Wildman's picks: Round 1 at the Walker Cup

Photo by USGA

Kelly Kraft during the Round of 32 at the U.S. Amateur.

Foursomes

9.00 a.m. – Tom Lewis & Michael Stewart vs. Peter Uihlein & Harris English

This will be the marquis match between the hometown favorite and one of America’s best. With the crowd rooting for Lewis and Stewart, look for USA to silence them early with a morning victory from Uihlein and English.

9:10 a.m. – Jack Senior & Andy Sullivan vs. Russell Henley and Kelly Kraft

Jack Senior was a Walker Cup killer at the U.S. Amateur. That trend may continue with the help of Andy Sullivan to give GB&I its first point of the day.

9:20 a.m. – Paul Cutler & Alan Dunbar vs. Nathan Smith & Blayne Barber

Smith and Barber are nice guys, but do they have that killer instinct? At the Walker Cup you have to be mentally tough. For some reason, I’m thinking nice guys finish last in this one. Cutler and Dunbar score the point.

9:30 a.m. – Steven Brown & Stiggy Hodgson vs. Patrick Cantlay & Chris Williams

Cantlay and Williams are two of the top amateurs in the world being paired with one another. They both are quiet on and off the course. This pairing seems like the lock of the day. Team USA will tie up the matches 2-2 with this one.

Singles

1:45 p.m. – Tom Lewis vs. Peter Uihlein

Peter Uihlein – when it come’s to head to head match play, he’s one of the best.

1:55 p.m. – Jack Senior vs. Jordan Spieth

A rematch of the quarterfinals at the U.S. Amateur. Senior waited to strike, and let Spieth make the mistakes. Has Spieth learned his lesson? This one will go to 18 and both will earn a halve.

2:05 p.m. Andy Sullivan vs. Harris English

After struggling in match play at the amateur, its tough to pick this Dawg. Sullivan wins this one.

2.15 p.m. – Rhys Pugh vs. Patrick Rodgers

If the crowds don’t overwhelm Rodgers, then he should gain a point with out a problem.

2:25 p.m. – Steven Brown vs. Russell Henley

Henley - The recently graduated Georgia Bulldog’s game is just too solid right now. If it wasn’t for Cantlay defeating him at the Amateur in extra holes who knows how far he could have gone?

2:35 p.m. – James Byrne vs. Nathan Smith

Byrne - A stand out at ASU, Byrne will be looking to cap off his amateur career with a win at the Walker Cup.

2:45 p.m. – Paul Cutler vs. Kelly Kraft

Kraft - He is clearly on top of his match play game after winning the U.S. Amateur.

2:55 p.m. – Michael Stewart vs. Patrick Cantlay

Cantlay - The world’s best amateur secures a point for team USA.

Walker Cup 2011: Preview, Part II

By Golfweek Magazine in Golfweek Special Editions

12 pages, published 9 SEP 2011

Check out the second of four digital-only 2011 Walker Cup editions, presented exclusively by Titleist. Our second issue acts as a preview to this weekend's action in Scotland.