Fresh from winning the US Amateur Championship at Merion, 22-year-old Englishman Jack Whaley has been named in Great Britain and Ireland’s squad for the 51st Walker Cup at Lahinch Golf Club, County Clare, Ireland, on September 5-6. GB&I captain Dean Robertson confirmed the 10-man selection on August 18, with Whaley joining Luke Poulter, son of Ryder Cup stalwart Ian Poulter, in a squad that blends experienced returners with four first-time Walker Cup players.
Robertson was candid about how late Whaley forced his way in. Sky Sports reported the captain as saying he would not have considered Whaley before last week, but that seeing the talent and humility Whaley showed in winning the title left him genuinely excited to add him to the group. Robertson also acknowledged that Whaley’s selection cost Irishman Thomas Higgins a guaranteed place, saying Higgins would otherwise have been in the team without question.
How Whaley Won His Spot
Whaley defeated American Jay Leng Jr. in the 36-hole final at Merion to become only the third English player to claim the US Amateur title, following Harold Hilton in 1911 and current world No. 4 Matt Fitzpatrick in 2013. His path to the final was not smooth: he had missed match play at the Amateur Championship, finished 33rd at the European Amateur, and narrowly missed out at the Western Amateur earlier in the summer. The Doncaster-born golfer, who played college golf at Florida State, entered Merion ranked 90th in the world.
Leng, a Stanford golfer who had also won the Western Amateur, will face Whaley again at Lahinch after earning a place in the US team as runner-up.
The Full GB&I Squad
Six players return from the side beaten at Cypress Point in 2025: Connor Graham, Niall Sheils Donegan, Luke Poulter, Eliot Baker, Tyler Weaver, and Amateur Champion Stuart Grehan. Joining them as debutants are Whaley, Ben Bolton, Sam Easterbrook, and Josh Hill. Thomas Higgins and David Howard are named first and second reserve respectively.
Robertson, also a returning captain, pointed to Lahinch’s links character as a significant factor in his team’s preparations. According to Sky Sports, he said the setup has been far more within GB&I’s comfort zone than Cypress Point, with links golf naturally sharpening the creativity around the greens that the format demands.
GB&I Targeting First Win Since 2015
GB&I have not beaten the USA since their 16½-9½ victory at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2015. The Americans arrive having won six straight contests and are led by world No. 1 amateur Preston Stout, according to Golfweek. Their 10-man team, announced by captain Nathan Smith after the US Amateur, also includes veteran Stewart Hagestad, making his sixth consecutive Walker Cup appearance.
Robertson, as reported by v2radio.co.uk, said the squad has players who have won important championships, performed at the highest amateur level, and proved they can deliver in international match play. He added that the support of a home crowd in Ireland would give his players plenty to aim for. Lahinch is hosting the Walker Cup for the first time.
