USGA to change Walker Cup Mid-Amateur Requirements
Team USA captain Spider Miller
(USGA Photo)
FAR HILLS, NJ (April 18, 2017) - As first reported
by
Global
Golf Post on Monday, the USGA is prepared
to move away from its two mid-amateur Walker
Cup minimum.
Instead they will commit to at least one mid-
amateur, while leaving open the possibility of
additional mid-amateurs to qualify for the team.
The commitment to two mid-amateurs began in
2013 at the National Golf Links in Southampton,
NY with Nathan Smith and Todd White
representing the mid-am game. Both players
performed exceptionally well in 2013 with White
earning the point that clinched at least a tie and
Smith earning the matches clinching point in a
17-9 Team USA victory.
However, in 2015 things didn't go as well for
mid-amateurs Scott Harvey and Mike McCoy, as
the duo combined for just one point during a
16.5-9.5 loss at Royal Lytham & St Annes. With
that said the entire USA team struggled, thus
neither player can be blamed for the loss.
Speaking to Golf Channel Team USA captain
Spider Miller, a two-time U.S. Mid-Amateur
winner, supported the rule stressing that it is
important to have flexibility based on the
number of mid-amateur candidates.
This year the candidates appear to be probable
lock Stewart Hagestad, Walker Cup practice
participant Scott Harvey, Todd White and Nathan
Smith.
“Given the level of play and how good the mid-
amateur pool is,” Spider Miller said to Golf
Channel, “I expect there will be two on this
team.”
-Global Golf Post and Golf Channel contributed to
this story
ABOUT THE The Walker Cup
The Walker Cup Match is a biennial 10-man
amateur
team competition between the USA and a team
composed of players from Great Britain and
Ireland
and selected by The R&A. It is played over two
days
with 18 singles matches and eight foursomes
(alternate-shot) matches.
The first United States Walker Cup Team, which
in
1922 defeated the GB&I side, 8-4, at the
National Golf
Links of America, is considered among the best
teams
ever and included Francis Ouimet, Bob Jones,
Charles
“Chick” Evans and Jess Sweetser. Many of the
game’s
greatest players have taken part in Walker Cup
competition, including U.S. Open champions
Jack
Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth for
the
USA
and Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Justin
Rose
for Great Britain and Ireland.
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