2017 Walker Cup
Latest > Revenge on the cards for USA in Walker Cup
Sep 9th, 2017
Revenge on the cards for USA in Walker Cup
GB & Ireland hammered in day one singles
Words: Nick Kevern Photography: Getty Images
Revenge on the cards as USA romp to commanding lead at the Walker Cup.
Doc Redman, Collin Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler of Team USA lording it up after a Morikawa 3&2 win over Paul McBride
The U.S. Walker Cup team were determined to get their own back on home soil following their bruising encounter with Great Britain and Ireland two years ago. The defeat at Royal Lytham was huge and revenge was clearly on their minds.
Whilst the morning foursomes ended 2-2, it was in the afternoon singles that the Americans showed their dominance. Winning six of the eight singles matches, The USA have found themselves in a commanding position after day one.
After trying just about everything else, Matthew Jordan of Team Great Britain & Ireland uses telepathy to get his putter behaving. It doesn't work, losing two up to Will Zalatoris.
Yet perhaps the writing was on the wall early on as the American pairing of Collin Morikawa and Norman Xiong demolished Harry Ellis and Alfie Plant with a score of 8&7 in the first foursomes match. The margin of victory is one never before seen at the Walker Cup. This was more than revenge as the US pairing humiliated their opposition.
A rare positive moment from the singles for GB & Ireland as Jack Singh Brar shakes hands with Stewart Hagestad after beating him 3&2.
But the Great British and Ireland team fought back to end the session all square. What followed in the afternoon put the USA team into a lead that means the GB&I will need to produce a comeback worthy of a Hollywood movie. With Hollywood only a few miles down the road from the course, perhaps they might be inspired.
Walker Cup Preview: Who's who and,... well, did they predict 8-4 after day 1??
Dominating the afternoon singles with victories by Braden Thornberry, Norman Xiong, Collin Morikawa, Will Zalatoris, Doug Ghim and Maverick McNealy, the USA now have a four point lead going into the final day.
The key question is whether Great Britain and Ireland can recompose themselves and fight back. Battered and bruised the might be, but if Hollywood teaches us anything, never count out the underdog.
