The Walker Cup is one of the great events in golf. It is ingrained in the game’s roots and showcases the very best amateurs on the planet.
It was founded in 1921 when a team of US golfers went to Britain, aiming to win the Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool. A match between US and British players was held before the Amateur started, and it was arranged by Gershom Stewart, who was the chairman at Hoylake.
Tommy Armour, Roger Wethered, William C. Fownes Jnr, Bobby Jones and Frances Ouimet were among the participants, and America won 9-3. This signified the birth of the tournament, and it is named after George Herbert Walker, who was president of the USGA in 1920. Walker was the grandfather of George H.W. Bush and the great-grandfather of George W. Bush.
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Walker Cup 2026
Venue: Lahinch Golf Club, County Clare
Date: September 5-6
What is the format?
The Walker Cup is held over two days and uses foursomes and singles match play. The first one was held at the National Golf Links of America in 1922, which the US won 8-4.
Until 1961, 36-hole matches were played with four foursomes matches on day one and eight singles matches on day two. From 1963, 18-hole matches were played with four foursomes and singles matches on each day. In 2009, the number of singles matches was increased to 10 on day two.
The format includes 10 amateurs from Great Britain and Ireland and 10 amateurs from the USA. Each team has a captain, and players can play in the event several times, as long as they keep their amateur status.
Dean Robertson is the GB&I captain in 2026 and Nathan Smith is the US captain, reprising their roles from 2025. The United States have won the last five runnings of the Walker Cup.
Walker Cup venues: Past and future
The Walker Cup has visited some of the best golf courses on the planet since its history of over 100 years. Cypress Point in California hosted the last edition in 2025 and further back than that, we have seen these venues involved too: The Old Course at St Andrews, Seminole, Los Angeles Country Club, Royal Lytham & St Annes, Merion, Royal County Down, Chicago Golf Club, Ganton, Nairn, Royal Porthcawl, Portmarnock, Sunningdale, Pine Valley, Cypress Point, Shinnecock Hills, Muirfield.
The 2026 tournament heads to County Clare, Ireland at Lahinch Golf Club in 2026. The course will make its debut as Walker Cup host in the 51st running. The 2019 Irish Open and 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup were also held at the Lahinch Old Course, with the USA winning the latter event.
It was designed by Old Tom Morris and Alistair MacKenzie in 1892, before further redesigns between 1999 and 2003.
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Last Walker Cup result: 2026
Team USA won the 50th Walker Cup, securing their fifth successive victory in the biennial tournament. Held at Cypress Point, California, USA triumphed 17-9 against GB&I, despite trailing 3-1 after the first session.
Jackson Koivun won both of his matches against GB&I’s highest ranked player Tyler Weaver, with the United States winning the singles matches 14-4.
Who has played in the Walker Cup?
Some of the best players to have ever picked up a golf club forged their career by playing in the Walker Cup. Tiger Woods is probably a good place to start, having played in the 1995 Walker Cup at Royal Porthcawl.
Phil Mickelson played in 1991 for Team US at Portmarnock, and Rory McIlroy played in the 2007 side that lost to America at Royal County Down. In that match, Danny Willett, Billy Horschel, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson also played.
Luke Donald played in 1999 and 2001. Padraig Harrington played three times, and Rodney Foster played in all of them between 1063 and 1975.
Going further back, the great Sir Michael Bonallack played in nine consecutive Walker Cups from 1957 to 1973, during which time he was also a playing captain.
Jo Carr played in 10 Walker Cups and might’ve played in 11, but he didn’t play in 1965. Gary Wolstenholme also played six consecutive Walker Cups between 1995 and 2005.
The likes of Jack Nicklaus, Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Bryson DeChambeau, David Duval, Lucas Glover, Brian Harman, Scott Hoch, Tom Kite, Justin Leonard, Davis Love III are on the endless list of former Walker Cup stars. Budding superstar Koivun turned professional this season, winning the 3M Open, after featuring in the 2025 edition.
On the GB&I side, Sandy Lyle, Justin Rose, Robert MacIntyre, Graeme McDowell, Colin Montgomerie, Paul Casey, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood have all competed previously. Unlike his father Ian, Luke Poulter will make his second appearance for GB&I in County Clare.
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