Walker Cup: Great Britain and Ireland complete miracle comeback to defeat USA

Great Britain and Ireland appeared to have lost the Walker Cup after a disastrous morning foursomes session. Instead, they produced a comeback for the ages at Lahinch, winning the singles 7-2 to defeat the United States 13½-12½ and lift the trophy for the first time since 2015.

The contest came down to the final putt on the last green. Josh Hill, ranked 93rd in the world, played a precise bunker shot to three feet and made the birdie needed to beat world number two Tyler Watts by one hole. His result completed the victory in front of a sell-out crowd of 8,000 spectators.

“I have a lot of confidence in my bunker game anyway, but I don’t really know how I handled myself over that three-footer. I was shaking. I’m just glad it went in, to be honest, because this is absolutely unbelievable,” Hill said.

Captain Dean Robertson had told Hill that only a win in his match would secure the trophy. Robertson later compared the bunker shot with Matt Fitzpatrick’s famous shot at the US Open in Brookline, suggesting Hill’s moment might have been even better.

Robertson changed his singles order after the foursomes setback and sent his strongest players out early. Stuart Grehan defeated world number one Preston Stout for the second successive day, followed by Luke Poulter, Jack Whaley and Tyler Weaver. Niall Sheils Donegan halved his match with Kihei Akini, while American wins by Josiah Gilbert and Ryder Cowan briefly kept the contest alive before Great Britain and Ireland completed the turnaround.

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I have a lot of confidence in my bunker game anyway, but I don’t really know how I handled myself over that three-footer. I was shaking. I’m just glad it went in, to be honest, because this is absolutely unbelievable.