Irish stars bid for Walker Cup glory

ANOTHER exciting chapter in the history of Irish golf will be written at Royal Co Down on Saturday and Sunday when the Walker Cup — the biannual amateur clash of the United States versus Britain and Ireland — takes place over the classic links where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.

It’s only the second time that the match has taken place on this island following the 1991 meeting of the sides at Portmarnock.

Three Irishmen, Pádraig Harrington, Paul McGinley and Garth McGimpsey, were members of the well-beaten home side and this time around our direct interest is centred on a couple of Downmen, Rory McIlroy and Jonathan Caldwell. Furthermore, Englishman David Horsey has close Cork connections as he is the grandson of the late, much admired photographer Roy Hammond, and Rose of Boreenamanna Road.