Walker Cup

Thursday press conferences | The 49th Walker Cup

The R&A

31 Aug 23

3 mins

Two members of each Walker Cup team faced the media at St Andrews on Thursday, together with the respective captains of the United States of America and Great Britain & Ireland, Mike McCoy and Stuart Wilson.

Here are the best quotes from the first preview press conferences.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Nick Dunlap – 2023 US Amateur Champion

“It's really cool for me just now being over here, just the energy the town brings towards this place. “I feel like we've got a pretty good idea of where the wind is going to be. We've gotten to play the course in two different winds. “We have a pretty close-knit team and we know each other well. I'd be comfortable saying we could go out with anyone on the team and play foursomes and be where we want to be. That's definitely something we've emphasised is focusing on foursomes and kind of just going from there. “I have a ball - I'm not sure exactly how I got it - from the very first Walker Cup here (in 1923). It's sat on my nightstand ever since it was announced it was going to be played here. One of my buddies gave it to me in Huntsville about a year and a half ago.”

Gordon Sargent – WAGR® #1

“You come play links golf and you kind of expect the worst, but the past couple days we've had some nice weather. You don't really have to change much. You don't necessarily have to do anything different. I feel like we have good game plans and, like Nick said, we’ve played it in a couple of different winds. I think we all enjoyed it the first time we played it. It’s definitely different than what we're used to, but I think we all enjoy variety. “When you talk to people about the Walker Cup … it's starting to sink in a lot. Just thinking about that first tee, how cool it is and all that stuff. But then also hearing that it's cool to be on a Walker Cup, but to be on a winning Walker Cup team means the world. Everybody is putting in the proper prep work and everyone knows what it means to be on a Walker Cup team, but our job is not finished. It would be a pretty special Sunday evening to be lifting the trophy.”

Mike McCoy – United States of America captain

“I played on a losing team over here (at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2015), so that's sort of scorched into my mind. We had a good team and got beat pretty handily. We really are prepared for a tough match. I don't think anybody is complacent. These guys are all competitors, and I think they're ready to go. “I've been very impressed really with the whole team's approach. They're a lot of fun in the team room, but when they're out on the golf course, they're seasoned veterans.”

USA Team Press Conference | Walker Cup

GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND

Alex Maguire – 2023 St Andrews Links Trophy and Open Amateur Series winner

“Winning here (in the St Andrews Links Trophy) was probably the best weekend of my life. But I think regardless of if I won or not, coming back to St Andrews is so special. “As an Irishman, it’s amazing to have three of the lads (Matthew McClean, Mark Power and Liam Nolan) alongside me. When I saw the five lads who played Lytham (in 2015), I wanted to be one of those guys. Ever since seeing that I’ve always wanted to be on one of those teams and to have three of the lads with me from Ireland and to be in the most represented country here, it’s a massive sense of pride being Irish this week.”

Calum Scott – WAGR® #31

On brother Sandy Scott, who played in the 2019 Walker Cup – “My whole family was there. We were all watching. Obviously I had aspirations of doing what he's doing. Being able to watch him win two out of two singles, that was pretty cool. I remember he gave me a towel and I hung it up in my room, and it's still there to this day. I told myself I wanted to make that team, and I'm sitting here now. Very thankful that all that's paid off. “I don't think the rankings really matter for this, especially being at St Andrews. It's anyone's game, and I think the winning team is the team that holes the most putts. That's it. “I've played with Gordon (Sargent) a couple of times in college, so obviously I know how long he is. I think everyone in the college scene in America knows how long he is. He's a great player. He's No. 1 in the world, so it would be great to play him in singles. I would love that match. I'd love any match, but it would be cool to play him at the home of golf.”

Stuart Wilson – Great Britain & Ireland captain

“We're really delighted with the team we've got, and since we've been here they have all really been putting all the hard work and effort in, to reflect the effort they've put in over the year to get the performances to make the team. “I think it's fair to say we're probably always going to be the underdogs, the second favourites in a two-horse race every time this comes around. History tells us that's probably appropriate, but then when you look at the results over the last 25 years, it's become a lot more evenly matched, certainly with home advantage as well. Everybody knows where they're at in the grand scheme of things, but it all gets sorted out over the weekend, doesn't it?”

GB&I Team Press Conference | Walker Cup

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