WALKER CUP:TOM LEWIS is on the brink of turning professional – but he'll have one final chance to shine as an amateur in this weekend's Walker Cup.
The Englishman, 20, led the British Open Championship at St George’s in July and finished tied in 30th, winning the silver medal for leading amateur. But his last act before joining the pro circuit will be competing in amateur golf’s version of the Ryder Cup in Aberdeen this weekend.
Rory McIlroy, then 18, played the last time the Walker Cup was held on British shores, at Royal County Down Golf Club in 2007.
That Britain Ireland team was beaten 12½-11½ by a United States line-up featuring Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson and Webb Simpson, who won the Deutsch Bank Championship on Monday.
Last time out, the US thrashed Britain Ireland 16½-9½ at the Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania in 2009 with a team again featuring Fowler.
But the members of this year’s teams will be hoping to emulate some of the great names who have played in this tournament in the past.
The 1999 Britain Ireland team, which triumphed at Nairn, included Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Simon Dyson and Graeme Storm.
Two years later, a line-up including Donald again plus Graeme McDowell, Nick Dougherty and Marc Warren made the victorious trip to Sea Island in Georgia, where they retained the Walker Cup for the first time for 79 years.
And Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Pádraig Harrington, Paul McGinley and Justin Rose are just a few of the other players who have featured in this biennial event over the last two decades.
And of course, no golf tournament would be complete without a mention of Tiger Woods.
He played for the US team at Royal Porthcawl in 1995, where Britain and Ireland triumphed 14-10.
On day one Woods, then 19, lost to experienced Walker Cup player Gary Wolstenholme by one hole.
He got revenge on day two with a 4 and 3 singles victory but then lost his day two foursomes match after being paired with John Harris against Irish pair Jody Fanagan and Harrington.
In the current US team, two men stand out. Peter Uihlein (21) who Lewis held off in Kent, and the hugely talented Patrick Cantlay.
The 19-year-old has had a tremendous summer playing some events on the PGA Tour and even shot 60 in the Travelers Championship – the lowest-ever round by an amateur on the PGA Tour.
The final thing to look out for is the course itself. While not as celebrated as the links on the Open Championship rota, Royal Aberdeen is a very strong layout. It offers a chance to see a wonderful course and great competition.
Britain & Ireland Team
Steven Brown(24, Wentworth) James Byrne(22, Banchory) Paul Cutler(22, Portstewart) Alan Dunbar(21, Rathmore) Stiggy Hodgson(21, Sunningdale) Tom Lewis(20, Welwyn Garden City) Rhys Pugh(17, Glamorgan) Jack Senior(23, Heysham) Michael Stewart(21, Troon Welbeck) Andy Sullivan(24, Nuneaton)
