US aim for 3-time win at Walker Cup

BY Anthony Powter | World Amateur Mens Tour | 2009 Walker Cup | Preview | 11 Sep 2009

The 10-man American contingent will be aiming to maintain a firm hold on the Walker Cup against Great Britain and Ireland when the biannual contest commences this Saturday at Merion Golf Club, in Pennsylvania.

The Walker Cup is contested between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland. The event is named in honour of George Herbert Walker (grandfather of the former President of the United States George H.W.Bush and great-grandfather of former President George W. Bush), who was president of the USGA in 1920 when the series was initiated.

The Walker Cup will consists of four foursomes and eight singles matches on Saturday, followed by four foursome and 10 singles matches Sunday in a format similar to that adopted for the professional equivalent, the Ryder Cup.

Overall the US hold a 33-7-1 lead since they defeated Great Britain & Ireland in 1922 at the National Golf Links of America, in Long Island, New York. In recent times the US have lost three of the last five meetings.

Whilst holding a hometown advantage this year and boasting and impressive seven players in the world’s top-20, US team captain, Buddy Marucci, was playing down his team’s chances during today’s press conference.

“We won the last two matches by a point,” said Marucci.

“So I don’t really feel like we have a homecourt advantage, or we’re the favourites, though I know a lot of others think that.”

Great Britain and Ireland also won by one point at home in 2003 at Ganton Golf Club in North Yorkshire. Marucci was the captain in the last contest in 2005 when the US won at Northern Ireland’s Royal County Down. In 2001, Great Britain & Ireland was victorious on US soil for the first time in 12 years, winning at Ocean Forest Golf Club, 15-9.

Only two US players in this year’s team have Walker Cup experience, Brian Harman of the University of Georgia and world number one, Rickie Fowler, of Oklahoma State, both members of the US winning team two years ago when the Americans won at Royal County Down, 12.5-11.5.

Rounding out the US team are Bud Cauley, Brendan Gielow, Peter Uihlein, Adam Mitchell, Morgan Hoffmann, Nathan Smith, Cameron Tringale and Drew Weaver, winner of the 2007 British Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham & St.Annes over Australia’s Tim Stewart.

Britain and Ireland captain Colin Dalgleish has a team of first-time Walker Cup competitors, anchored by Scots Wallace Booth and Gavin Dear, both members of the winning squad at the European Amateur Team Championship and the victorious Scottish Eisenhower Team at the World Amateur Team Championships last year in South Australia.

The Great Britain & Ireland team consists of seven Englishmen, two Scots and an Irishman. Booth’s and Dear’s team mates include Tommy Fleetwood, Luke Goddard, Matt Haines, Eamonn Hodgson, Sam Hutsby, Chris Paisley and Dale Whitnell, all of England, and Niall Kearney of Ireland.

On paper the Great Britain & Ireland team does not look that shabby either with six team members inside the world’s top-20, spearheaded by England’s Dale Whitnell who’s ranked 4th in the world.

Following heavy rain periods yesterday at Merion the East Course, which is renowned for it’s tricky greens and narrow fairways, the layout has turned into a course more favourable to Great Britain & Ireland. A softer golf course should benefit the visitors more than the Americans.

“The rain actually makes the fairways play a bit wider,” said Scotland’s Gavin Dear.

“It’s slowed up the greens a little bit. I would think it’s actually a good thing. It’s going to allow a bit more attacking play.”

Dalgleish also could see an advantage for them should conditions continue to deteriorate, however, was not particular as to what might unveil over the course of the weekend.

“If you get wind and rain it is a bit of a leveller. We would be happy to play in this. The forecast for the weekend I don’t think is particularly for that, but clearly would prefer to play in blue sky and sunshine. Whatever will be will be.”

Marucci is like minded and is anticipating a close encounter against the visitors, irrespective of how Merion will play.

“We’ve played so many different conditions throughout the years of playing golf that once we get out there, we’ll kind of see how the course is, adapt to it, go do our thing. Hopefully it’s pretty close.”