Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) captain Dean Robertson is confident that the passionate backing of the Irish crowd will be a pivotal factor for his team at the Walker Cup in Lahinch in September 2026. GB&I aims to break a five-match losing streak in this prestigious amateur golf competition. The 51st Walker Cup will be held for the first time on the renowned links courses of County Clare.
Robertson views Lahinch as a unique venue. “The town itself, you could only really compare St Andrews, but Lahinch just has its own unique atmosphere. It just comes alive,” he remarked. He hopes the team can galvanize the Irish fans, who, he believes, will “most definitely be our 11th man.”
“It’s not about the crack off the club faces,” the Scot explained. “It’s about the craic in the 19th. The Irish fans are off the charts. Having experienced them in many an Irish Open, I’m now really going to look forward to captaining the GB&I Walker Cup team at Lahinch.”
Robertson led the team at last year’s Walker Cup at Cypress Point, where GB&I dominated the two foursomes sessions but suffered a heavy defeat in the singles, losing 17-9 overall to secure the USA’s fifth consecutive victory.
The tournament has been moved to even-numbered years to avoid conflicting with the Olympics. With only three of last year’s 10-man GB&I team turning professional, the core of the side is likely to play again in Lahinch.
Stuart Grehan from County Louth and Gavin Tiernan are highly regarded candidates for a return to the team. Robertson anticipates a strong Irish contingent, especially since the South of Ireland Championship will play a significant role in Walker Cup preparations.
GB&I has not won since 2015, when five Irishmen were part of the team at Royal Lytham and St Annes. Both Grehan and Tiernan are eager to compete again.
Robertson spoke of Tiernan: “Gavin was the only person to win his singles on the Sunday at Cypress. He beat Michael La Sasso, who’s now moved on to his millions in the LIV tour.” He described former South of Ireland champion Grehan as “a real leader within the team room last time.”
The top five GB&I players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking after the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch in late July will earn automatic spots in the 10-man squad. Robertson stresses that the “South” will be crucial in shaping his final line-up.
“I’m looking for form players, looking for winners in the team,” Robertson stated. “Who’s to say the winner of the South of Ireland isn’t a Walker Cup player this year?”
“There are other fine exponents of the South of Ireland who are past champions, who are recently winners of scratch cups. And I’m well aware of who they are, and the eyes are on them, and I’m in contact with them, and I’m urging them to put themselves forward,” he added, specifically mentioning Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty, a former Walker Cup player.
While playing the “South” is not mandatory, Robertson noted that the entry list for the “South of Ireland” will show a different dynamic, as he has strongly encouraged prospective selections to engage in a busy links schedule this summer.
He will also be closely monitoring results from the season-opening West of Ireland Championship, which begins in County Sligo next week. The winner of the “West,” along with the North of Ireland champion, will be invited to a panel session in Lahinch as part of the preparations.
The Walker Cup will precede the Amgen Irish Open at Doonbeg by one week. While Robertson intends to reserve Donald Trump’s links for the Americans, preferring to give his squad pre-event practice at Ballybunion, he hinted at potentially bringing in “a couple of externals” to assist with their ground game. “That might be a secret weapon, but that will remain a secret,” he mused.
A strong start and improved singles play will be vital for GB&I to secure victory. “We know that in team play, we have a formula that we’ll continue to do,” he explained. “But in terms of the singles play, that’s where we need to improve. We need to get way faster starts. The statistics tell you that if you’re getting up early, the chances of winning are massively increased.”
Course set-up is a key consideration. Robertson has requested Lahinch to maintain green speeds below 10 on the stimpmeter, after players struggled with speeds of 14 at Cypress Point. “We won’t be putting down the bonnet of a car, and the wind should be blowing a little bit,” he said. “Let the golf course be natural, be the brilliant course that it is.”
This marks the first time the Walker Cup has been held in Ireland since 2007. While demand for attendance is expected to be high, measures will be in place to ensure broad accessibility, including special provisions for younger spectators. Entry to the opening ceremony at 5 pm on Friday, September 4, will be free.
As a former DP World Tour winner, Robertson is the first professional to captain the Great Britain and Ireland team, and he believes a victory at Lahinch would be profoundly special. “I would be absolutely thrilled,” he shared. “It would be immensely emotional. It would be fantastic, and I would be super proud.”