McGimpsey playing it cool before Walker Cup
The threat of thunderstorms has eased, allowing captain McGimpsey to oversee his Great Britain and Ireland squad during one more practice round today on the 6,782-yard course.
They found it had been slowed down considerably after two days of heavy rain. To keep the players on their toes, a small prize fund was on offer to the lowest-scorer as the skipper tried to instil a competitive edge ahead of the first tee-off.
“Every player played their own ball as it’s crucial that they get used to putting the ball in the hole,” he said.
“With the rain we’ve had here, the course is playing a lot longer than when we first arrived and the greens are not as fast. That doesn’t bother us. The US players will be more used to faster greens, so the fact that they have slowed down has its advantages.”
McGimpsey, winning captain at Ganton two years ago, kept a watching brief. With the clock ticking down to today’s first day of competition, the former amateur champion declared that nerves were beginning to show.
“The Walker Cup is a stressful couple of days. When I’m out there I’m feeling every shot. But there’s nothing I can do about the golf and I can only keep a cool head to help the players as much as I can.”
The action begins with four foursomes matches, followed by eight singles in the afternoon. A similar format will bring the contest to a conclusion tomorrow. Despite the recent British and Irish dominance - they have won four of the last five - the US still hold a handsome 31-7 lead in the series.
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