The 2011 Walker Cup

Courtesy of the USGA

The United States of America Walker Cup team flew into Edinburgh, Scotland on Sept. 2 with a week to prepare for the 43rd Walker Cup Match against Great Britain & Ireland at Royal Aberdeen GC Sept. 10-11.

“We are really excited to be here,” said USA Team Captain Jim Holtgrieve.  “This is where golf began and I know from my experiences in the game just what the sport means to the people of Scotland.

“The guys are all excited, we know it’s going to be a closely fought match but we are looking forward to playing a great golf course in front of a knowledgeable crowd.”

Team USA includes the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, Kelly Kraft, World No. 1 and SCGA Amateur Champion, Patrick Cantlay and the 2010 U.S. Amateur champion, Peter Uihlein.

The biennial contest will see GB&I attempt to win back the trophy from the USA, who won it on home soil in 2009 with a 16½-9½ victory at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.

On each of the two days of competition, there will be four morning foursomes (alternate-shot) matches, followed by afternoon singles ties. On Saturday, there will be eight singles matches, while on Sunday, all 10 players from each team will go head-to-head.

The match, dominated in its early years by the USA, is becoming more finely balanced.  Over the last 10 contests both teams have enjoyed three victories in succession with the USA counting six wins to GB&I’s four in the same period. The USA leads the series overall, 34-7-1.

The teams line up with nine players each in the top 100 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) with the top three players in the world representing the USA.

The USA Team is led by non-playing captain Jim Holtgrieve and includes Blayne Barber (WAGR No. 55), Patrick Cantlay (WAGR No.1), Harris English (WAGR No. 6), Russell Henley (WAGR No. 24), Kelly Kraft (WAGR No. 13), Patrick Rodgers (WAGR No. 3) Nathan Smith (WAGR No. 114), Jordan Spieth (WAGR No. 2), Peter Uihlein (WAGR No. 4) and Chris Williams (WAGR No.11).

For more on each of the players, click here. For Saturday's pairings, click here.

What is the Walker Cup Match?
The Walker Cup Match is contested by male amateur players, one team from the United States of America and one team composed of players from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The teams consist of not more than 10 players and a captain. The Match is conducted every two years, alternately in the USA and in Great Britain and Ireland.

Team Selection
The USA Team is selected by the United States Golf Association. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland, selects the team from Great Britain and Ireland.

2011 Captains
Jim Holtgrieve of St. Louis, Mo., will serve as the captain for the USA Walker Cup Team, while Nigel Edwards of Wales will captain the Great Britain and Ireland side. Holtgrieve played on three victorious USA teams in 1979, 1981 and 1983. He has an overall Match record of 6-4-0, including 3-1 in singles. Edwards played in four successive Walker Cups from 2001 through 2007. He helped GB&I to victories in 2001 and 2003 and nearly holed a long birdie putt at the 18th green in the 2005 competition at Chicago Golf Club that would have given GB&I a draw and allowed it to retain the Cup. He is the third Welshman to captain a GB&I side, following Tony Duncan and Clive Brown.

2011 Great Britain and Ireland Team

Steven Brown, 24, Wentworth, England
James Byrne, 22, Banchory, Scotland
Paul Cutter, 22, Portstewart, Ireland
Alan Dunbar, 21, Rathmore, Ireland
Stiggy Hodgson, 21, Sunningdale, England
Tom Lewis, 20, Welwyn Garden City, England
Rhys Pugh, 17, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Jack Senior, 23, Heysham, England
Michael Stewart, 21, Troon Welbeck, Scotland
Andy Sullivan, 24, Nuneaton, England

2011 United States of America Team

Blayne Barber, 21, Lake City, Fla.
Patrick Cantlay, 19, Los Alamitos, Calif.
Harris English, 22, Thomasville, Ga.
Russell Henley, 22, Macon, Ga.
Kelly Kraft, 22, Denton, Texas
Patrick Rodgers, 18, Avon, Ind.
Nathan Smith, 33, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Jordan Spieth, 18, Dallas, Texas
Peter Uihlein, 22, Orlando, Fla.
Chris Williams, 20, Moscow, Idaho

Schedule of Play
Friday:
5:30 p.m.         Opening Ceremony

 Saturday:
7:30 a.m.         Foursomes
1 p.m.              Singles

 Sunday:
7:30 a.m.         Foursomes
1 p.m.              Singles

Television Schedule
The BBC will broadcast the competition, with times to be announced. A two-hour highlight show will be broadcast on Sept. 11 from 3-5 p.m. (EDT) on ESPN2. ESPN3.com will also show live action. For times, please click here.

Architect/Club History
The Aberdeen Golf Club was formed in 1815. Many changes were made to the Balgownie Course in its first 15 years of existence under the supervision of Archie Simpson of Carnoustie and his brother, Robert. Renowned architect Tom Simpson made further revisions to the course and in 1925, James Braid’s “cosmetic refinements” improved the greens and bunkers. Royal Aberdeen is the sixth-oldest club in the world, dating to 1780. The Royal title was conferred on the club in 1903 by King Edward VII.