The USA came roaring back yesterday to win their fourth successive Walker Cup. After the delight of day one came the despair for GB&I. Mark Flanagan reflects on two enthralling days of action on The Old Course at St Andrews.
So what happened there then?
For one wonderful day GB&I made a mockey of the world rankings and their underdog status to lay blow after blow on the Walker Cup holders.
It was a joy to see and the huge crowds at The Home of Golf lapped up every second.
Even when it looked like the USA were going to start asserting themselves, the GB&I boys fought back to maintain the stranglehold.
It all started like that again yesterday as the USA made a fast start but this time the home side’s bouncebackability evaporated.
It was just like four years ago at Royal Liverpool. The similiarities with the 2019 meeting were eerie. Again GB&I led by a point going into Sunday singles, only to crumble down the stretch.
At Hoylake the visitors won the final day singles 8-2. This time around it was 7-3 as the cup was retained for the third time in a row in pretty emphatic style (14.5-11.5).
While many will point to the drop off in performance between Saturday and Sunday, it was probably more the fact the likes of Calum Scott raised their game during the opening two sessions.
The Scot in particular was in inspired form. On day one he was 13 under par for his two rounds. In the morning, in conjunction with the superb Connor Graham, he was six under for 15 holes and then followed it by bagging eight birdies as he took care of Nick Gabrelcik 2&1.
The following day the Scottish pairing were two under as they lost at the last to Dunlap and Sargent and was over par in the top match with Caleb Surratt proving an inspired lead-off selection for American coach Mike McCoy.
The conditions yesterday were trickier. The wind blew harder but some things are inexplicable.
In these team events it is amazing how momentum can swing and groups of golfers, not affecting each other in the literal sense, somehow collectively fall apart.
Whether the unfortunate late collapse of Barclay Brown rippled through his team or not, it certainly felt like that. From the moment the Yorkshireman failed to pick up a point having been three up with four to play, the rest of the GB&I packed folded in double quick time.
Some of the home players did get unfortunate. In the last match Alex Maguire did well to take it to the 16th with his opponent David Ford birdieing 11, 13, 14, 15 and 16.
Liam Nolan was nip and tuck on the front nine with Austin Greaser, who was four under par on the back nine.
There was relief in the efforts of Mark Power, who put in his customary back nine charge, and the Irishman finished as the top points scorer for GB&I (3/4). It was certainly a typical two-fingered riposte to so-called experts who questioned his inclusion on form basis. Power had also been joint top scorer two years ago at Seminole (3/4).
As GB&I captain Stuart Wilson pointed out on Saturday night, things went his team’s way and at this level, small margins are amplified but the margins did not feel that small yesterday. The Americans just played the great golf when it really mattered.
World No 1 Gordon Sargent once again came through down the stretch, securing his place in Walker Cup history with a 4-0 effort. Even John Gough, who holed out for eagle in sensational fashion at the sixth, could not put a dent in his record and his abilities, typified by his glorious 3 wood on to the green at 18, were clear for all to see.
The veteran Stewart Hagestad’s putter got red hot to put a check on the brilliant Connor Graham, who certainly let nobody down. The youngest ever Walker Cup player, he rose to the occasion in inspiring fashion and was notably under par when the American finished him off at the 16th.
So where do we go from here?
Captain Wilson, the latest in a long line of Scots to fail to lead his side to Walker Cup victory, admitted his team will have been disappointed with how they did on day two.
Last night he said: “They tried their hardest, but they didn’t turn up with their ‘A’ games this afternoon I would say in some matches. They’ll be the ones that will feel it and hurt tomorrow, but the good thing is for them is they’ve got the future. They’ve got tomorrow. I’m sure they can start focusing on the next thing.”
The next Curtis Cup team will be led by Catriona Matthew, who was a revelation when overseeing Europe in the Solheim Cup.
With that ‘professional’ approach set in train, it would be no surprise to see the R&A dip into the considerable well of well-known leaders of men who made their name in the paid-for ranks.
Someone like a Paul McGinley, Paul Lawrie or even Stephen Gallacher, who will captain the European Junior Ryder Cup side later month, could be in line for a phone call any time soon.
The team, unsurprisingly, will be very different. John Gough and Mark Power have already turned professional, while most of the rest will soon follow.
Matthew McClean should be available, form permitting, while Connor Graham will be two years older and the likes of Kris Kim and Sean Keeling should be at the peak of their amateur powers.
Cyprus Point is a long way away metaphorically and physically but the signs are good for GB&I. They have a fantastic crop of young players coming through and will surely go close, if nothing else, in 2025.