The Walker Cup at Lahinch will be golf in its purest form

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The Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup grab all the headlines but 20 of the finest amateur golfers on the planet are preparing for a team contest playing the game in its purest form - and without any money at stake.

Great Britain and Ireland will be aiming to defy the odds when they take on the USA in the Walker Cup at Lahinch on September 5 and 6.

The Americans lead the series 40-9 and the home team have not won since 2015 when they triumphed at Royal Lytham.

A look at the amateur world rankings might have you thinking the result is a foregone conclusion but if that were the case then Europe would never win the Ryder Cup.

Furthermore, Lahinch, in County Clare, is a links course. Every member of the home team will have experience of such courses, the Americans less so.

Lahinch Walker Cup

The event is sold out, with 8,000 spectators (including 1,700 young people) expected to attend over the two days.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Chief Championships Officer at The R&A, said: "The interest from golf fans to attend the Walker Cup has been fantastic, resulting in all tickets for the match selling out.

"With the Walker Cup being played on the island of Ireland for the first time since 2007, we know there will be tremendous support for Great Britain and Ireland at Lahinch. Having a passionate home crowd following the players around the course and getting behind them will help create the special atmosphere which makes the Walker Cup so unique.

"We look forward to welcoming the fans who have secured tickets and seeing them play their part in what promises to be a memorable match."

For those who don't have the good fortune of being there, all matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Golf Channel in the US.

If you need a reminder of the format, this website explains: "This is a two day match played between 10 man teams of amateur golfers from Great Britain and Ireland and the United States.

"On both days there are four foursome matches in the morning followed by a series of singles in the afternoon; eight on day one and 10 on day two. All matches are played over 18 holes.

"The Walker Cup places a greater emphasis on Singles (18: 69.2%) than Pairs (8: 30.8%) play when compared with other similar events. The Curtis Cup (8: 40% and 12: 60%), Ryder Cup (12: 42.9% and 16: 57.1%) and Solheim Cup (12: 42.9% and 16: 57.1%) are all played over three days and play four-balls as well as foursomes.

"An individual match win earns one point. A halved match a half point for both sides.

"As there is a total of 26 points available a team must secure at least 13.5 points to win the match outright. The team holding the cup can retain it by winning 13 points.

"The respective Team Captains submit their foursomes and singles line ups together the night before each day’s play."

The thing that is bound to strike you is the youthfulness of both sides but in particular the American team.

Stewart Hagestad is a career amateur who is 35 years old but the rest of his team includes a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old and nobody else over the age of 21. 

However, in 22-year-old Jack Whaley, Dean Robertson’s GB&I team has the US Amateur champion, only the third Englishman to achieve this remarkable feat. And in Tyler Weaver they have the world number two. There will also be a huge amount of attention surround Luke Poulter, the son of Ian.

Do you think GB&I can secure a rare triumph on the magnificent links of Lahinch?

About the author

Derek Clements is a vastly experienced sports journalist and regular Golfshake contributor, specialising in tour coverage, opinion pieces, and feature writing. With a long career in national newspapers and golf media, he has reported on the game across Europe, the United States and Australia. A passionate golfer, he has played and reviewed numerous renowned courses, with personal favourites including Pebble Beach, Kingsbarns, Aldeburgh, Old Thorns and the K Club. His love of the game informs his thoughtful commentary on both professional golf and the wider golfing community.

DC
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