USA in command at Merion

The United States have stormed to an 8-4 lead over Great Britain and Ireland on the opening day of the 42nd Walker Cup.
The United States stormed to an 8-4 lead over Great Britain and Ireland on the opening day of the Walker Cup at Merion Golf Club on Saturday.
The USA were already leading 3-1 going into the afternoon singles matches and things went from bad to worse for the visitors when Rickie Fowler trounced Sam Hutsby 7&6 and Peter Uihlein defeated Tommy Fleetwood 2&1, while Bud Cauley also beat Niall Kearney by the same result.
Stiggy Hodgson, who also won his foursomes match, salvaged some pride by beating Brendan Gielow in Great Britain and Ireland’s only singles victory.
Gavin Dear, Wallace Booth, Matt Haines and Chris Paisley all halved their matches against Brian Harman, Cameron Tringale, Morgan Hoffmann and Drew Weaver respectively.
Earlier in the day, Uihlein and Nathan Smith’s dramatic victory over Dear and Haines helped give the USA to a 3-1 morning lead.
The visitors had led for most of the match but Uihlein sank an 18-footer for par on the final hole to secure a 1-up victory.
That was immediately followed by a 6&5 win for Fowler and Cauley over Luke Goddard and Dale Whitnell and that made it three out of three for the USA, Harman and Hoffmann having earlier defeated Booth and Hutsby 2&1 in the opener.
Hodgson and Kearney managed a 3&1 win over Tringale and Adam Mitchell in the final foursomes match to give Great Britain and Ireland a glimmer of hope.
FIRST DAY RESULTS
TOTAL SCORE FOR FIRST DAY
United States 8, Great Britain & Ireland 4
FOURSOMES:
Brian Harman/Morgan Hoffmann (USA) bt Wallace Booth/Sam Hutsby (Gbr) 2 & 1
Peter Uihlein/Nathan Smith (USA) bt Gavin Dear/Matt Haines (Gbr) 1up
Rickie Fowler/Bud Cauley (USA) bt Luke Goddard/Dale Whitnell (Gbr) 6 & 5
Cameron Tringale/Adam Mitchell (USA) lost to Stiggy Hodgson/Niall Kearney (Gbr) 1 & 3
SINGLES:
Brian Harman (USA) halved with Gavin Dear (Gbr)
Rickie Fowler (USA) bt Sam Hutsby (Gbr) 7 & 6
Cameron Tringale (USA) halved with Wallace Booth (Gbr)
Morgan Hoffmann (USA) halved with Matt Haines (Gbr)
Peter Uihlein (USA) bt Tommy Fleetwood (Gbr) 2 & 1
Drew Weaver (USA) halved with Chris Paisley (Gbr)
Bud Cauley (USA) bt Niall Kearney (Gbr) 2 & 1
Brendan Gielow (USA) lost to Stiggy Hodgson (Gbr) 1 & 2
USA 5, Gbr&Ire 3
Latest
-
News
Westwood, McDowell back petition to allow English golf courses to open
The duo have added their names to a petition that has passed 100 000 signatures.
-
News
Xander Schauffele pledges to ‘fake it until I make it’ after contracting Covid
Schauffele is one of 16 players in the Sentry Tournament of Champions who failed to win an official event last season.
-
News
After years with TaylorMade, Jon Rahm joins Callaway
Spaniard will have Callaway woods and irons in his bag at Sentry Tournament of Champions.
-
News
What to expect from the 2021 OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic
There are more prestigious events on the European Tour, but there’s no denying that the Dubai Desert Classic just has something about it.
-
News
Organisers delay ticketing process for 2021 Masters as another fan shutout looms
Augusta National Golf Club is considering its options before making a call on 2021 Masters.
-
News
Tiger Woods’ former swing coach: I think I over-coached him
Sean Foley reckons he didn’t give Tiger the help he really needed.
-
News
Greg Norman returns home from hospital to await coronavirus test results
The 65-year-old spent Christmas Day in hospital after experiencing symptoms.
-
News
Greg Norman in hospital with coronavirus
The 65-year-old shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed on Christmas Day.
-
News
Lee Westwood sees age as no barrier to his golfing aspirations
Westwood, at the age of 47, has been crowned European Tour’s Golfer of the Year for 2020.
-
News
Tiger Woods and son Charlie finish seventh in PNC Championship
Tiger said it was “incredibly special” to spend quality time with his son on the golf course.