Josh Hill wasn’t even in consideration for a spot on the Walker Cup team until earlier this summer. So of course the winning putt would come down to him.
Hill, a 22-year-old from England and Tennessee graduate, birdied the final hole Sunday to give GB&I a historic victory in the 51st Walker Cup at Lahinch in Ireland. Trailing by three going into Sunday Singles, GB&I won seven of the 10 points in singles, its most ever in the Walker Cup, and had its largest comeback victory to end the United States’ five-match winning streak. All of this after the red, white and blue swept the morning foursomes session and needed only 3½ points to retain the Cup.
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Four times the USA had putts to retain the Cup as the afternoon went on at Lahinch, all four of them missed. Meanwhile, GB&I needed Connor Graham to win the 17th and 18th holes, Eliot Baker to win the 18th hole and then Hill, who starred in a scouting trip to Lahinch earlier this summer to earn the final spot on captain Dean Robertson’s veteran squad, birdied the final hole to knock off world No. 2 Tyler Watts, 1 up, and send Lahinch into a frenzy.
GB&I’s latest Walker Cup victory came in 2015, and it now has 10 in the series. The Americans lead the all-time series, 40-10-1.
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Check out the best photos from the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch
Kihei Akina (USA) plays a shot on the seventh hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.
(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)
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Check out the best photos from the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch
Kihei Akina (USA) plays a shot on the seventh hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.
(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)
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Check out the best photos from the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch
Miles Russell (USA) plays his tee shot on the eighth hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.
(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)
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Check out the best photos from the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch
Preston Stout (USA) plays a shot from a bunker on the 10th hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.
(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)
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Check out the best photos from the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch
Jay Leng Jr. (USA) plays his tee shot on the 12th hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.
(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)
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Check out the best photos from the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch
Stewart Hagestad (USA) plays a shot from a green side bunker at the third hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)
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Lahinch is home turf for GB&I, but welcome mat not rolled out for U.S. at Walker Cup
Josiah Gilbert (USA) plays an approach shot at the third hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)
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Check out the best photos from the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch
Ryder Cowan (USA) watches his tee shot at the fourth hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)
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Check out the best photos from the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch
Jay Leng Jr. (USA) hits his tee shot at the fourth hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)
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Check out the best photos from the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch
Team USA players work on their putting at the fourth hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)
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Check out the best photos from the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch
Stewart Hagestad (USA) watches his tee shot at the sixth hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)
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Check out the best photos from the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch
Fans watch Stuart Grehan (GB&I) hit his tee shot at the 17th hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)
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Check out the best photos from the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch
Preston Stout (USA) hits an approach shot at the 17th hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)
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Check out the best photos from the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch
Tyler Watts (USA) watches his tee shot at the 18th hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)
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Check out the best photos from the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch
Ethan Fang (USA) plays an approach shot next to the stone wall at the 18th hole during a practice round ahead of the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch in County Clare, Republic of Ireland on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
(Chris Keane, USGA Museum)
GB&I earned points in each of the first eight singles matches, with six wins and two halves. Ryder Cowan and Josiah Gilbert were the only Americans to win their matches outright, and that came from the ninth and 10th spots.
Stuart Grehan knocked off world No. 1 Preston Stout for the second straight day in singles. U.S. Amateur champion Jack Whaley had the largest GB&I singles win in Walker Cup history and tied for second largest ever, an 8-and-7 thrashing of William Jennings. Tyler Weaver, who had not competed since the spring because of an oblique injury, and Luke Poulter also earned points, and GB&I suddenly had the lead.
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The Americans fought back, eventually having chance after chance after chance to close matches and retain the Cup. Time and time again, putts missed, and GB&I took advantage of every single door that was left open.
Then it came down to Hill, who hit a brilliant bunker shot to 3 feet on the 18th hole, and the rest is history.
The 52nd Walker Cup is set for Sept. 2028 at Bandon Dunes in Oregon.
Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Great Britain & Ireland completes historic comeback to win 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch
