The U.S. Walker Cup Team Is Already Wearing a ‘W’ but Isn’t Overconfident

The American side is stacked with eight of the world’s top 10 amateurs, but its strong teams have been beaten before in the biennial matches.

Was it arrogance or just a misunderstanding?

When top-ranked amateur Gordon Sargent and U.S. Amateur champion Nick Dunlap came into the media center with blue hats and a white “W” displayed on the front, the first question by the local press was, “What does the ‘W’ stand for?”

The belief by the locals was that the “W” is for win, but neither the two players nor their captain Mike McCoy were completely clear on what the letter stood for.

Then McCoy, with a sheepish grin, said “Walker Cup.”

Close enough.

In 2013, at National Golf Links of America, the U.S. team wore red hats with a “W” on the front in honor of George W. Bush, whose great-grandfather George Herbert Walker was a former president of the USGA and Walker Cup donor.

Red hats with a "W" were in fashion for the 2015 U.S. Walker Cup team :: Michael Cohen/Getty Images

When asked about the hats, Great Britain & Ireland captain Stuart Wilson said he hadn’t seen them and wasn’t sure what the “W” stood for. Once he was told, he didn’t take offense.

“We’ve done our preparation and we’ve done what we think is right in trying to get the guys into the right position come Saturday morning, and I’m sure Mike and his team have done the same,” Wilson said. “If they feel that’s appropriate for them, that’s absolutely fine.”

Wilson shut the door on any controversy, but he still has a team to coach. His opponent is a U.S. team chock-full of top amateurs, including eight of the top 10 in the world amateur rankings.

“I think that you can play as well as you want and sometimes lose, and sometimes it goes your way,” said Calum Scott, a 20-year-old from Nairn, on the U.S.’s perceived dominance. “I don’t think the rankings really matter for this, especially being at St. Andrews. It’s anyone’s game, and I think the winning team is the team that holes the most putts. That’s it.”

Succinct and likely true, but with the weather expected to be nothing like traditional links conditions—there is no rain nor wind in the forecast—the Old Course will likely be a happy hunting ground for the best amateurs in the world.

“I think it’s fair to say we’re probably always going to be in the underdogs, the second favorites in a two-horse race every time this comes around,” Wilson said. “History tells us that’s probably appropriate, but then when you look at the results over the last 25 years, it’s become a lot more evenly matched certainly with home advantage as well.”

Of the past 13 Walker Cups dating to the 1997 USA win at Quaker Ridge, GB&I has won five times but just twice since 2005, in ’11 at Royal Aberdeen and ’15 at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.

Since the win in 2015, the U.S. has had total control over GB&I with a combined point total of 48.5 to 29.5, but the loss in Lytham is not lost on McCoy.

Oddly, Wilson wants to see relatively benign conditions to showcase the best players in the world.

“I think it’s nice that the guys will get to go head-to-head without having to battle the elements,” Wilson said. “It loses something when it’s howling wind and rain and things. At least these guys will be able to kind of show what they can do in good conditions.”

For the Americans, their game plan will be simple: Let their length overpower the course and know where to miss.

If they accomplish that, victory will be more likely but not assured, as McCoy will attest. He played on the 2015 team that included Bryson DeChambeau, Beau Hossler, Denny McCarthy and Maverick McNealy, and got smoked, 16.5 to 9.5.

“I played on a losing team over here, so that’s sort of scorched into my mind. We had a good team and got beat pretty handily,” McCoy said. “I don’t think anybody is taking it for granted. I know these two here are pretty locked in and are expecting—they know they’re going to have to bring their best stuff this week. I think that’s how we feel. We really are prepared for a tough match. I don’t think anybody is complacent.”