The Walker Cup is the oldest international team competition in golf, five years older than the Ryder Cup, and its history is mostly one team’s. The United States leads the series 40 wins to 9 with one tie through the 2025 match at Cypress Point, has won the last five in a row, and won 28 of the first 31 before the modern era made things competitive. Great Britain and Ireland has not won since Royal Lytham in 2015 and has won in the United States only once, at Ocean Forest in 2001. The 51st match is being decided at Lahinch in County Clare this weekend, September 5 and 6, 2026.
| Year | Venue | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Lahinch, Ireland | In progress | USA led 9.5 to 7.5 in Sunday singles |
| 2025 | Cypress Point, California | USA | 17 to 9 |
| 2023 | Old Course, St Andrews | USA | 14.5 to 11.5 |
| 2021 | Seminole, Florida | USA | 14 to 10 |
| 2019 | Royal Liverpool, England | USA | 15.5 to 10.5 |
| 2017 | Los Angeles Country Club | USA | 19 to 7 |
| 2015 | Royal Lytham and St Annes, England | GB&I | 16.5 to 9.5 |
| 2013 | National Golf Links of America, New York | USA | 17 to 9 |
| 2011 | Royal Aberdeen, Scotland | GB&I | 14 to 12 |
| 2009 | Merion, Pennsylvania | USA | 16.5 to 9.5 |
| 2007 | Royal County Down, Northern Ireland | USA | 12.5 to 11.5 |
| 2005 | Chicago Golf Club, Illinois | USA | 12.5 to 11.5 |
| 2003 | Ganton, England | GB&I | 12.5 to 11.5 |
| 2001 | Ocean Forest, Georgia | GB&I | 15 to 9 |
| 1999 | Nairn, Scotland | GB&I | 15 to 9 |
| 1997 | Quaker Ridge, New York | USA | 18 to 6 |
| 1995 | Royal Porthcawl, Wales | GB&I | 14 to 10 |
| 1993 | Interlachen, Minnesota | USA | 19 to 5 |
| 1991 | Portmarnock, Ireland | USA | 14 to 10 |
| 1989 | Peachtree, Georgia | GB&I | 12.5 to 11.5 |
| 1987 | Sunningdale, England | USA | 16.5 to 7.5 |
| 1985 | Pine Valley, New Jersey | USA | 13 to 11 |
| 1983 | Royal Liverpool, England | USA | 13.5 to 10.5 |
| 1981 | Cypress Point, California | USA | 15 to 9 |
| 1979 | Muirfield, Scotland | USA | 15.5 to 8.5 |
| 1977 | Shinnecock Hills, New York | USA | 16 to 8 |
| 1975 | Old Course, St Andrews | USA | 15.5 to 8.5 |
| 1973 | The Country Club, Brookline | USA | 14 to 10 |
| 1971 | Old Course, St Andrews | GB&I | 13 to 11 |
| 1969 | Milwaukee Country Club | USA | 10 to 8 |
| 1967 | Royal St George’s, England | USA | 13 to 7 |
| 1965 | Baltimore Country Club | Tie | 11 to 11, USA retained |
| 1963 | Turnberry, Scotland | USA | 12 to 8 |
| 1961 | Seattle Golf Club | USA | 11 to 1 |
| 1959 | Muirfield, Scotland | USA | 9 to 3 |
| 1957 | Minikahda Club, Minnesota | USA | 8 to 3 |
| 1955 | Old Course, St Andrews | USA | 10 to 2 |
| 1953 | Kittansett Club, Massachusetts | USA | 9 to 3 |
| 1951 | Royal Birkdale, England | USA | 6 to 3 |
| 1949 | Winged Foot, New York | USA | 10 to 2 |
| 1947 | Old Course, St Andrews | USA | 8 to 4 |
| 1938 | Old Course, St Andrews | GB&I | 7 to 4 |
| 1936 | Pine Valley, New Jersey | USA | 9 to 0 |
| 1934 | Old Course, St Andrews | USA | 9 to 2 |
| 1932 | The Country Club, Brookline | USA | 9 to 1 |
| 1930 | Royal St George’s, England | USA | 10 to 2 |
| 1928 | Chicago Golf Club, Illinois | USA | 11 to 1 |
| 1926 | Old Course, St Andrews | USA | 6 to 5 |
| 1924 | Garden City, New York | USA | 9 to 3 |
| 1923 | Old Course, St Andrews | USA | 6 to 5 |
| 1922 | National Golf Links of America, New York | USA | 8 to 4 |
GB&I wins are shaded gold. The match was played annually from 1922 to 1924, then every two years, with no matches from 1940 to 1946. Half points for halved matches were introduced in 1971; the pre 1971 scores are the official totals of the time, which counted halved matches for neither side. Scores per the USGA and R&A records.
The Eras
1922 to 1987: American dominance. The United States won 28 of the first 31 matches, several by scores like 11 to 1 (Seattle, 1961) and 9 to 0 (Pine Valley, 1936). Great Britain and Ireland won only at St Andrews in 1938 and 1971 and tied at Baltimore in 1965. Bobby Jones captained and played for the 1928 and 1930 teams; Francis Ouimet captained six times between 1932 and 1949.
1989 to 2015: a real contest. GB&I won at Peachtree in 1989, then took seven of 19 matches over the next 26 years, including three in a row in 1999, 2001 and 2003 and the 2015 win at Royal Lytham that remains its most recent. Home advantage became decisive; from 1993 on, only four matches have been won by the visiting team.
2017 to now: the American run. Five straight United States wins, including two on British soil (Royal Liverpool 2019, St Andrews 2023) and the 17 to 9 rout at Cypress Point in 2025, in which the Americans took 8.5 of 10 Sunday singles points. The 2026 match at Lahinch is GB&I’s first home chance to end the streak.
2026 at Lahinch
GB&I led 6.5 to 5.5 after Saturday behind Stuart Grehan’s comeback win over world No. 1 amateur Preston Stout, then the United States swept all four Sunday morning foursomes, the first 4 to 0 foursomes sweep since 2007, to lead 9.5 to 6.5 going into the 10 singles. The United States needs 13 points to retain the cup; GB&I needs 13.5 to win it outright. The result will be added to the table above when the last match finishes. Live coverage details are on our Walker Cup 2026 page.
How the Match Works
Ten amateurs a side, selected by the USGA and the R&A. Two days, four sessions: four foursomes and eight singles on Saturday, four foursomes and ten singles on Sunday, 26 points in all. Matches level after 18 holes are halved. A tie means the holder keeps the cup. The match moved to even numbered years in 2026 so it no longer collides with the Eisenhower Trophy in Olympic years.
The Bottom Line
The United States has won 40 of 50 Walker Cups, Great Britain and Ireland nine, with one tie in 1965. GB&I’s last win was 2015 at Royal Lytham; the Americans have taken five straight since, and are favored to make it six at Lahinch.