2007 – Royal County Down

GB&I 11.5 – 12.5 USA

September 8-9, 2007
Royal County Down Golf Club, Newcastle, Northern Ireland
7,181 yards, Par 71

Captains: Colin Dalgleish (GB&I) and George “Buddy” Marucci (USA)

Day 1 Foursomes (GB&I players first)
Lloyd Saltman / Rhys Davies lost to Billy Horschel / Rickie Fowler 4&3
Rory McIlroy / Jonny Caldwell halved with Colt Knost / Dustin Johnson
John Parry / David Horsey beat Trip Kuehne / Kyle Stanley 2&1
Jamie Moul / Danny Willett halved with Webb Simpson / Jonathan Moore
GB&I 2 – USA 2

Day 1 Singles
Rory McIlroy lost to Billy Horschel 1 hole
Lloyd Saltman lost to Rickie Fowler 5&4
Rhys Davies beat Dustin Johnson 5&4
Danny Willett lost to Colt Knost 2 holes
Llewellyn Matthews lost to Jamie Lovemark 5&4
Nigel Edwards beat Kyle Stanley 1 hole
Jamie Moul beat Chris Kirk 1 hole
David Horsey beat Webb Simpson 1 hole
GB&I 4 – USA 4

Day 1: GB&I 6 – USA 6

Day 2 Foursomes
Jonny Caldwell / Rory McIlroy lost to Billy Horschel / Rickie Fowler 2&1
Rhys Davies / Nigel Edwards lost to Colt Knost / Dustin Johnson 1 hole
Jamie Moul / Danny Willett lost to Trip Kuehne / Jonathan Moore 4&2
David Horsey / John Parry lost to Chris Kirk / Jamie Lovermark 1 hole
GB&I 0 – USA 4

Day 2 Singles
Rory McIlroy beat Billy Horschel 4&2
Rhys Davies beat Rickie Fowler 3&2
Danny Willett halved with Colt Knost
Lloyd Saltman beat Trip Kuehne 2&1
Jonny Caldwell beat Kyle Stanley 2 holes
Nigel Edwards lost to Jonathan Moore 1 hole
Jamie Moul lost to Jamie Lovemark 4&3
David Horsey beat Webb Simpson 1 hole
GB&I 5.5 – USA 2.5

Match Result: GB&I 11.5 – USA 12.5

Series Results: USA 33 – GB&I 7 – Halved 1 (after Match 41)

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Match Notes

Royal County Down in Newcastle was confirmed as the host of the 2007 Walker Cup match on 18th March 2003. It had most recently hosted the Amateur Championship for The R&A in 1999 and became the second Irish course to stage the match after Portmarnock in 1991. Crowds were limited to 10,000 per day and daily tickets cost £25.

This match is remembered by many for Jonathan Moore’s 4-iron approach from 252 yards to the 18th hole which finished 3 feet from the hole and arguably secured the trophy for USA. GB&I, having been whitewashed in the Day 2 Foursomes, kept their opponents honest by winning four of the first five afternoon Singles and halving the other. Moore’s eagle on the final hole, helped of course by Jamie Lovemark’s late win, ensured there was to be no famous comeback.

USA’s victory was their first overseas win since 1991.

With the benefit of hindsight the names of Rory McIlroy and Danny Willett, both future Major champions, stand out in the GB&I line up. However, at the time Rhys Davies and Jamie Moul (who was WAGR No. 1 for 17 weeks in 2007) were equally well known. 18 year old McIlroy, a child protégé who had recently earned low amateur honours at The Open at Carnoustie and was already committed to turning pro after a home Walker Cup, was always certain to be picked. However, Willett was an outsider and only played his way on to the team at the last minute winning the English Amateur the week before it was due to be announced.

Nigel Edwards played in his fourth consecutive and final Walker cup match. He subsequently captained the team with great distinction winning his two home matches in the three he oversaw.

Buddy Marucci (55), the co-owner of a chain of luxury car dealerships in the Philadelphia area, was USA captain. Marucci played in the match in 1995 and 1997 and was best known for taking Tiger Woods to the 36th hole of the 1995 U.S. Amateur Final before succumbing by 2 Holes.

The USGA selected their first eight players in early August. Billy Horschel, Dustin Johnson, Trip Kuene, Chris Kirk, Colt Knost, Jamie Lovemark, Jonathan Moore and Webb Simpson were all in this formidable first group based on their form during 2007.

Having left a mid or senior amateur off their roster for the first time in 2005 the USA selected Trip Kuene (35) for the third time for the match in Northern Ireland.

Knost went on to win the U.S. Amateur at Olympic Club in San Francisco later in August allowing the USGA two free picks to make up their team. They went for Rickie Fowler and Kyle Stanley. Michael Thompson, who was runner-up at the U.S. Amateur, Drew Weaver – winner of that year’s Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham – and Alex Prugh were the three U.S. alternates in 2007.

Golf.com 2007 Walker Cup Review

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