Walker Cup

Great Britain and Ireland players set sights on Walker Cup

The R&A

03 Apr 23

3 mins

John Gough believes winning the Walker Cup at the home of golf this year would be an achievement to cherish for life.

The Englishman was recently part of a two-day squad session involving home-based Great Britain and Ireland players at St Andrews under the watchful eye of Captain, Stuart Wilson. With the countdown to September’s historic match against the United States of America underway, the group enjoyed familiarising themselves with the Old Course. Given the significance of this year’s encounter, marking 100 years since the match was first played at St Andrews, Gough is desperate to secure his place in the ten-man team announced in August.

Opportunity

“It’s always nice coming up to St Andrews and with this group of lads it’s obviously really special,” said the 24-year-old. “September is the big goal for me. There are not a lot of people who can say they played in the Walker Cup, or then say they played in it at the centenary in St Andrews. No matter what happens in your life, in golf or anything, it’s something you can hold forever. “I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to make the team and then hopefully taking the trophy as well. That would be the pinnacle of my amateur career.” At 13th on the World Amateur Golf Rankings® (WAGR®), Gough is the highest-placed GB&I player. It’s a reflection of a stand-out season last year which included winning the Lytham Trophy and a run to the semi-finals of The Amateur Championship. The Berkshire player has started this year in similar fashion, becoming the first Englishman to win the Australian Master of the Amateurs title in January. “Last year was great and it was nice to start off this year with a win as well,” added Gough, who has fond memories of St Andrews after winning the Wee Wonders Final on the Strathtyrum Course when he was only 11. “I feel like I’m on a bit of a momentum-train the last few years. I want to win a few more events this year and ultimately play in the Walker Cup.

John Gough - England

“I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to make the team and then hopefully taking the trophy as well. That would be the pinnacle of my amateur career.”

Old Course knowledge

“I think the Old Course is a venue that will suit us. I watched The 150th Open last summer when a few of my friends played it and Sam (Bairstow) made the cut, an ex-England player. I feel like we’re all good drivers of the ball in the squad and if it’s windy in September that could suit us. We play a lot of links golf on the amateur circuit so that will help too.” He continued, “I would say I’m one of the players who has probably played the most in St Andrews. This year will be my sixth Links Trophy. I’ve got to play here, luckily, a good few times. Any advantage we can get, say by playing well in the Links Trophy this summer, will be good for all of us.” Irishman Peter O’Keeffe is another player aiming to build on recent form, having reached the quarter-finals of The Amateur at Royal Lytham & St Annes and enjoyed a superb 2021 domestically which saw him crowned both the Irish Close and Open Amateur champion. O’Keeffe recently posted a top-ten finish at the South African Amateur Championship and is now bidding to secure a Walker Cup place, aged into his forties.

Passion to succeed

The 41-year-old, who balances his golf with a young family and his job as a strength and conditioning coach, said, “It’s exciting to be involved in the squad and it was an amazing few days in St Andrews. I’m not particularly going to chase every single event this year, but I’ve put a schedule together that I think should put me in the right place. “When I look at the squad, the ages jump out but it doesn’t put me up or down really. I hit the ball well and I’m in good shape. I believe in my own golf hugely and I bring a lot of experience. “I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing without a really supportive wife. I’ve two small children and I’m involved in a couple of businesses. It’s not an easy balance, but it’s my passion, it’s what I want to achieve, so it’s about managing my time and prioritising my family life, business life and golf practice.” O’Keeffe shares the same coach as two-time Champion Golfer of the Year, Padraig Harrington, and is driven by the work ethic of a player ten years his senior.

Walker Cup Squad gather in St Andrews | Gallery | March 2023

Walker Cup Practice - March 2023

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Harrington inspiration

“Among the Irish guys, Padraig inspires me,” he explained. “We have the same coach, Noel Fox, and we spend a little bit of time together when we cross over during sessions. He is a force of nature and every time I meet him I come away thinking about different things. Age never comes onto my own radar, especially when you look at guys like him who maintain their speed and drive.” At the other end of the age spectrum, Connor Graham is a young Scot chasing a Walker Cup place on familiar turf. The 16-year-old won The R&A Junior Open last July and secured a top-ten result at the Links Trophy. “I’ve played the Old Course a lot growing up, living 45 minutes away, so I’m here as much as I can,” said the Blairgowrie player, who has started this year with another top-ten in the Spanish Amateur. “I know it pretty well. It’s good experience for me to be playing in this squad. “It’s definitely possible for me to make the team if I play some good golf and keeping working hard. It would be a special match to play in but I’ve just got to try and not think about it too much. I feel as though I’ve improved a lot over the last couple of years and it’s about progressing as far as I can.”

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