The Walker Cup heads to Irish links courses with a history defined by stark transatlantic head-to-head imbalances, according to tournament records, alongside venue selections in counties Clare and Down. As Doonbeg hosts the Irish Open for the first time with a field featuring Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka, and Lahinch prepares for the amateur team competition after previously hosting the 2019 Irish Open won by Rahm, golf analysts look back at the historic clashes that shaped the event on Irish soil.
Transatlantic Head-to-Head Records and Historical Precedent
According to tournament historical data, America holds a 40-9 head-to-head lead in the Walker Cup. This dominance persisted even after an uptick in British and Irish competitiveness over the final decades of the twentieth century, which left the record at 28-2 in favor of the Americans following the 1987 match.
This lopsided tally mirrors historical pressures faced by the Ryder Cup. According to historical correspondence, Jack Nicklaus wrote to the Earl of Derby—then President of the British PGA—in 1979 to propose expanding the GB&I team to include continental players. Nicklaus warned that top American professionals would otherwise lose interest in a fixture whose place on the professional calendar had grown hard to justify, a fate the amateur Walker Cup avoided due to differing commercial imperatives.
The 1991 Portmarnock Clash and Phil Mickelson’s Controversy
The first Walker Cup held in Ireland took place at Portmarnock in 1991, arriving just weeks before the Ryder Cup on Kiawah Island, according to golf historians. The event featured future world number ones, including a young Phil Mickelson—who had won the 1990 US Amateur title as an Arizona State University student—alongside David Duval and Bob May.
The home side fielded three Irish players: Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, and Garth McGimpsey. While McGinley teamed up with England’s Liam White to beat Mickelson and May in the foursomes, Mickelson dominated headlines both for his play and for remarks reported by ESPN. According to accounts later detailed by Sports Illustrated’s John Garrity to Alan Shipnuck, Mickelson responded to a hooked tee shot by stating, “The Irish women are not that attractive.”
The comments triggered a minor international incident, generating tabloid headlines such as ‘BAD BOY PHIL’ and a front-page mention in the Irish Times. Following angry calls to the Irish consulate in New York, the USGA faced demands for an apology, prompting Mickelson to dismount the team bus on Thursday and state, “I’m sorry, it was meant in jest,” though defenders later argued his emphasis was on the word “that” regarding the dense rough.
The 2007 Royal County Down Match and Modern Amateurs
Seventeen years later, the Walker Cup returned to Ireland at Royal County Down, featuring American players who would claim future major titles, including Dustin Johnson and Webb Simpson, alongside Rickie Fowler, Billy Horschel, and Chris Kirk. The home team countered with an 18-year-old Rory McIlroy—who had won leading amateur at that year’s Open Championship—and future Masters champion Danny Willett.
According to tournament summaries, McIlroy played Horschel three times, losing a Saturday singles match and a Sunday foursomes alongside Jonathan Caldwell against Horschel and Fowler, before defeating Horschel 4&2 in the Sunday singles as the home side fell short by a single point.
Did You Know?
Great Britain and Ireland won the Walker Cup for only the second time in its history in 1971 at St Andrew’s, featuring a team with Roddy Carr that defeated an American side including Lanny Wadkins 13-11, according to official tournament archives.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times has Ireland hosted the Walker Cup?
Ireland has hosted the Walker Cup at least three times: Portmarnock in 1991, Royal County Down in 2007, and Lahinch as the third Irish links to host the event.
Which Irish players competed in the 1991 Walker Cup?
The 1991 home team included three Irish players: Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, and Garth McGimpsey, according to tournament rosters.
What was the overall Walker Cup head-to-head record cited in historical tallies?
According to historical records, the overall head-to-head stands at 40-9 in favor of the United States.
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