old Course at St Andrews  United States 10 2  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States William C. Campbell
England Alec Hill
1953 The Kittansett Club  United States 9 3  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Charlie Yates
Wales Tony Duncan
1951 Royal Birkdale Golf Club  United States 712 412  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Willie Turnesa
England Raymond Oppenheimer
1949 Winged Foot Golf Club  United States 10 2  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Francis Ouimet
England Laddie Lucas
1947 Old Course at St Andrews  United States 8 4  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Francis Ouimet
England John Beck
1940–1946: Not held due to World War II
1940 Town & Country Club 1940 event was awarded to The Town & Country Club of St. Paul, Minnesota
but the matches were canceled due to World War II
1938 Old Course at St Andrews  Great Britain &
 Ireland
712 412  United States United States Francis Ouimet
England John Beck
1936 Pine Valley Golf Club  United States 1012 112  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Francis Ouimet
England William Tweddell
1934 Old Course at St Andrews  United States 912 212  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Francis Ouimet
England Michael Scott
1932 The Country Club  United States 912 212  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Francis Ouimet
Scotland Tony Torrance
1930 Royal St George's Golf Club  United States 10 2  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Bobby Jones
England Roger Wethered
1928 Chicago Golf Club  United States 11 1  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Bobby Jones
England William Tweddell
1926 Old Course at St Andrews  United States 612 512  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Robert Gardner
Scotland Robert Harris
1924 Garden City Golf Club  United States 9 3  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Robert Gardner
England Cyril Tolley
1923 Old Course at St Andrews  United States 612 512  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States Robert Gardner
Scotland Robert Harris
1922 National Golf Links of America  United States 8 4  Great Britain &
 Ireland
United States William C. Fownes Jr.
Scotland Robert Harris

Of the 49 matches, USA has won 39 matches, Great Britain and Ireland have won 9 with 1 match tied.

Future sites

From 2026, matches will be held in even-numbered years. Venue for the 2030 event has not yet been announced.[13]

See also

References

  1. "Walker Cup to be contested in even years from 2026". R&A. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  2. "The "Invasion" Begins – American Golfers at Liverpool". The Times. May 10, 1921. p. 10.
  3. "Golf at Hoylake". The Times. May 23, 1921. p. 4.
  4. "New Format Twist: Sunday Singles Matches Increase By Two - 2009 Walker Cup Match". USGA. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  5. "Walker Cup results". USGA. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  6. "Walker Cup Match September 10-11, 2011" (PDF). USGA. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  7. "Walker Cup - History". R&A. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  8. "Coast to Coast: Seminole, Cypress Point to Host Future Walker Cups". USGA. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  9. "The 51st Walker Cup to be played at Lahinch in 2026". R&A. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  10. Beall, Joel (July 20, 2021). "Bandon Dunes to host 13 USGA championships". Golf Digest. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  11. "Oakmont and Merion Selected for Multiple Future Championships". USGA. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  12. "Chicago G.C. to Host 2033 Women's Open, 2036 Walker Cup". USGA. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  13. "Walker Cup Moving to Even Years Starting in 2026". USGA. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
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