Walker Cup

Home comforts at the Walker Cup

The R&A

30 Aug 23

3 mins

Home is where the heart is. It’s the place where you hold the deepest affection, where you often feel most comfortable and relaxed. It’s certainly true of the Walker Cup in recent times.

Home comforts have proved valuable assets, a familiarity with the venue breeding success. Only three of the 15 matches between Great Britain and Ireland and the United States of America since 1993 have produced victories for the away team. The USA were successful on their most recent trip across the pond, winning by 15½ to 10½ at Royal Liverpool in 2019. However, six of the last seven Walker Cup matches have been won by the home side, a statistic to boost the confidence of the GB&I team as they seek to regain the trophy.

Crowd support

“All of us in the team play so much links golf,” said Irishman Liam Nolan, winner of the Brabazon Trophy earlier this year. “We either grew up on links golf or play it all year long really. We just have to go out and do the exact same things we usually do. “With the experience we have in the team and on the golf course I think that could be enough to get us over the line.” Nolan, who will be supported by members travelling over from his home club in Galway, added, “I’ve heard the crowds here are going to be really big, so I’m really looking forward to hearing a Great Britain and Ireland crowd – and especially around the home of golf, there’s no better place for it.” Nolan’s view was echoed by Great Britain & Ireland captain Stuart Wilson, who highlighted his side’s familiarity with the Old Course.

Liam Nolan - Great Britain and Ireland

“I’ve heard the crowds here are going to be really big, so I’m really looking forward to hearing a Great Britain and Ireland crowd – and especially around the home of golf, there’s no better place for it.”

Wilson’s knowledge

Wilson’s squad have made two visits to the historic venue this year in the lead-up to the match, while all of the team have past experience of playing competitively at St Andrews. “I think over the piece obviously the history of the Walker Cup tells us America will always be favourites, but certainly since maybe the mid-90s home advantage has really come into play,” said Wilson, a winner himself over the Old when he claimed The Amateur Championship in 2004. “In any sport home advantage is a big thing, so it’s definitely something we’ll play on. “The guys certainly feel comfortable out there, they know the course, it is almost like being at their local course these days playing the Old.” At 16 years and 10 months old, Scotland’s Connor Graham is set to become the youngest player in Walker Cup history this weekend. Yet even Graham has plentiful experience of St Andrews.

Connor Graham - Great Britain and Ireland

“I’ve obviously grown up near here and played the Old Course quite a few times, so I’m definitely very familiar with it. It definitely does help knowing the course. Playing it a lot of times and knowing it well gives you a bit of an advantage."

Experience of youth

The teenager, who hails from nearby Blairgowrie, counts two appearances in the St Andrews Links Trophy among his many visits to the home of golf. Graham shared seventh place in that event last year, at the age of 15. “I’ve obviously grown up near here and played the Old Course quite a few times, so I’m definitely very familiar with it,” said Graham. “It definitely does help knowing the course. Playing it a lot of times and knowing it well gives you a bit of an advantage. “Links golf courses, we all grow up playing them whereas the Americans haven’t, so we’ll definitely have that kind of home advantage – and with the crowd as well.”

Belief in team

Even with the benefits of playing at home, the Great Britain & Ireland side certainly faces a stiff challenge in overcoming a star-studded American line-up. Yet Ireland’s Matthew McClean believes GB&I’s most recent successes, at Royal Aberdeen in 2011 and Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2015, can serve as inspiration this weekend. “It’s an incredibly good American side but every year they put out a team it’s the same story, so if the guys back in 2015 and 2011 were able to win, we’ll back ourselves,” added McClean. “We’ll go into each match with the belief we’re more than capable of winning.” Come along and enjoy the action at the Old Course this weekend with tickets available here.

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