Walker Cup: Robertson Vows to Halt USA’s Dominance at Lahinch
Dean Robertson wants to end five years of pain. The Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup captain heads to Lahinch in September determined to stop a rampant USA side that has beaten GB&I in each of their last five meetings.
The 51st Walker Cup takes place September 5-6 at Lahinch Golf Club in County Clare — the first time Ireland has hosted the biennial amateur showdown since 2007. And Robertson is leaning on home soil.
“The Irish crowd will definitely be our 11th man at Lahinch,” the Scottish captain said. “I think Lahinch is unique. It just comes alive.”
It will need to. GB&I haven’t lifted the trophy since 2015 at Royal Lytham, and the Cypress Point defeat last year stung. Robertson’s side trailed by just a point going into the final singles session — then the Americans turned the screw, winning 17-9 overall.
“We need to have a harder edge,” Robertson said. “Fast starts and carry momentum — the US team on that final afternoon were, plain and simple, outstanding.”
One advantage: green speeds at Lahinch will be capped below 10 on the stimpmeter. GB&I struggled badly at Cypress Point’s lightning-fast 14. Robertson’s 10-man squad will take shape after July’s South of Ireland Championship, also at Lahinch, with automatic spots for the top five in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Ireland’s Stuart Grehan and Gavin Tiernan are expected to push hard for selection.