Walker Cup
{{Short description|Golf trophy}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox golf tournament
| name = Walker Cup
| image =
| location = 2023: St Andrews, Scotland
| establishment = 1922
| course = 2023: Old Course at St Andrews
| org = The R&A and United States Golf Association
| par =
| yardage =
| field = 20 (10 for each team)
| tour =
| format = Match play
| purse =
| month_played = September
| current_champion = {{flagicon|USA}} United States
| current = 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.randa.org/articles/walker-cup-to-be-contested-in-even-years-from-2026 |title=Walker Cup to be contested in even years from 2026 |publisher=R&A |access-date=March 21, 2022}} 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.
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.{{cite news |newspaper = The Times |date=10 May 1921 |page=10 |title=The "Invasion" Begins – American Golfers at Liverpool}}
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.{{cite news |newspaper = The Times |date=23 May 1921 |page=4 |title=Golf at Hoylake}}
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.walkercup.org/news/singles.html |title=New Format Twist: Sunday Singles Matches Increase By Two - 2009 Walker Cup Match |publisher=USGA |access-date=September 6, 2013}}
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:{{cite web |url=http://www.usga.org/WalkerCup/ChampEventContent.aspx?id=21474853291 |title=Walker Cup results |publisher=USGA |access-date=September 5, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.usga.org/uploadedFiles/USGAHome/press_room/media_guide/20WalkerCup(1).pdf |title=Walker Cup Match September 10-11, 2011 |publisher=USGA |access-date=September 5, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.randa.org/en/Championship-Golf/International-Matches/Walker-Cup/History.aspx |title=Walker Cup - History |publisher=R&A |access-date=September 7, 2013}}
| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Venue !! Winning team !! colspan="2" | Score !! Losing team !! Captains |
| 2023
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|14{{1/2}} |align="center"|11{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Mike McCoy |
| 2021
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|14 |align="center"|12 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Nathaniel Crosby |
| 2019
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|15{{1/2}} |align="center"|10{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Nathaniel Crosby |
| 2017
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|19 |align="center"|7 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Spider Miller |
| 2015
|Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |align="center"|16{{1/2}} |align="center"|9{{1/2}} |{{flagu|United States}} |{{flagicon|USA}} Spider Miller |
| 2013
|National Golf Links of America |{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|17 |align="center"|9 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Holtgrieve |
| 2011
|{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |align="center"|14 |align="center"|12 |{{flagu|United States}} |{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Holtgrieve |
| 2009
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|16{{1/2}} |align="center"|9{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Buddy Marucci |
| 2007
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|12{{1/2}} |align="center"|11{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Buddy Marucci |
| 2005
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|12{{1/2}} |align="center"|11{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Bob Lewis |
| 2003
|{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |align="center"|12{{1/2}} |align="center"|11{{1/2}} |{{flagu|United States}} |{{flagicon|USA}} Bob Lewis |
| 2001
|{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |align="center"|15 |align="center"|9 |{{flagu|United States}} |{{flagicon|USA}} Danny Yates |
| 1999
|{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |align="center"|15 |align="center"|9 |{{flagu|United States}} |{{flagicon|USA}} Danny Yates |
| 1997
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|18 |align="center"|6 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Downing Gray |
| 1995
|{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |align="center"|14 |align="center"|10 |{{flagu|United States}} |{{flagicon|USA}} Downing Gray |
| 1993
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|19 |align="center"|5 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Vinny Giles |
| 1991
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|14 |align="center"|10 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Gabrielsen |
| 1989
|{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |align="center"|12{{1/2}} |align="center"|11{{1/2}} |{{flagu|United States}} |{{flagicon|USA}} Fred Ridley |
| 1987
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|16{{1/2}} |align="center"|7{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Fred Ridley |
| 1985
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|13 |align="center"|11 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Jay Sigel |
| 1983
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|13{{1/2}} |align="center"|10{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Jay Sigel |
| 1981
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|15 |align="center"|9 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Gabrielsen |
| 1979
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|15{{1/2}} |align="center"|8{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Dick Siderowf |
| 1977
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|16 |align="center"|8 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Lewis Oehmig |
| 1975
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|15{{1/2}} |align="center"|8{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Ed Updegraff |
| 1973
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|14 |align="center"|10 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Jess Sweetser |
| 1971
|{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |align="center"|13 |align="center"|11 |{{flagu|United States}} |{{flagicon|USA}} John M. Winters |
| 1969
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|13 |align="center"|11 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Billy Joe Patton |
| 1967
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|15 |align="center"|9 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Jess Sweetser |
| 1965
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|12 |align="center"|12 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Fischer |
| 1963
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|14 |align="center"|10 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Richard Tufts |
| 1961
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|11 |align="center"|1 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Jack Westland |
| 1959
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|9 |align="center"|3 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Charles Coe |
| 1957
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|8{{1/2}} |align="center"|3{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Charles Coe |
| 1955
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|10 |align="center"|2 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} William C. Campbell |
| 1953
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|9 |align="center"|3 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Charlie Yates |
| 1951
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|7{{1/2}} |align="center"|4{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Willie Turnesa |
| 1949
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|10 |align="center"|2 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Francis Ouimet |
| 1947
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|8 |align="center"|4 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Francis Ouimet |
| colspan="8" align="center"|1940–1946: Not held due to World War II |
| 1940
|colspan="8" align="center"|1940 event was awarded to The Town & Country Club of St. Paul, Minnesota |
| 1938
|{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |align="center"|7{{1/2}} |align="center"|4{{1/2}} |{{flagu|United States}} |{{flagicon|USA}} Francis Ouimet |
| 1936
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|10{{1/2}} |align="center"|1{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Francis Ouimet |
| 1934
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|9{{1/2}} |align="center"|2{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Francis Ouimet |
| 1932
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|9{{1/2}} |align="center"|2{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Francis Ouimet |
| 1930
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|10 |align="center"|2 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Bobby Jones |
| 1928
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|11 |align="center"|1 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Bobby Jones |
| 1926
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|6{{1/2}} |align="center"|5{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Robert Gardner |
| 1924
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|9 |align="center"|3 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Robert Gardner |
| 1923
|{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|6{{1/2}} |align="center"|5{{1/2}} |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} Robert Gardner |
| 1922
|National Golf Links of America |{{flagu|United States}} |align="center"|8 |align="center"|4 |{{flagu|Great Britain}} & |{{flagicon|USA}} William C. Fownes Jr. |
Of the 49 matches, USA has won 39 matches, Great Britain and Ireland have won 9 with 1 match tied.
Future sites
- 2025 – Cypress Point Club (Pebble Beach, California),{{cite web |url=http://www.usga.org/articles/2016/12/seminole--cypress-point-named-future-walker-cup-sites.html |title=Coast to Coast: Seminole, Cypress Point to Host Future Walker Cups |publisher=USGA |access-date=December 16, 2016}} September 6–7
- 2026 – Lahinch Golf Club (County Clare, Ireland),{{cite web |url=https://www.randa.org/articles/the-51st-walker-cup-to-be-played-at-lahinch-in-2026 | title=The 51st Walker Cup to be played at Lahinch in 2026 |publisher=R&A |access-date=July 10, 2023 }} September 5–6
- 2028 – Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon, Oregon){{cite magazine |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/bandon-usga-13-championships |title=Bandon Dunes to host 13 USGA championships |magazine=Golf Digest |first=Joel |last=Beall |date=July 20, 2021 |access-date=July 20, 2021}}
- 2030 – Prince's Golf Club (Sandwich, England){{cite web |title=Prince's to host the Walker Cup in 2030 |url=https://www.randa.org/articles/prince-s-to-host-the-walker-cup-in-2030 |publisher=The R&A |date=8 May 2025}}
- 2032 – Oakmont Country Club (Oakmont, Pennsylvania){{cite web|url=https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/articles/2021/08/oakmont-merion-pennsylvania-selected-future-championships.html |title= Oakmont and Merion Selected for Multiple Future Championships |publisher=USGA |access-date=August 11, 2021}}
- 2036 – Chicago Golf Club (Wheaton, Illinois){{cite web |url=https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/articles/2022/11/chicago-g-c--to-host-2033-women-s-open--2036-walker-cup.html |title=Chicago G.C. to Host 2033 Women's Open, 2036 Walker Cup |publisher=USGA |access-date=November 1, 2022}}
- 2044 - Pine Valley Golf Club (Pine Valley, New Jersey){{cite web |url=https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/articles/2025/03/pine-valley-awarded-2044-walker-cup.html |title=CPine Valley Awarded 2044 Walker Cup Match |publisher=USGA |access-date=March 3, 2025}}
From 2026, matches will be held in even-numbered years.{{cite web |url=https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/articles/2022/03/walker-cup-moving-to-even-years-starting-in-2026.html |title=Walker Cup Moving to Even Years Starting in 2026 |publisher=USGA |access-date=March 21, 2022}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.walkercup.org/ Official site]
{{Walker Cup}}
{{The R&A Amateur Championships}}
Category:Team golf tournaments
Category:Amateur golf tournaments