GB&I pulls off all-time Walker Cup comeback

After a dominant foursomes session for the U.S. side on Sunday morning, its first foursomes sweep in the Walker Cup since 2007, they seemed destined to win for a sixth straight time. At minimum, the Americans were in strong position to retain, needing only 3.5 points out of the final 10 singles matches to finish the job. 

In a stunning comeback, Great Britain & Ireland instead took eight of the remaining 10 points on the table, claiming its first Walker Cup in more than a decade. If this were a Ryder Cup or a Presidents Cup, even as an American, it would have been cinematic. But I couldn't help but feel heartbroken in this instance for the U.S. Team, particularly for 17-year-old Miles Russell and 18-year-old Tyler Watts. 

There was no one shot that lost the U.S. the trophy (though online critics seem to be pointing toward Stewart Hagestad's driver-off-the-deck decision at the last), but Russell and Watts needed to simply halve their matches late to retain the cup. With Russell leading 2 up heading to 17 and Watts all tied with three to go, it seemed a foregone conclusion. But their opponents, Connor Graham and Josh Hill, pulled off the impossible, taking 1.5 points from those two crucial matches. It wasn't quite a Michigan hail mary with "one second" left on the clock, but it was equally as gutting of an ending for Team USA as it was for Western Michigan Saturday evening. Golf Digest's Jamie Kennedy has the full, epic story below. 

How GB&I pulled off the greatest comeback in U.S. Walker Cup history

GB&I faced the improbable Sunday heading into singles. Some how, some way, they battled back from three points down.

By Jamie Kennedy

What You Need to Know

Jay Coffin

Henrik Stenson's son commits to play college golf at this top-ranked program. Karl Stenson has often been the little blond-haired kid posing with his father Henrik with trophies years ago when he was in his prime. Now 16, Karl has committed to play golf at the University of Florida. Just in case you didn't feel old enough already.

Jay Coffin

Ian Poulter was a Ryder Cup stalwart for Europe, but he never played in a Walker Cup. His son Luke was in Ireland playing for the GB&I Walker Cup team and collected a 2-2 record. He topped Ethan Fang, 3 and 1, in the second singles match Sunday to help give his squad hope for a comeback after starting the session three points behind. Ultimately it came down to the final match on the course and GB&I complete its biggest comeback in the history of the Walker Cup.  Ian, of course, was front and center with his son to help celebrate the moment.

Evin Priest

Thirston Lawrence ties Seve with this feat. The South African held off current LIV golfer and European Ryder Cup hero Paul Casey in a four-hole playoff at the Omega European Masters. With a chance to break a five-year win drought, the Englishman bogeyed the 72nd and wound up in extra holes with Lawrence. They both made three consecutive pars before Lawrence finally made a birdie to capture his sixth DP World Tour title, three of which have come in this event. Lawrence said afterward it is the most emotional he's felt on the golf course. 

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