Nathan Smith’s Team USA has won the Walker Cup following a dominant singles session against Great Britain & Ireland at Cypress Point.
The team went into the session with an 8.5-7.5 lead following the morning foursomes, which finished 2-2.
However, even if that advantage was slender, Saturday’s singles, which the US won 5.5-2.5, hinted at the daunting task facing Dean Robertson’s visitors, needing to reach 13.5 points to win the title for the first time in a decade.
There was a confident enough start with Tyler Weaver taking an early lead in his match against Jackson Koivun, but it wasn’t long until the hosts began making inroads, first with Tommy Morrison going 1 up in his match against Niall Shiels Donegan, and then with Koivun hitting back against Weaver.
By the time half the 10 matches were in progress, the US had the lead in three, while it was tied in two, setting the tone for a long afternoon for the underdogs.
If there was a saving grace for Great Britain & Ireland, it was that all the matches remained tight 90 minutes after the first of the 10 began.
Briefly, it got even better for the visitors, with Connor Graham going 1 up over Mason Howell, Charlie Forster with a 1 up lead on Ben James and Gavin Tiernan 1 up on Michael La Sasso, while the US only held the lead in two matches.
However, any dreams the team had of winning just its third Walker Cup on US soil were soon tempered as the hosts began turning the screw in its quest for the 13 points it needed to retain the trophy as defending champions.
Ethan Fang was the first to go 2 up in a match, against Stuart Grehan, with Stewart Hagestad soon following suit against Eliot Baker, and it was no surprise when the US claimed the first point when Koivun claimed a 3&2 win over Weaver.
That opened the floodgates, with Morrison bringing the team closer to victory with a 3&2 win over Shiels Donegan.
The fog then began rolling in off the Pacific, but it did nothing to stall the US charge, with the team going 5 up in two matches, 2 up in two more and 1 up in another as more points seemed inevitable.
The next soon came via Fang’s 5&4 win over Grehan to take the team to 11.5 points overall, before Graham’s match with Howell was halved to finally get Great Britain & Ireland on the board for the session, albeit leaving the US needing just one to retain the trophy.
Perhaps fittingly, it was Hagestad, playing in his fifth Walker Cup, who claimed the decisive point. He did it with a long birdie putt at the 15th to beat Baker 4&3, but the incentive was still there for the hosts to win it outright.
That left the visitors with just pride to play for, but the next two points also went to the US as it took a 16-8 lead overall following Ben James’s 1 up win over Charlie Forster and Jase Summy’s 3&1 triumph over Cameron Adam.
With just two matches remaining, Great Britain & Ireland’s Tiernan led 1 up over La Sasso, with teammate Dominic Clemons having an identical advantage over Jacob Modleski.
Could Great Britain & Ireland get some respectability into the scoreline after a humbling afternoon?
The answer was yes, as Tiernan’s 2&1 win over La Sasso brought the score to 16-9. However, it was the US who had the last laugh when Modleski edged out Clemons 1 up to bring the score to 17-9 and cap a dominant victory for the hosts.
Walker Cup Scores
Tyler Weaver 3&2 > Jackson Koivun
Niall Shiels Donegan 3&2 > Tommy Morrison
Connor Graham Tied Mason Howell
Luke Poulter 2&1 > Preston Stout
Stuart Grehan 5&4 > Ethan Fang
Eliot Baker 4&3 > Stewart Hagestad
Charlie Forster 1 up > Ben James
Cameron Adam 3&1 Jase Summy
Gavin Tiernan < 2&1 Michael La Sasso
Dominic Clemons 1 up > Jacob Modleski
Team GB&I 9 - 17 Team USA
Updates from...
Mike Hall
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WELCOME!
Welcome to our coverage of the final session of the 2025 Walker Cup at Cypress Point.
Earlier in the day, the US and Great Britain & Ireland competed in a session of foursomes, where it finished 2-2 to leave the hosts with a slender 8.5-7.5 lead.
First to 13.5 points wins it, although as holders, the US just needs 13 to retain the cup, so there's all to play for with the final session of singles to go.
STATE OF PLAY
Even though the US lead is just one, there's a sense that the advantage could effectively be greater than that, given the team's strength in the singles format. That was borne out yesterday, where the hosts roared back from 3-1 down after the morning to lead following the afternoon singles.
Of course, there are lots of factors at play in the final session, not least nerves, so let's see how things play out over the next few hours.
SINGLES MATCHUPS
Here are the singles matchups (times EDT/BST)...
4.30pm/9.30pm: Tyler Weaver vs Jackson Koivun
4.40pm/9.40pm: Niall Shiels Donegan vs Tommy Morrison
4.50pm/4.50pm: Connor Graham vs Mason Howell
5.00pm/10.00pm: Luke Poulter vs Preston Stout
5.10pm/10.10pm: Stuart Grehan vs Ethan Fang
5.20pm/10.20pm: Eliot Baker vs Stewart Hagestad
5.30pm/10.30pm: Charlie Forster vs Ben James
5.40pm/10.40pm: Cameron Adam vs Jase Summy
5.50pm/10.50pm: Gavin Tiernan vs Michael La Sasso
6.00pm/11.00pm: Dominic Clemons vs Jacob Modleski
EARLY BREAKTHROUGH FOR GB&I
Beginning the session a point down, it's crucial the visitors make a strong start, and Tyler Weaver has done just that in his match against Jackson Koivun.
At the par-4 first, he's made it in 3 to take 1 up lead.
COMEBACK KINGS
There was a remarkable comeback for the GB&I pairing of Luke Poulter and Charlie Foster in the Sunday morning foursomes.
At one point they were 4 down against Ethan Fang and Preston Stout before coming back to win. How crucial will that point prove?
Time will tell, but with only a tie needed to retain the trophy, the US only needs 4.5 of the 10 points on offer in the final session, so the onus is on the visitors to force the issue.
EARLY US SUCCESS
It's first blood to US player Tommy Morrison in his match against Niall Shiels Donegan, who has just won the first hole.
Meanwhile, Jackson Koivun has levelled things up against Tyler Weaver in the other match out on the course at the moment. Advantage the US.
GRAHAM OFF TO A FLIER
Now GB&I's Connor Graham has settled any nerves going 1 up over US Amateur champion Mason Howell on the first in the third of the singles matches.
MORE RED THAN BLUE EARLY ON
To say it's early days in the Sunday singles would be an understatement, but currently, there's more red on the board than blue, helped by Jackson Koivun going 1 up after three against Tyler Weaver.
Elsewhere, Tommy Morrison leads Niall Shiels Donegan by one with GB&I's Connor Graham 1 up over Mason Howell.
TOUGH PROSPECT FOR VISITORS
While things are settling down in the all-important Sunday singles, it's worth remembering the daunting task facing Dean Robertson's GB&I team. Namely, the US is looking for its fifth straight win, while the visitors have only won on US soil twice since the match's inception.
US IN THE ZONE
We know the US team is full of talent, but how about his from Mason Howell earlier on to clinch his and Jacob Modleski's win over Eliot Baker and Stuart Grehan?
WALK! OFF! WINNER!!! 🇺🇸Mason Howell finishes off a 3-and-1 victory with a dunked eagle hole out! pic.twitter.com/Kr0W05jhBQSeptember 7, 2025
AS THINGS STAND...
More than half the matches are now underway, with the latest to go out the contest between Eliot Baker and Stewart Hagestad.
Currently, the US is 1 up in three, with two matches tied. There'll be no panicking for the visitors just yet, of course, but the players on the course will need to hang in there over the next few holes to prevent the US getting too much breathing space.
OMINOUS SIGNS
I keep stressing it's early days, but I must admit, the match status doesn't make for great reading for the visitors at present. Of the five matches to have completed at least one hole, the US is up in four of them, with just Stuart Grehan all-square with Ethan Fang after one.
US NUDGING IT
The first match, between Jackson Koivun and Tyler Weaver, is now on the sixth hole. It remains tight, with US player Koivun 1 up.
Elsewhere, the US is 1 up in two more matches, with three all-square.
GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS FOR GB&I
Well, the good news for GB&I is that Charlie Forster has just gone 1 up in his match against Ben James after one. The bad news for them is Jackson Koivun now has a 2 up lead over Tyler Weaver after six.
FOG IN THE FORECAST
A bit of a weather update from the beautiful Cypress Point, and it looks like fog could be on the way....
Due to potential fog at Cypress Point, coverage of today’s Walker Cup Sunday Singles on @GolfChannel will begin earlier than scheduled, at 6:30 p.m. ET.September 7, 2025
WEAVER HITS BACK
The first of the Sunday singles matches, between Jackson Koivun and Tyler Weaver, is now 1 up to the American after Weaver pulls one back at the seventh. Currently, the leaderboard still shows plenty of red, but as long as those matches don't get greater than 1 up, there's encouragement for the visitors.
On the plus side for the hosts, Ethan Fang now has a 1 up lead on Stuart Grehan.
WHAT THE VISITORS NEED
Just a reminder that, to stop the US winning the Walker Cup for the fifth successive time, the visitors need six of the 10 points on offer this session. Currently, they're only up in one match, between Charlie Forster and Ben James. A sense that, already, the next hour or so could be crucial.
TOP FANG
While the US is turning the screw early on in the Sunday singles, it's Ethan Fang who is really leading the way. He's 2 up in his match against Stuart Grehan after four.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
WEAVER ON HIS WAY BACK
Fair play to Tyler Weaver. With opponent Jackson Koivun 2 up after six, he could have buckled, but he's pulled it back nicely to tie things up after wins at the seventh and eighth holes.
TIGHTENING UP
All of a sudden, things look slightly less assured for the US, with Weaver and Koivun now tied, but Connor Graham also 1 up over Mason Howell, Charlie Forster with a 1 up lead over Ben James and Gavin Tiernan 1 up on Michael La Sasso.
All 10 matches are now on the course, and it's a close call at the moment, with the US up in two and GB&I up in three.
LAST MATCH UNDERWAY
The last match, between Jacob Modleski and Dominic Clemons, teed off about 10 minutes ago, and it's US star Modleski with the early blow, going 1 up after one.
Now, the US is up in four, GB&I in three, with three tied.
STATE OF PLAY
The first match is now at the halfway stage, with the US's Jackson Koivun with a 1 up lead over Tyler Weaver. Further down, the US leads in three other matches with GB&I ahead in two. If it were to end now, the US would have six points, and it only needs 4.5 to retain the trophy.
Thankfully for the visitors, it's not ending now. It ends in a few hours, and, right now, there's still plenty in each of the 10 matches for things to go either way.
US TURNS THE SCREW
Just in the last few minutes, things have moved firmly in the US's favor. Not decisively. Not yet, anyway. But it's now up in six of the 10 matches, and 2 up in three of them.
It's by no means unsalvageable for GB&I, but you wouldn't want the situation to get a lot worse from here.
And just like that, it does. The US is now up in seven after Jase Summy goes 1 up through four against Cameron Adam.
GB&I UP AGAINST IT
GB&I need something soon, with the US now up in eight of the matches, albeit by no more than two in any.
There's an uncharacteristic missed putt from Jackson Koivun in his match against Tyler Weaver at the 11th. Weaver responds by making par. Can Koivun respond in kind to remain 2 up? He can.
GB&I needs to hang in there at the moment or this could quickly get away from them.
US HAMMERS HOME ADVANTAGE
The problem for GB&I at this stage is that, down in eight of the 10 matches, there's no real margin for error.
Connor Graham was one of just two bright lights for the team with a 1 up lead over Mason Howell. Can he set the example with a par putt to maintain it? He can't. Howell makes no mistake though and ties things up.
A GLIMMER OF HOPE FOR WEAVER
Another poor putt from Koivun on the 12th lets Weaver back into it. The American still has the edge, but the visitors will take what they can get at the moment, and right now that's seeing a 2 up lead reduced to 1 up for Koivun.
RED ALERT
The harsh reality for GB&I at this point is it needs six of 10 points in this session, and currently is in line for just 1.5.
The glimmers of hope at the moment rest with Connor Graham, who is tied with Mason Howell, and Gavin Tiernan, who has a 1 up lead on Michael La Sasso. Everywhere else you look on the leaderboard, it's red.
UNLUCKY FOR HOWELL
At the 11th, Mason Howell is an inch or two from going 1 up over Connor Graham, but his glorious long putt stops a revolution short of dropping. With pressure on Graham, he holes his for par and the match remains tied.
US IN CHARGE
At the 12th, Morrison goes 2 up over Shiels Donegan with a birdie, leaving the US ahead in six matches, of which three are by more than one.
GB&I UP AGAINST IT
A word for GB&I's Dominic Clemons, who was 2 down over Jacob Modleski after just two holes. That's now tied after he fought back by winning the fourth and the fifth.
However, for the visitors, it's all a bit like Whac-A-Mole at the moment, where one player drags himself back into it while another falls further away. Case in point? Stewart Hagestad has now gone 3 up on Eliot Baker.
To rub salt into GB&I wounds, Ethan Fang restores his 2 up lead over Stuart Grehen.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Anyone would think Luke Poulter had a famous golfer for a dad, the way he can play the game. He faces a tricky putt at the 10th to remain tied with Preston Stout.
The last thing his team needs is to fall behind in another match, but the 21-year-old is coolness personified as he pops it in to remain in one of just three matchups where GB&I isn't behind.
HOPE FOR GB&I
Niall Shiels Donegan wins the 13th hole against Tommy Morisson to cut the US player's lead to one. GB&I are still fighting here. You just never know what could happen if they keep plugging away and keep applying some pressure.
TOP-DRAWER GOLF
There is some high-quality golf out there, from both teams. At the par-3 15th, Jackson Koivun, 2 up on Tyler Weaver, sends his tee shot just over the pin and to within a few feet. How does Weaver respond? In an almost identical manner.
Unfortunately for Weaver, he can't complete his birdie putt, but Koivun can and he goes 3 up with just three to play.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
MORRISON MAGIC
As if to accentuate the US dominance, Tommy Morrison drains a long putt at the 14th to go 2 up over Niall Shiels Donegan. With just four to play, Shiels Donegan needs something special, and soon.
Making matters worse for the visitors, Ethan Fang goes 4 up on Stuart Grehen, although one ray of hope sees Dominic Clemons take a 2 up lead on Jacob Modleski.
Why take ✌️ when you can just win it with ☝️!@TexasMGolf's Tommy Morrison with a LONG RANGE birdie to go 2 up with 4 to play. pic.twitter.com/cJ2GmRBW42September 7, 2025
FIRST POINT IN THE SUNDAY SINGLES GOES TO THE US
The US has its first point on the board of this final session, with Jackson Koivun beating Tyler Weaver 3&2.
The US now needs just 3.5 points to retain the Walker Cup.
The first point in Sunday singles belongs to Jackson Koivun! 🇺🇸USA now leads GB&I 9.5 to 7.5. pic.twitter.com/qvEAbM9gScSeptember 7, 2025
GOLDEN GRAHAM
Are the visitors playing for pride? Not so fast. Connor Graham wins the 15th against Mason Howell to tie the match. It might be too little too late, but it's at least some kind of a foothold, however flimsy.
TOMMY MORRISON WINS SECOND US POINT
At the 16th, Niall Shiels Donegan needs to chip from the back of the green, but can't complete it. That gives Tommy Morrison the chance to get the second US point on the board of the Sunday singles session.
Here come the nerves, though... his first putt goes further beyond the hole than he'd like, but he has another chance coming back. Can he steady himself? Yes, he can. He makes par and with it, wins the match 3&2
Another one for the red, white and blue! 🇺🇸@TexasMGolf's Tommy Morrison earns a full point with a 3-and-2 victory over Niall Shiels Donegan. pic.twitter.com/bq3ctqeGU4September 7, 2025
A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER
Cypress Point is a place of rare beauty, but like its close neighbor Pebble Beach, the weather can turn as quickly as a team's chances in the final session of the Walker Cup.
We've gone from bright sunshine and blue Californian skies to something decidedly more moody, seemingly in the blink of an eye.
The fog is rolling in fast off the Pacific, as predicted earlier. The increasing gloom likely suits the mood of the GB&I camp at the moment, which is yet to make a dent on the scoring in this session, with the US now seemingly destined to retain the trophy.
US IN CHARGE
How dominant is the US? Well, as well as claiming the first two points, it's now 5 up in two, and 2 up in two more. It also has a 1 up lead in one other match. Two matches are all-square with just Dominic Clemons' 3 up lead over Jacob Modleski the genuine bright spot for the visitors.
The two big leaders are Ethan Fang over Stuart Grehen and the veteran of the team, Stewart Hagestad, over Eliot Baker.
ANOTHER US POINT AS TEAM CLOSES IN ON TITLE
The afternoon began with some promise for GB&I and for a brief time, there was more blue on the board than red. For some time now, though, it's seemed inevitable the US will close out the win.
One hope for something is Connor Graham, who has just teed of on the 18th tied with Mason Howell. Let's see how he gets on.
In the meantime, it's a third point for the US who move onto 11.5 points with Ethan Fang beating Stuart Grehen 5&4.
BRYSON LENDS SUPPORT
One very famous face following the US team is Bryson DeChambeau, who was mic'd up earlier to describe his favorite golf hole in the world...
Bryson mic’d up at Cypress following the USA Walker Cup Team 🇺🇸He checked out his all-time favorite hole in golf too 👀 pic.twitter.com/BFzdyFj638September 8, 2025
GB&I GET ON THE BOARD
Well, it's not the full point they were looking for, but GB&I has it's first half a point as the match between Connor Graham and Mason Howell is halved.
It's unlikely to make much of a difference to the destination of the title, but it's something to take from a difficult afternoon session for Dean Robertson's team.
Agony at Cypress Point 😩Connor Graham settles for a tie in his singles match against Mason Howell.USA now leads 12 to 8. pic.twitter.com/bRNPj41oqLSeptember 8, 2025
A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB FOR GB&I
GB&I now needs 5.5 of the six points that remain. The problem is it's only up in one of the matches, between Dominic Clemons and Jacob Modleski.
GB&I PLUGGING AWAY
Cameron Adam wins the 13th with a birdie over Jase Summy to reduce the deficit to two, before Charlie Forster has a chance to go all-square in the match against Ben James, but his putt at the 14th goes right.
US RETAINS WALKER CUP
The US needs one point to get to 13 and retain the trophy as defending champions.
Stewart Hagestad is the first to have a chance to clinch it at the 15th in his match against Eliot Baker. It's a long birdie putt, and he makes it! The US retains the cup!
STEW! BUCKETS! 🪣It's a 4-and-3 victory for the one of the most accomplished players in Walker Cup history. pic.twitter.com/vE1Tq8FeuYSeptember 8, 2025
HOW IT STANDS
So here's the latest. With Hagestad's win over Eliot Baker, the US now has the 13 points it needed to retain the Walker Cup. Mathematically, GB&I could still tie things, but as the defending champions, the US has the trophy.
US WINS WALKER CUP!
And seconds after Hagestad ensured the Walker Cup stays in US hands, Preston Stout beats Luke Pouler 2&1 to give the team the necessary points to win it outright.
Amid the fog at Cypress Point, we now know what had seemed obvious for a while - that GB&I, at 14-8 down, is playing for pride in this year's Walker Cup.
Currently, just four matches remain to conclude, with the US up in three.
PLAYING ON IN THE FOG
The US players who have completed their matches can all relax now, knowing they have done what they needed to help the team win the Walker Cup, but there are still matches being completed.
One notable moment has just come from Gavin Tiernan, who has just gone 1 up over Michael La Sasso on the 14th.
TWO MORE POINTS FOR THE US
Ben James is the latest to bring a point home for the US, finishing 1 up over Charlie Forster, while a little while later, Jase Summy closes out a 3&1 win over Cameron Adam to move the US to a dominant 16-8 scoreline. Just two matches left now...
TWO MATCHES TO COMPLETE
So, there are just two matches to complete, with Gavin Tiernan with a 1 up lead over Michael La Sasso, with teammate Dominic Clemons having an identical advantage over Jacob Modleski. Let's see if GB&I can get some consolation points back over the closing holes.
SLIP UP FROM DOMINIC CLEMONS, BUT A POINT FOR GB&I
Dominic Clemons is at the 16th, and has a long birdie putt to go 2 up, but goes too far, and he fails to make it coming back. That ties the match with Michael La Sasso and the elusive full point for the GB&I team this afternoon appears to slip a little further away.
Moments later, though, GB&I finally does get the full point when Michael La Sasso concedes to Gavin Tiernan at the 17th.
AND THEN THERE WAS ONE...
There is just one match remaining to complete, with Dominic Clemons all-square against Jacob Modleski. The Walker Cup has long gone for the visitors, at 16-9 down, but there is still pride on the line...
Both players miss the green at the 17th. Clemons is first and leaves a long but makeable par putt. Modleski is next from the back bunker. That's even better. He'd expect to make par from this.
Clemons makes his par confidently. Modleski follows suit and we go to the 18th.
FINAL US POINT GOES TO JACOB MODLESKI
Clemons is on the green in three on the par-4 18th, with Modleski just off the green with a birdie putt to win it. It's so, so close, but goes right. He takes a par and now it's on Clemons - who led for so long - to salvage half a point. It misses and the US has its 17t and final point.
UNTIL NEXT YEAR
That's all for this evening's coverage, but just a reminder for anyone already longing for more Walker Cup action that it's not long until the two teams do battle again. That's because it moves to even years from here, with the next edition coming from Ireland's Lahinch Golf Club next year!
