Walker Cup stars who made the big time
From amateur stars in the Walker Cup to incredible professional careers – here are ten of the best…
From Walker Cup stars to winning majors and Ryder Cups, these 10 players have all graced the amateur and professional ranks in recent years.
Bryson DeChambeau
Walker Cup appearance: 2015 (Royal Lytham & St Annes)
Walker Cup record: 2-1-0 (2.5 points)
Professional career highlights: Won the 2020 US Open, his first major title.
DeChambeau did not feature in the opening foursomes at Lytham, then halved with Ashley Chesters in the top singles match. On the second day, he and Robby Shelton beat Irish pair Jack Hume and Gavin Moynihan before rounding off his week with a 6&5 singles hammering of Moynihan.
Justin Thomas
Walker Cup appearance: 2013 (National Golf Links)
Walker Cup record: 2-1-0 (2.5 points)
Professional career highlights: Two-time PGA Champion (2017, 2022). Won four matches out of five at the 2018 Ryder Cup.
Thomas teamed up with Patrick Rodgers to beat Gavin Moynihan and Kevin Phelan in the foursomes, then halved with Nathan Kimsey in the afternoon. He sat out the Sunday foursomes before trouncing Max Orrin 6&4 in the singles.
Patrick Cantlay
Walker Cup appearance: 2011 (Royal Aberdeen)
Walker Cup record: 2-1-1 (2.5 points)
Professional career highlights: Won the BMW Championship and Tour Championship in back-to-back weeks to win the 2021 FedEx Cup.
The American team at Royal Aberdeen was packed with Walker Cup stars but they struggled to handle the quintessentially Scottish squally conditions. Alongside Chris Williams, Cantlay beat Steven Brown and Stiggy Hodgson. Then he beat Michael Stewart 2&1 in the singles. On Sunday, he and Williams lost 5&3 to James Byrne and Rhys Pugh and he halved the last singles match against Paul Cutler.
Jordan Spieth
Walker Cup appearance: 2011 (Royal Aberdeen)
Walker Cup record: 2-1-0 (2.5 points)
Professional career highlights: Won the 2015 Masters and US Open, plus the 2017 Open Championship.
The then 18-year-old Spieth, ranked the No. 2 amateur in the world, had a watching brief for the opening session but beat Jack Senior 3&2 in the singles. The following morning, he and Patrick Rodgers halved against Tom Lewis and Michael Stewart. He rounded off the week by beating Andy Sullivan 3&2 in the singles.
Rickie Fowler
Walker Cup appearances: 2007 (Royal County Down) and 2009 (Merion)
Walker Cup record: 7-0-1 (7 points)
Professional career highlights: Has finished second in each of the Masters (2018), US Open (2014, Pinehurst) and Open (2014, Hoylake) and 3rd in the PGA Championship (2014, Valhalla)
Won all four games in 2009, admittedly against a weak GB&I team. He partnered Bud Cauley to two foursomes wins and beat first Sam Hutsby and then Matt Haines in the singles.
In 2007 he successfully partnered Billy Horschel in the foursomes. In the singles he beat Lloyd Saltman on Saturday but lost 3&2 to Rhys Davies on Sunday.
Tommy Fleetwood
Walker Cup appearance: 2009 (Merion)
Walker Cup record: 1-0-1 (1 point)
Professional career highlights: Won back-to-back Abu Dhabi Championships and won the Race to Dubai in 2017. Was part of ‘Moliwood’ with Francesco Molinari that went 4-0 at the 2018 Ryder Cup.
Part of an outgunned GB&I team at Merion, the 18-year-old Fleetwood didn’t feature in the foursomes and lost his Saturday singles to Peter Uhlein. He at least defeated Drew Weaver on Sunday after the match result had already been settled but by then the USA’s Walker Cup stars had well and truly delivered.
Dustin Johnson
Walker Cup appearance: 2007 (Royal County Down)
Walker Cup record: 1-1-1 (1.5 points)
Professional career highlights: Won the 2016 US Open and 2020 Masters Tournament, breaking the scoring record at the latter.
DJ teamed up with Colt Knost twice in the foursomes. They halved with Rory McIlroy and Jonathan Caldwell on Saturday, before beating Rhys Davies and Nigel Edwards on Sunday. Davies beat him in the Saturday singles.
Webb Simpson
Walker Cup appearance: 2007 (Royal County Down)
Walker Cup record: 0-1-2 (0.5 points)
Professional career highlights: Won the 2012 US Open at Olympic and the 2018 Players Championship.
In 2007, both teams were packed with Walker Cup stars, meaning some very good players left Ireland with indifferent records. Simpson and Jonathan Moore halved with Jamie Moul and Danny Willett on Saturday. David Horsey beat him at the last in the final game in both series of singles.
Rory McIlroy
Walker Cup appearance: 2007 (Royal County Down)
Walker Cup record: 1-1-2 (1.5 points)
Professional career highlights: Has four majors to his name – a US Open, an Open Championship and two PGA Championships – and is a veteran of six Ryder Cup matches. McIlroy is also the only man to ever win the FedEx Cup on three occasions.
In the final act of his amateur career – the 18-year-old turned pro immediately after the match – the young maestro played alongside his friend Jonathan Caldwell in the foursomes, halving with Colt Knost and Dustin Johnson before being beat by Billy Horschel and Rickie Fowler. Horschel also had his number in the Saturday foursomes but McIlroy did at least have the last laugh in an increasingly niggly rivalry by beating the same man 4&2 in the Sunday singles.
Danny Willett
Walker Cup appearance: 2007 (Royal County Down)
Walker Cup record: 0-2-2 (1 point)
Professional career highlights: Won the 2016 Masters Tournament, becoming only the second Englishman to ever win at Augusta. Also a DP World Tour Championship and BMW PGA Championship winner.
Willett was a bolter for this star-studded match of Walker Cup stars, coming from nowhere with a stellar 2016 amateur season. Both of his matches went down the last on Saturday – he and Jamie Moul halved with Webb Simpson and Jonathan Moore then Colt Knost beat him in the singles. He and Moul were well beaten by Trip Kuehne and Moore but he did at least earn a half against Knolt in the final series.
Dan Murphy
Dan loves links golf, which doesn't mean he is very good at it. He is a four-handicapper at Alwoodley. A qualified journalist and senior editor with 25 years’ experience, he was the long-time editor of NCG. His passion is golf courses and he is the founding editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings. He loves nothing more than discovering and highlighting courses that are worthy of greater recognition.
