Stuart Grehan of Great Britain & Ireland reacts to his win during the Saturday Singles on Day One of the Walker Cup at Lahinch Golf Club on September 5, 2026 in Lahinch, County Clare. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
LAHINCH’s home support has helped Team Great Britain and Ireland to a 6.5 to 5.5 lead over Team USA following day one of the Walker Cup with the atmosphere described as “like an Open championship”.
For only the third time, the Walker Cup is taking place in Ireland with Lahinch welcoming 8,000 supporters for the first day of action on the fairways.
Visitors have travelled from near and far to once again witness Lahinch excel as a sporting venue, following on from the success of the 2019 Irish Open.
Tullamore’s Stuart Grehan had a considerable amount of the 8,000 supporters following his every move on day one of the Walker Cup. He gave them plenty to cheer about including overcoming the world’s number one amateur Preston Stout in his afternoon singles.
He came from two down with three holes to defeat Preston. Grehan who is the sole Irish golfer in action led his team in both of Saturday’s sessions. Alongside partner, Eliot Daly of England they halved their opening foursomes match with Stout and Ethan Fang as the hosts took a 2.5 to 1.5 lead after the morning’s matches.
Speaking after putting a fourteen footer to win on the eighteenth at Lahinch, Grehan said of the home support, “It is incredible, everything good we do is echoed and we hear it around the golf course so it spurs you on as well, it is really cool”.
Captain, Dean Robertson explained why he gave Grehan the honour of leading out their team. “I think as the amateur champion, you know, I felt it was a fitting position. As the Irishman in the team, and given how proud he is to not only represent Great Britain but to be here in front of the Lahinch and Irish fans, it’s something he’s going remember forever. You know, I was back in the matches. I was following different matches, but the noise out there was like an Open Championship. It really was. It was fantastic”.
Unforgettable experiences have already been formed for Stuart. “It’s obviously really cool and it’s a bit claustrophobic really at times. It feels like the crowds are really, really close to you. But it’s really cool. Like you’re nearly hitting out on tunnels on every hole. So I thought it was amazing. I enjoyed every minute of it. I obviously got off to a bit of a struggle in the afternoon but after that I kind of got into it but it was amazing. Like Dean said, it’s something I’ll always remember the for rest of my life”.
Playing in his second straight Walker Cup, Scotland’s Niall Sheils Donegan outlined how the Lahinch factor can be used to help golfers. “I think this is obviously different from Cypress last year. There is a lot more people out here, so you can really tell when there is something going on ahead of you. We’re walking down 13 you just hear the biggest roar of your life over on 18 and I go to my caddie, I think Stuart just won that. But I think it’s amazing to hear those cheers from across the golf course. Just gives that you little extra boost of energy when you might be a little bit down or you just want a little bit extra momentum. I think it’s something if you approach it the right way, it can be very positive”.
