The Walker Cup is always one of golf’s most fascinating showcases. It’s the Ryder Cup’s amateur cousin, but don’t let the “amateur” tag fool you—these guys can flat-out play – Jackson Koivun!!!
This year, the showdown is even spicier, because it’s happening at Cypress Point Club, one of the most iconic and exclusive golf courses in the world. Just how good is this masterpiece of golf? It’s currently ranked #3 in the US by Golf Digest and is on EVERYONE’s bucket list! Rumor has it that when God created Cypress, he played it twice.
So the question this week isn’t just: Will Team USA or Team GB&I win the Walker Cup?
The better question might be: Can either team beat the golf course itself?
Let’s dive in a bit…
Team USA: Power, Depth, and Home Cooking
On paper, Team USA always looks stacked. You’ve got a roster of NCAA All-Americans, U.S. Amateur winners, and future PGA TOUR stars. The depth is frightening, and playing on home turf only makes them stronger.
If there’s a knock, it’s that American teams sometimes get a little too caught up in trying to overpower links-style setups. But Cypress isn’t your typical tree-lined test—it’s quirky, windy, and demands creativity. Heck, it’s short, by championship standards. If the Americans adapt, they’ll be tough to beat.
Team GB&I: The Underdogs with Bite
The GB&I squad thrives in the underdog role. They don’t always have the depth of the Americans, but they’re used to battling brutal winds and funky bounces on seaside links. That experience could serve them well at Cypress Point, which plays more like a Scottish links course dropped into a California postcard.
Their challenge will be depth—can the back end of their lineup steal enough points to make things interesting? History says yes, but they’ll need more than grit to pull it off here. Oh, and they have a guy with the last name Poulter on the squad. Beware of any Poulter on US soil.
Cypress Point: The Real Star
Let’s be honest: the real winner might just be Cypress Point. This Alister MacKenzie masterpiece is one of golf’s ultimate dream courses. The par-3 16th—where you launch a tee shot over the Pacific—is reason enough for players to lose focus and start thinking more about selfies than strategy.
The course is unpredictable, exposed to the elements, and visually distracting in the best way possible. For amateurs who aren’t used to playing with crashing waves in their backswing, Cypress can eat points alive. The course is golf’s Mona Lisa—perfectly blending natural beauty and strategic brilliance. MacKenzie carved it into the California coast, with holes that flirt with the Pacific and test every shot in the bag. It’s breathtaking, exclusive, timeless, and humbles even the best. Simply, golf heaven.
So… Who will win Sunday?
- If talent wins out: USA rolls, 15–9
- If grit and guile win out: GB&I keeps it close, maybe even squeaks out an upset
- If the golf course has its say: Cypress Point sends everyone home humbled, and the real winner is anyone lucky enough to have walked those fairways.
When it’s all said and done, Team USA probably edges it—they’re just too deep, too talented, and too comfortable playing in front of U.S. crowds. But don’t be surprised if the most talked-about highlights aren’t the players or the putts—but the stage itself.