The Great Britain and Ireland team ended an 11-year wait to win the Walker Cup with the biggest comeback in the event’s history…
Great Britain and Ireland mirrored the Miracle of Medinah by conjuring the biggest comeback in Walker Cup history to take down the heavily-fancied Americans in an extraordinary finale at Lahinch.
Dean Robertson’s lionhearted side trailed the US 9.5-6.5 after a thrashing in the morning foursomes and were heading for their sixth consecutive defeat in this famous amateur contest with the devastating clean sweep. The away team needed only 3.5 points to retain the trophy that they had secured so comprehensively once more at wondrous Cypress Point only 12 months ago.
But the tide turned dramatically during a rousing, surreal afternoon on the County Clare links, with GB&I dominating the matches early and securing points through the impressive Stuart Grehan, Luke Poulter, Jack Whaley and Tyler Weaver.
The momentum wavered just as Robertson’s team were on the brink of the unthinkable and it seemed the US were about to hold on as Ryder Cowan and Josiah Gilbert comfortably took the last two of the ten singles matches.
But when young Scot Conor Graham somehow salvaged a half point against the supreme Miles Russell with birdies on his last two holes, and when Eliot Baker edged out the American veteran Stewart Hagestad on the 18th, the crescendo could not have been more tantalising.
Josh Hill, the lowest ranked player on either team in Ireland, needed to win the final hole of the final match on the course against his rival Tyler Watts to win the Walker Cup.
The 22-year-old showed nerve of a seasoned champion as he struck a lengthy greenside bunker shot close, and when Watts couldn’t drain his putt from distance, Hill knocked in the four footer to end GB&I’s 11 year wait for a victory. Cue bedlam for the 8,000 fans, many of them young and surely inspired, that were hogging the fairways on this magical weekend.
Ian Poulter is a proud father right now after his son, Luke, was part of the Great Britain and Ireland team that secured the Walker Cup! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/52Z7Q9UuuJ
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) September 6, 2026
With Ian Poulter, the inspired Luke’s father, among them, the drama evoked memories of Europe’s famous comeback from 10-6 down in the Ryder Cup 14 years ago, only this revival was arguably even more improbable.
“Absolutely thrilling,” said the beaming Ryder Cup hero, who never played in a Walker Cup. “As a dad, as a fan and someone who loves golf and has been part of golf, that was truly special to see the boys come up 17 and 18. For Josh to have that last part on the last hole to literally clinch it was epic.
“It was emotional. I feel for all of them. I’ve been on the other side of that and now to enjoy that and to watch them enjoy it themselves, it means a lot to the whole team. That was a hard fought-out win today.”
2026 Walker Cup results
Day 1 Foursomes
GB&IRESULTUSAGrehan/BakerHALVEDStout/FangGraham/Weaver< 1UPLeng/AkinaPoulter/Easterbrook1UP >Russell/WattsSheils Donegan/Hill< 4&3Gilbert/Cowan
Score after session: 2½-1½
Day 1 Singles
GB&IRESULTUSAGrehan< 1UPStoutWhaley1UP >FangGraham1UP >JenningsWeaver2&1 >Leng JrBolton2&1 >HagestadPoulter< 2&1RussellSheils Donegan< 3&2WattsBaker< 3&2Gilbert
Score after session: 6½-5½
Day 2 Foursomes
GB&IRESULTUSAGrehan/Baker3&2 >Stout/FangPoulter/Easterbrook4&3 >Leng/AkinaWeaver/Graham3&2 >Russell/WattsSheils Donegan/Hill4&3 >Jennings/Cowan
Score after session: 6½-9½
Day 2 Singles
GB&IRESULTUSAGrehan< 2&1StoutPoulter< 3&1FangWhaley< 8&7JenningsWeaver< 4&3LengSheils DoneganHALVEDAkinaBaker< 1UPHagestadGrahamHALVEDRussellHill< 1UPWattsBolton4&2 >CowanEasterbrook4&3 >Gilbert
Final score: 13½-12½
LAHINCH, IRELAND – SEPTEMBER 06: Luke Poulter of Team GB&I celebrates victory of his match with dad Ian Poulter during the singles matches on day two of the Walker Cup at Lahinch Golf Club on September 06, 2026 in Lahinch, County Clare. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)