The image of US amateur champion Bryson DeChambeau, with his flat cap on his head and chest pumped out and striding the fairways as if born to the place, will be one memory of this 45th edition of the Walker Cup here on the famed links; but the more lasting memory will be of the winners, a 10-strong Britain and Ireland team who contrived to write their own history with a comprehensive, record 16½-9½ win.
In the old days, it was never like this. Every second year, Britain and Ireland would go mano a mano with the United States and invariably play the role of gracious losers. But times have changed, and how! Although the Americans can lay claim to an overall success rate of 38 wins, nine losses and one drawn match, this latest triumph for B&I was a sixth from the last 11 meetings.
There was something masterful about this latest success, where Irish, Scottish and English players and a Welsh captain combined to clinically outduel an invading force who had eight players ranked inside the world’s top-20 compared to just two from Britain and Ireland.
Nigel Edwards, for one, wasn't surprised that his men had outplayed the USA. "I just think we don't get as many points in some events in the World Rankings. Whether that's right or wrong, I don't know. It's very difficult to have the World Rankings absolutely perfect because not all top players in the world are playing in the same events. You'd probably say that the Top-25, 30 are about right. But we are used to playing foursomes and I guess that does give us an edge, especially this team."
Team of competitors
He added: “This is a great team of competitors who play lots of foursomes and singles matchplay and European Team championships and Home Internationals. That came to the fore. We know how to gel. We know how to dig in. When things aren’t going well, they know how to perform, but likewise, they know how to get over the line.”
Two players emerged with 100 per cent records, the Englishman Jimmy Mullen with four wins from four (a feat last achieved by Paul Casey and Luke Donald in the 1999 triumph) and Irishman Cormac Sharvin, who won all three of his matches.
On a dry day, with a testing breeze, the Britain and Ireland team were an unstoppable force. On Saturday, Edwards’ men had put down a marker of intent to establish a 7-5 advantage. And, on Sunday morning, with foursomes proving to be an alien format to the Americans, the lead was further increased – to 10-6 – and a point where the home side required just three and a half points to reclaim the trophy. As it transpired, the win was more emphatic than any previously achieved.
Although chasing the game, US captain Spider Miller acquiesced to a request from world number four Bryson DeChambeau to anchor the team. The US amateur champion duly delivered a point, defeating Gavin Moynihan in the bottom singles, but that contribution was somewhat diluted by the fact that it didn't matter: by then, Britain and Ireland had finished the job, with Paul Dunne having the distinction of halving his match with Maverick McNealy to get the home side over the line with quite a lot to spare.
Edwards' top order delivered, with Ashley Chesters, Mullen and Sharvin all winning before Dunne's halved point reached the magic figure of 13½. Further single wins from Grant Forrest and Gary Hurley along with halved matches from Jack McDonald and Jack Hume ensured a record seven points winning margin.
Large galleries
Indeed, as the large galleries savoured the turn in the weather from Saturday’s cold to one where the sun shone, there was an inevitability about it all. There was no early sea of red on the scoreboards to indicate any American resurgence.
Chesters, yet again, led from the front to claim a 3 and 1 win over Jordan Niebrugge, the silver medallist in the Open at St Andrews; Mullen made it four from four with a 3 and 2 win over Denny McCarthy; and Sharvin, with what seemed like the whole of Ardglass giving wonderful vocal support, closed out Mike McCoy 4 and 3.
A student at the University of Stirling in Scotland, Sharvin took to the Walker Cup like a duck to water. He was unfazed, imperious in his play. “It’s nice to get three out of three but it’s a team effort. I’m just glad I could contribute to the win,” said the Ulsterman.
He also touched on the history making achievement of an unprecedented five Irish players making the team. “It’s unbelievable history for Irish golf, it just shows the strength we have and the gelling we have. We are all really good friends which makes it even better. We are all looking out for each others’ backs, which is nice,” said Sharvin.
