Walker Cup
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| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | 2017: Los Angeles |
| Established | 1922 |
| Course(s) | 2017: Los Angeles Country Club |
| Par | TBA |
| Length | TBA |
| Format | Match play |
| Current champion | |
 Great Britain & Ireland |
|
 2015 Walker Cup |
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The Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested in odd numbered years by leading amateur golfers in two teams: United States, and Great Britain 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 Two they switched to odd numbered years. They are held alternately in the U.S. and Britain.
The cup is named in honor of 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 snd 43rd Presidents of the United States, respectively.
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 who would otherwise be eligible.
As of 2015, the U.S. led the Walker Cup series 35 to 9, with one halved match (draw), 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. From 1989 through 2015, the team have 7 wins each. Also, the 1989 match and the three matches from 2003 to 2007 were all decided by a single point.
Contents
Founding of the Cup
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 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.[1]
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. 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.[2]
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
| Year | Venue | Winning Team | Score | Losing Team | Captains | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club | Great Britain & Ireland |
16½ | 9½ |  United States |
John "Spider" Miller Nigel Edwards |
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| 2013 | National Golf Links of America | United States |
17 | 9 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Jim Holtgrieve Nigel Edwards |
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| 2011 | Royal Aberdeen Golf Club | Great Britain & Ireland |
14 | 12 | United States |
Jim Holtgrieve Nigel Edwards |
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| 2009 | Merion Golf Club | United States |
16½ | 9½ | Great Britain & Ireland |
Buddy Marucci Colin Dalgleish |
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| 2007 | Royal County Down Golf Club | United States |
12½ | 11½ | Great Britain & Ireland |
Buddy Marucci Colin Dalgleish |
|||
| 2005 | Chicago Golf Club | United States |
12½ | 11½ | Great Britain & Ireland |
Bob Lewis Garth McGimpsey |
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| 2003 | Ganton Golf Club | Great Britain & Ireland |
12½ | 11½ | United States |
Bob Lewis Garth McGimpsey |
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| 2001 | Ocean Forest Golf Club | Great Britain & Ireland |
15 | 9 | United States |
Danny Yates Peter McEvoy |
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| 1999 | Nairn Golf Club | Great Britain & Ireland |
15 | 9 | United States |
Danny Yates Peter McEvoy |
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| 1997 | Quaker Ridge Golf Club | United States |
18 | 6 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Downing Gray Clive Brown |
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| 1995 | Royal Porthcawl Golf Club | Great Britain & Ireland |
14 | 10 | United States |
Downing Gray Clive Brown |
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| 1993 | Interlachen Country Club | United States |
19 | 5 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Vinny Giles George MacGregor |
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| 1991 | Portmarnock Golf Club | United States |
14 | 10 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Jim Gabrielsen George MacGregor |
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| 1989 | Peachtree Golf Club | Great Britain & Ireland |
12½ | 11½ | United States |
Fred Ridley Geoffrey Marks |
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| 1987 | Sunningdale Golf Club | United States |
16½ | 7½ | Great Britain & Ireland |
Fred Ridley Geoffrey Marks |
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| 1985 | Pine Valley Golf Club | United States |
13 | 11 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Jay Sigel Charles Wilson Green |
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| 1983 | Royal Liverpool Golf Club | United States |
13½ | 10½ | Great Britain & Ireland |
Jay Sigel Charles Wilson Green |
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| 1981 | Cypress Point Club | United States |
15 | 9 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Jim Gabrielsen Rodney Foster |
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| 1979 | Muirfield | United States |
15½ | 8½ | Great Britain & Ireland |
Dick Siderowf Rodney Foster |
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| 1977 | Shinnecock Hills Golf Club | United States |
16 | 8 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Lewis Oehmig Sandy Saddler |
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| 1975 | Old Course at St Andrews | United States |
15½ | 8½ | Great Britain & Ireland |
Ed Updegraff David Marsh |
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| 1973 | The Country Club | United States |
14 | 10 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Jess Sweetser David Marsh |
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| 1971 | Old Course at St Andrews | Great Britain & Ireland |
13 | 11 | United States |
John M. Winters Michael Bonallack |
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| 1969 | Milwaukee Country Club | United States |
13 | 11 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Billy Joe Patton Michael Bonallack |
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| 1967 | Royal St George's Golf Club | United States |
15 | 9 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Jess Sweetser Joe Carr |
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| 1965 | Baltimore Country Club | United States |
12 | 12 | Great Britain & Ireland |
John Fischer Joe Carr |
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| 1963 | Turnberry | United States |
14 | 10 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Richard Tufts Charles D. Lawrie |
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| 1961 | Seattle Golf Club | United States |
11 | 1 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Jack Westland Charles D. Lawrie |
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| 1959 | Muirfield | United States |
9 | 3 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Charles Coe Gerald Micklem |
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| 1957 | The Minikahda Club | United States |
8½ | 3½ | Great Britain & Ireland |
Charles Coe Gerald Micklem |
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| 1955 | Old Course at St Andrews | United States |
10 | 2 | Great Britain & Ireland |
William C. Campbell G. Alec Hill |
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| 1953 | The Kittansett Club | United States |
9 | 3 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Charlie Yates Tony Duncan |
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| 1951 | Royal Birkdale Golf Club | United States |
7½ | 4½ | Great Britain & Ireland |
Willie Turnesa Raymond Oppenheimer |
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| 1949 | Winged Foot Golf Club | United States |
10 | 2 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Francis Ouimet Percy Lucas |
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| 1947 | Old Course at St Andrews | United States |
8 | 4 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Francis Ouimet John B. Beck |
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| 1940-46: Not held due to World War II | |||||||||
| 1940 | Town & Country Club | 1940 event was awarded to The Town & Country Club of St. Paul, Minnesota but the matches were canceled one month prior due to World War II |
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| 1938 | Old Course at St Andrews | Great Britain & Ireland |
7½ | 4½ | United States |
Francis Ouimet John B. Beck |
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| 1936 | Pine Valley Golf Club | United States |
10½ | 1½ | Great Britain & Ireland |
Francis Ouimet William Tweddell |
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| 1934 | Old Course at St Andrews | United States |
9½ | 2½ | Great Britain & Ireland |
Francis Ouimet Michael Scott |
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| 1932 | The Country Club | United States |
9½ | 2½ | Great Britain & Ireland |
Francis Ouimet Tony Torrance |
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| 1930 | Royal St George's Golf Club | United States |
10 | 2 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Bobby Jones Roger Wethered |
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| 1928 | Chicago Golf Club | United States |
11 | 1 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Bobby Jones William Tweddell |
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| 1926 | Old Course at St Andrews | United States |
6½ | 5½ | Great Britain & Ireland |
Robert A. Gardner Robert Harris |
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| 1924 | Garden City Golf Club | United States |
9 | 3 | Great Britain & Ireland |
Robert A. Gardner Cyril Tolley |
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| 1923 | Old Course at St Andrews | United States |
6½ | 5½ | Great Britain & Ireland |
Robert A. Gardner Robert Harris |
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| 1922 | National Golf Links of America | United States |
8 | 4 | Great Britain & Ireland |
William C. Fownes Jr. Robert Harris |
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USA have won 35 matches, Great Britain and Ireland have won 9 with 1 match tied.
Future sites
- 2017 – Los Angeles Country Club (Los Angeles, California, USA)[6]
- 2019 – Royal Liverpool Golf Club (Merseyside, England)[7]
- 2021 – Seminole Golf Club (Juno Beach, Florida)
See also
- List of American Walker Cup golfers
- List of Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup golfers
- List of sports competitions between teams representing continents
References
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