LAHINCH, IRELAND – SEPTEMBER 06: Players and captain of Team GB&I pose with the Walker Cup following their victory 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)
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After a dominant morning foursomes session that saw the United States sweep all four matches and extend its lead to 9½-6½, the outlook appeared bleak for GB&I. But the afternoon singles matches quickly changed the complexion of the competition.
GB&I came out firing, winning the first four singles matches to immediately cut into the American advantage and inject new life into the event. What looked like a comfortable U.S. position only hours earlier suddenly became a dramatic conclusion.
For the second consecutive day, Stuart Grehan took down world amateur No. 1 Preston Stout, this time winning 2 & 1 to. Jack Whaley delivered an even more dominant performance, channeling a bit of Tiger Woods’ famous 2006 Ryder Cup demolition of Stephen Ames as he dispatched William Jennings 8 & 7 in a rout.
LAHINCH, IRELAND – SEPTEMBER 05: Luke Poulter of The Great Britain and Ireland team is congratulated by his father Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter after he had won his match against Miles Russell of the United States team by 2&1 during the afternoon singles matches on day one of the Walker Cup at Lahinch Golf Club on September 05, 2026 in Lahinch, Ireland. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
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With his father watching, Luke Poulter showed that match play may indeed run in the family, closing out Ethan Feng on the 17th hole. Shortly after, Tyler Weaver followed suit, defeating Jay Leng Jr. 4 & 3 to keep the momentum rolling.
With six matches remaining, GB&I had completely flipped the script, taking a 10½-9½ lead and putting the United States on the brink. Needing three more points to complete the comeback, however, the remaining matches appeared to favor the Americans for much of the afternoon. The U.S. held 3-up leads in two matches, putting the visitors in position to regain control.
That momentum continued when Josiah Gilbert defeated Sam Easterbrook 4 & 3, pulling the United States level at 11-11 and giving GB&I less hope.
But GB&I answered once again. Eliot Baker converted a birdie putt on the 18th to secure a 1-up victory over Stewart Hagestad, giving the hosts their 12th point and moving them to within 1½ points of the magic number.
American Ryder Cowan quickly restored the U.S. advantage, defeating Ben Bolton 3 & 2 to level the overall score at 12-12 and shift the pressure squarely back onto GB&I.
LAHINCH, IRELAND – SEPTEMBER 06: Ryder Cowan of Team USA tees off on the second hole 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)
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That left just two matches on the course. Miles Russell held a 1-up lead over Connor Graham heading to the 18th, while Hill and Watts were all-square as they approached the final hole.
For GB&I, the equation was simple: both Graham and Hill needed to win the 18th hole. Russell stood over a birdie putt on the last that would have secured the trophy for the United States. Crucially, the putt missed to the right, keeping GB&I alive.
That gave Graham a chance of his own, and he made no mistake. His birdie secured a halved match and moved both teams to 12½ points, leaving the entire competition to be decided in the final match between Watts and Hill.
At the 18th, a par-5, Watts added to the pressure by hitting his third shot to roughly 20 feet. Hill, meanwhile, found himself in a greenside bunker in two facing a difficult third shot with the fate of GB&I hanging in the balance.
But Hill had one more answer. He splashed out to within three feet of the hole, suddenly putting the pressure back on Watts. As his attempt to win the Walker Cup drifted left, all that remained was for Hill to convert from three feet.
LAHINCH, IRELAND – SEPTEMBER 06: Tyler Watts of Team USA reacts following a missed putt on the 18th green 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)
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He did, and with it, GB&I completed one of the most dramatic comebacks in Walker cup history, securing the final point and taking the trophy in a thrilling finish.
Afterward, Hill admitted that even with confidence in his bunker game, the pressure of the moment was unlike anything he had experienced.
“I have a lot of confidence in my bunker game anyway, but I don’t really know how I handled myself over that three-footer,” Hill said. “I was shaking. I’m just glad it went in, to be honest, because this is absolutely unbelievable.”
Hill also credited the team’s belief in the locker room for helping fuel the remarkable comeback.
LAHINCH, IRELAND – SEPTEMBER 06: Josh Hill of the Great Britain and Ireland team plays his third shot from a green side bunker to enable him to defeat Tyler Watts of The United States team by one hole and win the Walker Cup for Great Britain and Ireland team during the afternoon singles matches on day two of the Walker Cup at Lahinch Golf Club on September 06, 2026 in Lahinch, Ireland. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
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“Obviously it was a bad morning, and we got into the team room and started playing some music,” he said. “We were still hyped up and thought we could go out and win. Yeah, we had that belief to go and win, and we went and did it. It’s going to be a great night.”
With the Victory, Great Britian and Ireland’s overall Walker Cup now is now 10-40-1. Bandon Dunes is set to host the next Walker Cup in 2028.
Jeff is a founding member of Break80 Golf and a contributing golf writer for Forbes with PGA Tour media credentials. Reach out at break80podcast@gmail.com
