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.

George Herbert Walker, grandfather and great grandfather of US Presidents George Bush senior and junior, presented the Walker Cup in 1920.

It was first officially contested at the National Golf Links in New York in 1922. The American team, including the legendary Bobby Jones and Francis Ouimet, won 8-4 and it was a trend that continued for many years.

The first Irishman to make the B&I side was in 1924 at Garden City, New York, when Charles Hezlet of the famous Portrush family lost 4&3 to Jones, the grand slam champion of 1930.

B&I finally broke their duck in sensational fashion in 1934 at St Andrews, inspired by an 18-year-old Presentation Brothers Cork, schoolboy, James Bruen. Even at that tender age, Bruen was blessed with a rare talent, most notably a loop in his swing that enabled him to hit the ball prodigious distances.

The intervention of the war years and a wrist injury, possibly caused by his unusual golf swing, meant that Jimmy Bruen didn’t achieve all that his consummate class and ability demanded. But he did win the Amateur Championship in 1946 at Royal Birkdale and also figured in the Walker Cup match of 1949 at Winged Foot and 1951 at Birkdale.

Another Irish member of the 1938 side was Cecil Ewing and a week later he reached the final of the Amateur Championship only to lose to Charlie Yates.

The post-war years saw the Americans regain the initiative.

Ireland’s direct representation was maintained by Joe Carr, Ewing, Bruen, Max McCready, Norman Drew, David Sheahan, David Madeley and Tom Craddock. The irrepressible Carr made nine successive appearances between 1946 and ‘63, captained the side that tied at 12 matches apiece at Five Farms, Maryland, in ‘65 and was that Walker Cup rarity, a playing captain again at Royal St Georges in ‘67.

There was no Carr in the mix in 1969 but two years later Joe had the enormous pleasure of seeing his son Roddy play a key role in B&I’s second win at St Andrews. He totalled 3½ points from a possible four as a side led by playing captain Michael Bonallack won 13-11.

Kerryman Pat Mulcare performed creditably at St Andrews in 1975 and Ronan Rafferty and Philip Walton likewise at Cypress Point in ‘81. Garth McGimpsey was a member of the side beaten 13-11 at Pine Valley in ‘86. John McHenry was in another unsuccessful side at Sunningdale in ‘87 before further history was created in ‘89 at Peachtree,

Atlanta.

Teenage Killarney golfer Eoghan O’Connell and the brilliant Englishman Peter McEvoy were inspirational members of a side blessed with remarkable self belief, given the long run of failures. They made for a terrific foursomes partnership and McGimpsey too, played a key role. Eventually, B&I needed a mere 1½ points from the eight final afternoon singles to create a special piece of golfing history but in the end only made it through halved matches from Andrew Hare, O’Connell (who waged a mighty battle with Phil Mickelson) and Jim Milligan.

The 1991 contest at Portmarnock saw the Americans regain their position of supremacy and Harrington and Raymond Burns were members of a side soundly thrashed at Interlachan in 1993. However, not even Tiger Woods could prevent a clear-cut victory for the home team at Royal Porthcawl in 1995. Harrington, in his third appearance, formed a superb foursomes partnership with Milltown’s Jody Fanagan. They won both their matches, disposing of John Harris and Woods on the second day as B&I romped home 14-10.

Keith Nolan and Richard Coughlan were the next Irish to be capped, at Quaker Ridge, New York, in ‘97 — but that side was well beaten. However, the glory period for B&I really began with a 15-9 victory at Nairn in ‘99 when Paddy Gribben from Warrenpoint provided the direct Irish interest and contributed handsomely to the success. After that, Graeme McDowell, Ocean Forest, Georgia, 2001, and Colm Moriarty, Ganton, 2003, were members of successful B&I sides.