Walker Cup 2017: US amateurs make light work of final day to triumph 19-7
The United States reign supreme again in team golf. Following their thumping Solheim Cup victory last month the Stars and Stripes reclaimed the Walker Cup in emphatic style in Los Angeles.
The amateurs of Great Britain & Ireland were simply outfought and outclassed. Andrew Ingram’s team travelled to California with great hopes of gaining back-to-back wins in the biennial dust-up which predates the Ryder Cup.
Alas, against an American team boasting eight of the world’s top 12 amateurs they barely landed a blow.
Trailing 8-4 overnight at the LA Country Club, they “lost” the morning foursomes 3-1, making the afternoon singles a mere formality. There were seven of the 10 singles matches still on the course when Norman Xiong halved with Scott Gregory on the 18th to get the US to the magical 13.5-points mark. Comprehensive only just began to describe it.
The one Englishman who could hold his head up high was Jack Singh Brar despite him losing the opening singles to Stewart Hagestad 2&1. He came in as the lesser rated of the three Hampshire players, but in the event he overshadowed Gregory and Harry Ellis – who have won the last two Amateur Championships between them – by collecting three points in his first three games.
In the morning, Singh Brar teamed up with Gregory to beat Braden Thornberry and Doc Redman two up. Otherwise, it had been a picture of gloom in the Golden State as the home side eased themselves clear with Xiong and Collin Morikawa leading the way courtesy of a two-up victory over Connor Syme and Paul McBride.
That match was all square when they left the 15th tee before an American birdie at the 16th and a bogey from their opponents at the last proved decisive.
It was significantly more straightforward for Will Zalatoris and Cameron Champ, who needed just 13 holes to secure a 6&5 win over Welshmen David Boote and Jack Davidson, while Doug Ghim and Maverick McNealy were 3&2 victors against Matthew Jordan and Robert MacIntyre.
And that was basically it. Braden Thornberry smashed Paul McBride 6&5, allowing Hagestad to claim what was essentially the winning point. Suddenly, GB&I’s record 16.5-9.5 win of two years ago at Lytham seemed a distant memory.
Defeat does not mean the end of the dream, however. If the GB&I players require inspiration as they head into the professional world – which many of them will after this match – then there is no better example than Matt Fitzpatrick.
In 2013, the 23-year from Sheffield appeared in the historic biennial match and, yes, was in the defeated ranks. And, four years on, there he was in the Alps yesterday proving how quickly a young Briton can raise his stature by winning the European Masters in dramatic and thrilling fashion.
Every time Fitzpatrick lifts silverware it seems historic, but this time there was no doubt. At Crans-sur-Sierre, he displaced Sir Nick Faldo as the youngest Englishman ever to win four times on the European Tour.
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It clearly felt special and not just because this was his first title in a season in which he had fallen from 29th in the rankings to 48th. Granted, that had not been the most nose-pinching of plummets, but with the top-50 in the world being so important – entry to majors etc – this was most welcome.
"It's one that I've always wanted to win,” Fitzpatrick said. “I love playing this course, from the first ever year I came as an invite in 2014 it's one that has really stood out on my schedule and I always want to come back.
“I remember being here in 2015 when I finished second and Danny [Willett] won and his parents were there to see him win so it's nice to have mine here too. It's the third win they've seen me achieve so it means a lot.”
The manner of the victory only added to the joy of the Fitzpatrick family. Starting the final round, four behind Scott Hend, Fitzpatrick tore into the Australian’s lead, shooting a 64 for a 14-under total and so forced sudden death.
Hend appeared poised for glory on the second extra hole, but missed from five feet. Fitzpatrick eventually prevailed on the fourth play-off hole as his opponent posted a scrappy bogey. Fitzpatrick’s countryman Tyrrell Hatton birdied four of his last six holes to finish at 11-under alongside Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti in a tie for third.
