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Great Britain & Ireland reveal squad ready to challenge for historic 50th Walker Cup

Great Britain & Ireland reveal squad ready to challenge for historic 50th Walker Cup

Khaleej Times21 hours ago
With ten years having passed since their last triumph, Great Britain & Ireland have unveiled a team showcasing depth and diversity of talent as they hope to reclaim the Walker Cup from the United States next month.
The biennial contest will be played on September 6 - 7 at the legendary course on California's Monterey Peninsula, marking the first time the Walker Cup has returned to Cypress Point since 1981.
GB&I last lifted the trophy in 2015 when they defeated the Americans 16½–9½ at Royal Lytham & St Annes. The Americans won the most recent edition 14½–11½ at St Andrews in 2023.
Dean Robertson will again lead this year's team. The Scotsman guided GB&I to a convincing victory over the Continent of Europe at the St Andrews Trophy in Spain last month and believes his squad is ready for the challenge.
Skill & unity
'This talented team represents the very best in skill, unity, resilience and determination, and each player is thoroughly deserving of the opportunity to compete in the Walker Cup for Great Britain and Ireland,' Robertson said.
"I've been watching the players over a long period to understand their personalities and attributes to meet the demands presented by Cypress Point.
'We are underdogs, but I'm confident we are equipped to compete at the highest level and will give it our best shot. We are travelling to Cypress Point to embrace the challenge, honour the legacy of the Walker Cup and aim to make history by reclaiming this famous trophy,' the Scott added.
Robertson's professional career highlights include his 1999 triumph at the Italian Open, where he finished 17-under-par to edge out Padraig Harrington, and his 2006 victory at the Scottish PGA Championship. After enjoying a rather satisfactory 14-year professional career, he retired and moved into coaching and is currently the High Performance Golf Coach at the University of Stirling, where he continues to influence the next generation of golfers.
The five pack
The 10-man line-up features the top five players from the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) alongside five captain's picks. All nine members of the victorious St Andrews Trophy team are included, among them England's Luke Poulter, son of Ryder Cup star Ian, and Tyler Weaver, the highest-ranked player in the side at world No. 11, who is the son Jason Weaver, is a former flat racing jockey with over 1,000 career wins and who now works as a TV pundit.
Scotland's Cameron Adam and Connor Graham, both of whom qualified for The Open at Royal Portrush this summer, are named, with Graham the only returning player from the 2023 Walker Cup team. Another Scot, Niall Shiels Donegan, earns his spot after a strong run to the semi-finals of the US Amateur.
Ireland will be represented by teenager Gavin Tiernan and 32-year-old Stuart Grehan, who makes his Walker Cup debut after returning to the amateur ranks this season.
Great Britain & Ireland Team for the 2025 Walker Cup
Captain: Dean Robertson
Cameron Adam (22, Scotland, Royal Burgess)
Eliot Baker (22, England, Tiverton)
Dominic Clemons (23, England, Gog Magog)
Charlie Forster (22, England, Basingstoke)
Connor Graham (18, Scotland, Blairgowrie)
Stuart Grehan (32, Ireland, County Louth)
Luke Poulter (21, England, Woburn)
Niall Shiels Donegan (20, Scotland, Meadow Club)
Gavin Tiernan (19, Ireland, County Louth)
Tyler Weaver (20, England, Bury St Edmunds)
Reserve: Caolan Rafferty (32, Ireland, Dundalk)
Recent results:
2023 St Andrews, GB&I 11½ USA 14½
2021 Seminole, USA 14 GB&I 12
2019 Royal Liverpool, GB&I 10½ USA 15½
2017 Los Angeles CC, USA 19 GB&I 7
2015 Royal Lytham & St Annes, GB&I 16½ USA 9½
2013 National Golf Links of America, USA 17 GB&I 9
2011 Royal Aberdeen, GB&I 14 USA 12
About the Walker Cup
The Walker Cup, first contested in 1922 and named after American golf patron George Herbert Walker, is one of amateur golf's most prestigious team events. Held every two years between Great Britain & Ireland and the United States, it has launched the careers of future stars like Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth. Played over two days of foursomes and singles, the competition alternates between iconic courses on both sides of the Atlantic, from St Andrews to Cypress Point, and carries a rich history of drama, skill, and sporting tradition.
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