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Pebble Beach, Calif –
As the Pacific waves crashed onto the coastline, just a short wedge that was shot away, former President George W. Bush offered his best wishes for this weekend’s Walker Cup competitors.
“I love the Walker Cup. I think it’s one of the big athletic events – ever,” Bush said during Friday’s opening ceremony.
The sunny Cypress Point Golf Club-in the smallest in the afternoon is this year’s host. It’s right up the Monterey Peninsula coast line from the more famous Pebble Beach Golf Links. But this course is honored by GolfAficionados for its holes along and over the sea and its use of the adjacent sand dunes and unclear cypress pines elsewhere on the property.
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Former President George W. Bush responds while watching players from the US team practice before the Walker Cup match against Britain and Ireland’s team at Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, California, September 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
First, the contest in 1922, this is the 50th time, the best male amateur golfers from the United States will compete against their colleagues from Britain and Ireland in a competition named to the former president’s great -grandfather.
“You know GH Walker had a lot of children – who then had a lot of children,” Bush said of his family’s connection to this event. “And many of them are here and probably wonder how to get the guy who gets talking at the Walker Cup, and they don’t. My answer is: drive to president.”
During its story, some of the game’s best competed in the Walker Cup before going to greater glory, including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. Time only tells you whether one of this year’s 20 competitors – most of whom are in college – will participate in the famous group.
At home and on a four-match winning line, the American team, at least on paper, sees the benefit. The world’s top six ranked amateur players, including number one Jackson Koivun from Auburn University, are on the American team.
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A sign welcomes people to the 50th Walker Cup match at Cypress Point Golf Club in Pebble Beach, California, September 5, 2025. (Lee Ross/Pakinomist)
“It’s one of the best golf courses I’ve ever played,” Koivun said Thursday. “I was lucky enough to play here my first -year college year, and just to get back, play in the Walker Cup here, the golf course is in good shape. You think so much about this place. It’s just really one of the special golf points.”
Of the ten American players, four come from Texas.
The top ranked player ( # 10) from GB & I is Tyler Weaver from England, who plays his college golf at Florida State University.
“I don’t think the ranking means too much at an event like this,” Weaver said. “Obviously, they also have some really high -ranked players, but our team is great too, and the places at the end of the day don’t really mean too much.”
An overview of several holes in Cypress Point Golf Club, where the Walker Cup will be played in Pebble Beach, California, on September 5, 2025. (Lee Ross/Pakinomist)
But the player who makes the most noise during exercise rounds this week is Luke Poulter, who made four eagles, including his first ace ever.
“[Thursday] Was pretty cool to collect on Hole One and then two holes later get my first hole-in-one, so it was pretty special, “said Poulter, son of seven-time Ryder Cup participant Ian Poulter.” The game is good. [The] Course is in incredible condition so no one complains about it. I’m really good, comfortable and ready to get started with this match. “
The two-day competition ends Sunday.
