Why does Walker Cup favor Miles Russell and Tyler Watts?
Golf Channel's Steve Burkowski and Brentley Romine breakdown the Saturday morning foursomes at Lahinch.
Video Transcript
Course from the opening tee shot as Brentley Romine joins me.
And when we start kinda looking at each and every match, there's a storyline or maybe a focal point in each and every one of them.
And before we get to match one, we need a health update.
We need a status update on the three Americans that have been under the weather for the last 24 to 48 hours.
What's the latest?
Well, the good news is they are all available, Captain Nathan Smith confirmed earlier today.
But that doesn't mean that he wasn't looking at other options.
First alternate Max Harendeen from Illinois was put on standby just in case, but alas, Preston Stout and Ethan Feng were able to rejoin their teammates for a couple holes of practice.
William Jennings got out there, hit some balls, did some chipping.
He will sit, but Preston Stout and Ethan Feng, they'll get the band back together for the third time in a Walker Cup.
They'll play foursomes.
They went 0-2 last year though, at Cypress, and tomorrow they're gonna face a very experienced duo in Elliot Baker and Stuart Gray, and who has about more rounds here than everyone else combined.
30 to 40, he estimated.
It's gonna be a huge challenge for those cowboys.
Yeah.
That's match number one tomorrow morning to get things going.
In match two, you've identified Jay Lengle Jr., the US Amateur runner-up, the Western Am champ.
Arguably no one has played better this summer than Jay, but he's also played a lot of golf in the last 10 days.
What maybe concerns you, if any?
Yeah, yeah.
The run at the western amateur, which is arguably the most grueling tournament in amateur golf, and then making that run to the final at the USA before falling to Jack Whaley.
But then Stanford, as they do every year, they take a trip overseas.
They play a lotta golf.
I initially thought that Jay Leng may sit it out, but alas, he was there last week.
Around Dublin, they played seven rounds of golf, including Royal County Down, one of the great spots on the planet, and oh yeah, he broke the course record at Ardglass, shot 60.
So it's clear that the heater is still going for Jay Leng.
Talk about a golf course, who it might suit.
From the Americans, Nathan Smith, their captain told me he likes the youngsters.
They're both lefties.
This golf course will favor a lefty.
Why do you sense that Miles Russell and Tyler Watts might not only have a big week, but they might be made for this moment overall?
Well, it just goes to their resume and their maturity.
When you look at Tyler Watt, the fact that he's won both the Northeast and Asuna Amateur, he's beat some of the best amateurs in the world.
Miles Russell has won the South Beach International Amateur.
So they're not just winning junior events, like they are beating the very best of the best, and you mentioned lefties.
That right to left low ball flight, and then particularly in Miles Russell's case, the short game.
I talked to the head gr- greenskeeper earlier on this show, Brian, and he said, "If you do all those things, you're gonna win your match 80% of the time."
But opposite them, I have my eye on Luke Poulter, the Florida Gator.
His putter has not cooperated this summer.
Talking to his head coach JC Deacon, he said, "There's nothing wrong with the stroke.
He's doing everything right.
He is a great putter.
They just haven't fallen."
Maybe getting on some slower greens and maybe a more familiar environment, Luke can get some puts to drop.
He's gonna need it if they're gonna take down those kids.
Anchor match, there might be someone in particular playing with a chip on their shoulder.
Who is it and why is that there?
Josh Hill, the Englishman.
He was actually the star of the training camp here last month at Lahinch.
Wouldn't have made the team otherwise.
He is the h- lowest ranked guy on either side here, just inside the top 100 in the world.
But again, guys who have a lot to prove, and trust me, he's heard the noise.
He's heard how people don't think he should be on the team.
Maybe they should have picked another Irishman.
But we'll see what Josh Hill has inside him to be able to find, maybe a little bit of fuel playing with Niall Shells Donaghue.
But that's gonna be a very fun match.
Four guys who play with a lot of flair, Josiah Gilber and Ryder Cowan as well.
That's gonna be one that, I'm gonna make sure I'm out there tomorrow for.
Somebody who certainly has earned their spot on this team, Jack Whaley after winning the US Amateur, but not in the morning foursome tomorrow.
You and I were a little bit surprised, but history indicates maybe we shouldn't be.
Yeah, and Jack Whaley was one of three players on GB&I who did not take part in that training session.
He was off the radar.
Like he was on the fringe- Not sure he was on the radar at all Might not have been on the radar until that magical week at Marion, but look, it hasn't been History hasn't been kind for the US Amateur champion.
Three of the last four, they've sat out that first opening foursome session, and you have to go all the way back to 2013, Matthew Fitzpatrick was the last sitting US Amateur winner to win an opening foursome match.
So perhaps Dean Robertson, there's a method to the madness.
He knows what he's doing.
These decisions are not made in the dark.
The picks are in, Berko.
We're ready to go.
We've been here for a few days.
I'm excited.
You excited?
I'm very excited, and I know Haley's excited to wake up bright and early tomorrow morning to catch all the action back in the States.
It's a good thing I love coffee, guys.
Thanks so much, and don't blow away on us.
We see the flags behind you.
It's gonna be windy these next couple of days, just 14 hours away from those opening manch- matches at Lahenc
