Walker Cup: USA Comeback and Leads Great Britain & Ireland at Cypress Point

United States takes the lead in the Walker Cup after comeback in singles

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell shined on the two par-3s along the ocean at Cypress Point to close out his match, while Jace Summy earned two victories on Saturday. The Americans rallied in singles, building a 6 1/2-5 1/2 lead over Great Britain & Ireland after the first day of the Walker Cup. Howell, 18, a high school senior in Georgia, earned a spot on the U.S. team after winning the U.S. Amateur last month at the Olympic Club. He stayed on the sidelines during the morning foursomes session, when GB&I built a 3-1 lead, and felt the nerves in the afternoon singles, although only briefly. Howell was 1 up on Luke Poulter, the Florida junior and son of Ryder Cup stalwart Ian Poulter, when he birdied the short par-3 15th along the ocean, and then holed a 45-foot birdie putt on the iconic 16th, which requires a tee shot over the ocean, to close out the match. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t super nervous on the first tee. But no, what a day. What a beautiful day here. It’s been incredible.

The famous marine layer over the Monterey Peninsula lifted after the morning session, offering majestic views of Cypress Point, one of the most picturesque golf courses. The stars were present at this Walker Cup, which returned to Cypress for the first time since 1981. Hal Sutton, who played in those ’81 matches, was on the course. Also present were Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Kuchar, and Juli Inkster, a three-time U.S. Women’s Amateur champion. It was a remarkable opening day, with GB&I renewing their hopes of winning on American soil for the first time in 24 years, winning three of the four alternate shot matches. Connor Graham teamed with Tyler Weaver to win three straight holes on the back nine, defeating top-ranked amateur Jackson Koivun and Tommy Morrison on the 17th hole. Graham also won two matches for GB&I, defeating Ben James in singles. Stuart Grehan and Eliot Baker managed to win on the 18th hole against Preston Stout and Ethan Fang. But those same two GB&I players were within a fraction of an inch of avoiding the American comeback in singles. Grehan had a 6-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole against Ethan Fang, but the putt lipped the right edge of the cup, settling for a tie. In the final match, Baker was tied with Summy and in trouble left of the tee and left of the green. He chipped to 12 feet and had to sink it when Summy made two putts for par. His putt for par looked good until it veered off at the last moment.

We knew we had to have a good session and they delivered.

Nathan Smith

Americans have won the last four times, it was in St. Andrews in 2023, and they have dominated the series since it began in 1924. GB&I’s last away win was at Ocean Forest on the coast of Georgia in 2001. Niall Shiels Donegan, the Scotsman who grew up in San Francisco, had another animated section by defeating Jacob Modleski for the second time; he also defeated Modleski in 19 holes in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur. Shiels Donegan glanced at a leaderboard early in the final nine and saw it was filled with American beatdowns. Koivun defeated Weaver, 4 and 3. Stewart Hagestad and Stout closed out their matches on the 13th hole. Shiels Donegan and Graham did their part by earning points and keeping GB&I close.

I saw the table to the left of the 11 while walking and saw that we weren’t performing at our best in singles. I think for me in that situation I got a little more into, I have to do my job, let’s really focus on doing my job, getting any points for the team and see what we can do the rest of the week.

Niall Shiels Donegan

The final session on Sunday has four foursomes matches in the morning, followed by the 10 players competing in singles.