Ticket rush expected for Walker Cup

Demand is certain to exceed supply after the decision to put a crowd limit of 10,000 on Britain and Ireland’s attempt to regain the Walker Cup – the amateur equivalent of the Ryder Cup – at Royal County Down in the North on September 8-9.

The figure is only a third of the daily attendance at last year’s Ryder Cup in Dublin and Royal and Ancient Club championship director David Hill said today: “If we could accommodate more people safely we would do so, but moving crowds around on this course is particularly difficult and we have to be mindful of that.

“The golf fraternity understands that the Walker Cup is very different to the Ryder Cup and we think that giving every club in Ireland an allocation of tickets is the fairest thing to do.

“There will be allocations for the United Kingdom and America as well.”

Unlike the Ryder Cup, the crowd will be allowed to walk on the fairways behind matches – four foursomes followed by eight singles on each of the two days.

The United States won by a single point in Chicago two years ago, but Britain and Ireland were successful at Porthcawl in 1995 (Tiger Woods was part of the American line up that year), Nairn in 1999, Sea Island in Georgia two years later and then again at Ganton in 2003.

The demand for the tickets is bound to be huge, especially since the home team is almost certain to include Northern Ireland teenager Rory McIlroy, the reigning European amateur champion.

“To have somebody of his extraordinary talent definitely ramps up the interest,” said team captain Colin Dalgleish today.

Dalgleish gave a broad hint that six players – McIlroy, United States amateur championship winner Richie Ramsay, his fellow Scot Lloyd Saltman, Welsh pair Rhys Davies and Nigel Edwards and England’s Jamie Moul – are likely to be in the 10-man line-up.

“That’s not to say anybody has definitely been picked, but that’s the base if you like,” he said.

One obvious name missing from that list is Britain and Ireland’s record points-holder Gary Wolstenholme, who is hoping to earn a seventh cap at the age of 46.

However, he is part of the Cup squad and his vast experience could yet earn him another call-up.

The squad were at County Down last month and were given some tips by former European tour number one Ronan Rafferty.

“He threw in a different perspective and it was valuable – it was great of him to come across and give his views,” added Dalgleish.