The biennial Walker Cup competition carries with it almost mystical significance for amateur golfers on the two sides — the United States and then Great Britain and Ireland.
As the curtain falls on a magnificent Walker Cup at St. Andrews — where the U.S emerged with a 14.5-11.5 victory — the temptation to change anything about those matches might be the furthest thing from anyone’s mind.
I understand.
On face value, everything about the Walker Cup seems perfect.
In reality, however, this may be exactly the right time to hone the format and to build upon the Walker Cup’s greatness.
How about expanding the possibility of competing in the Walker Cup to a wider spectrum of accomplished players, without sacrificing any of the event’s essence?
After all, an amateur tournament golfer’s pursuit is endlessly aspirational, a journey of a lifetime.
Why shouldn’t the chase for a Walker Cup selection align with that lifelong love affair?
Why not foster those amateur golfer dreams in advance of the next competitions in 2025 (Cypress Point) and 2026 (Lahinch, when the competition will be moved to even-numbered years).
Here's how it can work.