Walker Cup Comeback Steals the Show as Solheim Cup Approaches

Join our writers and editors each week as they share unfiltered perspectives on the latest developments in golf, and participate by following us at @golf_com. This edition examines Great Britain & Ireland’s remarkable Walker Cup comeback and previews the upcoming Solheim Cup in the Netherlands.

Great Britain & Ireland claimed victory at the 51st Walker Cup Sunday at Lahinch in Ireland, mounting an extraordinary comeback by winning seven of 10 singles matches to defeat the Americans 13.5-12.5. It marked GB&I’s first win in the event after the United States had dominated the previous six meetings. How did they manage this stunning turnaround?

Zephyr Melton, associate game-improvement editor (@zephyrmelton): Momentum is a powerful force. Securing the first four points of the singles session in commanding fashion provided a tremendous boost to their confidence. From that point, they capitalized on the energy from the home crowd to secure a remarkable victory.

Josh Schrock, associate news editor (@schrock_and_awe): Zeph captured it perfectly. They seized momentum through impressive performances by Stuart Grehan, Jack Whaley, Luke Poulter and Tyler Weaver, energized the home crowd, and forced the Americans into pressing. Everything aligned for them, and that’s the beauty of sports.

Jack Hirsh, associate equipment editor (@JR_HIRSHey): They reversed the script entirely. Historically, the Americans have held the advantage in singles while GB&I has excelled in foursomes—the only team format featured in the Walker Cup. This time, the dynamics shifted dramatically. While the American team won all eight foursomes matches for the first time since 2019, GB&I managed to split Saturday’s singles session before pulling ahead with a stunning 7-3 run on Sunday afternoon.

GB&I carried a 6.5-5.5 advantage after Day 1, but the Americans won all four Sunday foursomes matches to take a 9.5-6.5 lead heading into singles play. With the Americans having won the last five Walker Cups, did the outcome seem inevitable entering Sunday singles? What proved to be the pivotal moment?

Melton: It was difficult to envision anything other than another American victory. Following their clean sweep in the morning session, the Walker Cup appeared destined to return to the United States. That assumption, however, proved premature. The GB&I team had other plans. What an remarkable comeback from those players.

Schrock: After Sunday morning’s sweep, I believed it was over, particularly with Preston Stout and Ethan Fang competing early. Even if there were setbacks, Miles Russell, Tyler Watts and Ryder Cowan appeared to form an impenetrable defense in the later matches. I was proven wrong.

Hirsh: Given the historical dominance in singles, betting on that outcome typically proves reliable.

And your 2026 Walker Cup MVP is…

Melton: Stuart Grehan deserves this recognition. He faced top-ranked amateur Preston Stout in all four sessions and accumulated 2.5 points—including wins in both singles matches. That’s an impressive achievement.

Schrock: Grehan stands far ahead of the competition.

Hirsh: This isn’t even a discussion. Grehan—the only mid-amateur and Irishman on the team—went head-to-head with the world’s top amateur. This represents the pinnacle of amateur golf achievements.

The Walker Cup has visited prestigious venues including Cypress Point, St. Andrews and Seminole before this year’s event at Lahinch, and will head to Bandon Dunes in Oregon in two years. Does the Walker Cup feature the most distinguished collection of venues among golf’s premier competitions? What lessons might a certain organization currently developing plans for a new, reimagined match-play format in 2028 draw from the Walker Cup’s approach?

Melton: Venue selection matters significantly. I attended the 2021 Walker Cup at Seminole and it ranked among my most memorable coverage experiences. When spectators encounter golf’s most storied venues, interest in the event naturally escalates. Regarding the finest venue collection, only the Curtis Cup can rival it, with future sites including Royal Dornoch(!), NGLA(!!), Pine Valley(!!!), Cypress Point(!!!!) and Seminole(!!!!!). No other event can match that roster.

Schrock: Absolutely, and the Walker Cup’s distinguishing factor is its disregard for infrastructure demands or massive crowds, instead choosing intimate, historic venues that typically don’t host major PGA Tour events or championships. It’s the finest event in golf.

Hirsh: I concur with my colleagues. It’s remarkable how venue length becomes irrelevant in match play competitions. Nobody expressed concern that the last two host courses measured under 7,000 yards from the tips during match play, despite fielding some of golf’s longest hitters. Simply choose an excellent golf course and let the competition determine the outcome. Regarding the Royal Dornoch mention as a Curtis Cup venue—a course measuring under 6,800 yards—I would welcome seeing it added to the Walker Cup rotation, particularly since the R&A has announced only one future venue so far.

The 20th Solheim Cup begins this week in the Netherlands, with the United States aiming to win for the second consecutive occasion after Europe had controlled the Cup for the previous three editions. The Americans’ leading player, Nelly Korda, began the season strongly but missed the top 20 in her only two August appearances. The U.S. also selected via captain’s picks players who proved instrumental in their 2024 triumph but have faced recent challenges. Which team holds the advantage this week, and what narrative interests you most heading into the Solheim Cup?

Melton: Beyond Nelly anchoring Team USA, the American roster lacks some star power. Combined with the disadvantage of playing away from home, Team Europe should hold the edge. For compelling narratives, I’m eager to observe Julia Lopez Ramirez’s powerful driving in foursomes competition. Her distance off the tee could prove invaluable for Team Europe throughout the week.

Schrock: The central narrative centers on: Who will support Korda effectively? I approved of the Rose Zhang selection given her improved form, though I would have preferred seeing Kiara Romero chosen over Megan Khang. As Zeph noted, the Americans’ depth beyond Nelly appears limited, particularly with Angel Yin recently recovering from illness. I’m curious to observe how Angela Stanford structures her pairings and whether she can maximize her team’s collective potential.

Hirsh: Can Korda carry her team to victory despite the U.S. squad’s limitations? That would provide a spectacular conclusion to a season where she captured two major championships.

And, finally, who emerges victorious, and who claims MVP honors?

Melton: Europe wins, with Carlota Ciganda earning MVP recognition. She delivers exceptional performances in this event, and I anticipate that continuing this week.

Schrock: Europe prevails, with Esther Henseleit as the standout player. She demonstrated considerable resilience at the AIG Women’s Open and appears poised to challenge the Americans throughout. If the U.S. succeeds, it will result from Zhang and Yealimi Noh performing at their highest level.

Hirsh: Europe wins, with Carlota Ciganda as MVP. She embodies the Solheim Cup equivalent of Ian Poulter.

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