Great Britain and Ireland overturned a three-point deficit in Sunday’s singles to beat the United States 13½–12½ and win the 51st Walker Cup at Lahinch.
Josh Hill secured the decisive point on the 18th green, getting up and down from a greenside bunker to beat Tyler Watts and give GB&I their first victory in the match since 2015.
Dean Robertson’s side had led 6½–5½ after Saturday, but the Americans swept Sunday morning’s four foursomes to move 9½–6½ ahead. GB&I then won seven points from the ten afternoon singles, completing the largest comeback in Walker Cup history and ending five consecutive United States victories.
Great Britain and Ireland, winners of the 51st Walker Cup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/qjIp3Ww7XE
— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 6, 2026
Four Early Wins Transform the Match
The home side immediately reduced the deficit in gusty conditions, winning each of the first four singles matches to finish.
Stuart Grehan defeated world No. 1 amateur Preston Stout for the second successive day, while US Amateur champion Jack Whaley completed an emphatic 8&7 victory over William Jennings.
Luke Poulter followed by beating Ethan Fang after the American’s putt at the 17th stopped short. Tyler Weaver then closed out Jay Leng Jr. 4&3, moving GB&I into a 10½–9½ lead with six matches still on the course.
Eliot Baker supplied another full point against Stewart Hagestad, who had entered Sunday with an 8-1 career singles record. Baker led by two after five holes before Hagestad drew level at the 17th, but the Englishman birdied the last after his opponent’s attempt finished short.
The United States stayed in contention through Ryder Cowan and Josiah Gilbert, its only singles winners. Cowan recovered from two down after five holes to beat Ben Bolton 3&2, while Gilbert defeated Sam Easterbrook 4&3.
One of the best feelings in amateur golf 🔥🏆
— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 6, 2026
It's time to celebrate winning the Walker Cup. pic.twitter.com/KVFo1mGMUt
Graham’s Finish Keeps GB&I Alive
Connor Graham’s half against Miles Russell kept GB&I in contention. Russell was two up with two holes remaining, but Graham won the 17th and then made another birdie at the last to square the match.
Had Graham lost, the United States would have reached the 13 points required to retain the trophy before Hill completed his match. Kihei Akina and Niall Sheils Donegan also finished all square after Akina had held a two-hole advantage on the back nine.
Graham’s point left the teams tied at 12½–12½, meaning Hill needed to beat Watts outright. A half would have produced a 13–13 draw and allowed the visitors to retain the Walker Cup.
Captain Robertson told Hill what was required before the 22-year-old played his bunker shot beside the par-four 18th. Hill found the green and holed the three-foot putt.
“I have a lot of confidence in my bunker game but I don’t know how I handled myself for that three-footer because I was shaking,” Hill said. “I’m just glad it went in to be honest because this is absolutely incredible.”
Hill said the team had retained its belief despite losing every match in the morning foursomes.
“We were still hyped up, we still felt we could go out and win,” he said. “We had that belief to go out and win, and we did it.”
The result gave GB&I their first Walker Cup success since the 16½–9½ victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2015. Lahinch was hosting the biennial match for the first time.
Sunday Foursomes |
|||||
| USA | GB&I | ||||
| Match | Player | Result | Player | ||
| 1 | Stout, Preston Fang, Ethan |
< | 3&2 | Grehan, Stuart Baker, Eliot |
|
| 2 | Leng Jr., Jay Akina, Kihei |
< | 4&3 | Poulter, Luke Easterbrook, Sam |
|
| 3 | Russell, Miles Watts, Tyler |
< | 3&2 | Weaver, Tyler Graham, Connor |
|
| 4 | Jennings, William Cowan, Ryder |
< | 4&3 | Sheils Donegan, Niall Hill, Josh |
|
Sunday Singles |
|||||
| Match | Player | Result | Player | ||
| 1 | Stout, Preston | 2&1 | > | Grehan, Stuart | |
| 2 | Fang, Ethan | 3&1 | > | Poulter, Luke | |
| 3 |
Jennings, William
|
8&7 | > | Whaley, Jack | |
| 4 | Leng Jr., Jay | 4&3 | > | Weaver, Tyler | |
| 5 | Akina, Kihei | Halved | Sheils Donegan, Niall | ||
| 6 |
Hagestad, Stewart
|
1 Hole | > | Baker, Eliot | |
| 7 | Russell, Miles | Halved | Graham, Connor | ||
| 8 | Watts, Tyler | 1 Hole | > | Hill, Josh | |
| 9 | Cowan, Ryder | < | 3&2 | Bolton, Ben | |
| 10 | Gilbert, Josiah | < | 4&3 | Easterbrook, Sam | |
Related: Ireland Begins One-Year Countdown to 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor
Simon Bale
Simon Bale is the publisher of Golf Today. A low single-figure handicap golfer, he was previously a major shareholder and course reviewer for Top100GolfCourses.com for over a decade, starting in 2010. Through this role, he developed extensive knowledge of golf course design and architecture while playing more than 300 courses worldwide.