Walker Cup 2007

published 7 September 2007

Tournament: The Walker Cup

Course: Royal County Down, Northern Ireland

Course Details: Par 71, 7,181 yards. As befitting one of the world?s very best courses, RCD boasts a ?who?s-who? of the game?s greatest ever course designers. Old Tom Morris was first employed to build a championship course at Newcastle, paid 4 guineas in 1889. It was re-modelled in 1900 by George Coombe before Harry Vardon took over in 1908. The final touches were put on it in 1926 by Harry Colt. With the towering Mountains of Mourne on one side and the insatiable Irish Sea the over, it is the perfect spot for a truly spectacular golf course.

Leading the GB & Ireland charge will be Rory McIlroy, recent winner of the Silver Medal at the Open Championship. The 18-year-old is poised to turn professional after the two-day competition and has the eyes of the golfing world on him, having come 42nd at Carnoustie. ?I?m just really looking forward to it,? said McIlroy. "I think the atmosphere on the first tee come Saturday morning is going to be electric and with the crowds walking with you on the fairways it creates a buzz around the place."

The American side has its very own head-turning star, with current US Amateur champion Colt Knost leading the World Amateur Rankings. Knost, who has not lost a match play game this year, has enjoyed a stellar season in the USA, adding the US Amateur to the 2007 US Public Links Championship. He has been well and truly knocked over by the standard of RCD. ?I've played Pebble Beach, the Olympic Club, Merion but this one is pretty unbelievable," Knost said. "No hole is alike out there and it's very, very challenging. You have to hit so many different shots. You can't scrape it around out here. You miss-hit a shot and you're going to pay the penalty for it.?

As you can see from below both sides are packed with talent. Aside from McIlroy, Rhys Davies, who played in the US Open this year, Lloyd Saltman, winner of four titles in five weeks this summer, and Jamie Moul, world amateur number one for 16 weeks, will be among those spearheading GB&Ire?s challenge. In the absence of the phenomenal Gary Wolstenholme, three-time WC veteran Nigel Edwards will be adding his experience.

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