The United States Walker Cup Team (R&A Photo)
When
Nick Gabrelcik embraced
David Ford on the 16th green after Ford poured in a 15-foot putt to win the hole, they both could breathe a sigh of relief.
Because they knew the United States had won the 49th Walker Cup at the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland.
Ford is an energetic player and a big personality, and that showed on the green after the winning putt went in, as he celebrated with Gabrelcik.
David Ford celebrates the winning putt
After entering the day down 7 1/2 points to 4 1/2, the United States won the morning Foursomes session 3 to 1 and then won the Singles session 7 to 3 to secure the cup for the fourth straight time.
Related: THE WALKER CUP: THE UNITED STATES WINS MORNING FOURSOMES TO CUT INTO THE LEAD
The United States won by a final score of 14 1/2 to 11 1/2.
Caleb Surratt was the first one out for the United States for the Singles session, and it paid off, with him defeating
Calum Scott 3&2.
"Yeah, I mean, I got a lot of confidence from yesterday afternoon, and to come out here and do it like that, I wouldn't have it any other way," Surratt said after his match. "I'm happy I was able to lead us off, but I know and trust the guys behind me have my back the same way I did the past couple of hours."
Gordon Sargent, the top amateur in the world, finished his Walker Cup 4-0, winning three of his matches on the 18th green. Sargent defeated
John Gough 1-up, the deciding shot being Gough hitting his tee shot out of bounds on No. 17.
"We had a pretty good morning and really got ourselves back in the match, and then in the afternoon, every point matters," Sargent said. "To get a point for the team and win a close (match) was huge for our team."
Sargent added about his week, "I felt like I hit it well all week and was able to make some putts today."
Nick Dunlap was able to secure a half-point after a huge comeback against
Barclay Brown, as he was 3-down standing on No. 15 tee.
"You know, I don't know what's going on behind me," Dunlap said. "I just knew that any extra point, half point, or full point helps a lot and helps the guys behind me. I wasn't going to give up. You know, I'm playing, like I said at the beginning of the week, for more than me. I'm playing for my teammates and my country, and I'll battle to the end."
Preston Summerhays,
Stewart Hagestad, and
Austin Greaser all won their Singles matches to add three points and
Dylan Menante halved his match against
Matthew McClean to earn a half point.
With this win, the United States has now won the last four Walker Cups. GB&I last won in 2015.
View results for The Walker Cup
ABOUT THE The Walker Cup
The Walker Cup Match is a biennial 10-man
amateur
team competition between the USA and a team
composed of players from Great Britain and
Ireland
and selected by The R&A. It is played over two
days
with 18 singles matches and eight foursomes
(alternate-shot) matches.
The first United States Walker Cup Team, which
in
1922 defeated the GB&I side, 8-4, at the
National Golf
Links of America, is considered among the best
teams
ever and included Francis Ouimet, Bob Jones,
Charles
“Chick” Evans and Jess Sweetser. Many of the
game’s
greatest players have taken part in Walker Cup
competition, including U.S. Open champions
Jack
Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth for
the
USA
and Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Justin
Rose
for Great Britain and Ireland.
View Complete Tournament Information