Walker Cup

Founding of the Cup

Royal Liverpool (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 male 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.

The British team was: Tommy Armour, Colin Aylmer, Ernest Holderness, James Jenkins, Reymond de Montmorency, Gordon Simpson, Cyril Tolley and Roger Wethered. The American team was Chick Evans, William C. Fownes Jr. (Captain), Jesse Guilford, Paul M. Hunter, Bobby Jones, Francis Ouimet, J. Wood Platt, Fred Wright. The Americans won the match 9–3.

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, with 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.

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

Source:

Of the 50 matches, USA has won 40 matches, Great Britain and Ireland have won 9 with 1 match tied.

Future sites

• 2026 – Lahinch Golf Club (County Clare, Ireland), September 5–6
• 2028 – Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon, Oregon)
• 2030 – Prince's Golf Club (Sandwich, England)
• 2032 – Oakmont Country Club (Oakmont, Pennsylvania)
• 2036 – Chicago Golf Club (Wheaton, Illinois)
• 2044 – Pine Valley Golf Club (Pine Valley, New Jersey)

From 2026, matches will be held in even-numbered years.

References

References

1. "Walker Cup to be contested in even years from 2026". R&A.
2. (10 May 1921). "The "Invasion" Begins – American Golfers at Liverpool". The Times.
3. (23 May 1921). "Golf at Hoylake". The Times.
4. "New Format Twist: Sunday Singles Matches Increase By Two - 2009 Walker Cup Match". USGA.
5. "Walker Cup results". USGA.
6. "Walker Cup Match September 10-11, 2011". USGA.
7. "Walker Cup - History". R&A.
8. "The 51st Walker Cup to be played at Lahinch in 2026". R&A.
9. Beall, Joel. (July 20, 2021). "Bandon Dunes to host 13 USGA championships".
10. (8 May 2025). "Prince's to host the Walker Cup in 2030". The R&A.
11. "Oakmont and Merion Selected for Multiple Future Championships". USGA.
12. "Chicago G.C. to Host 2033 Women's Open, 2036 Walker Cup". USGA.
13. "CPine Valley Awarded 2044 Walker Cup Match". USGA.
14. "Walker Cup Moving to Even Years Starting in 2026". USGA.