The 2025 Walker Cup at Cypress Point gave golf fans a look at one of the most prestigious courses in the world. While the famed course along the Monterey Peninsula was the lead character at this week’s showdown between America and Great Britain & Ireland, the golf eventually outshined the host.
GB&I jumped out to an early 3-1 lead after Saturday’s opening foursomes session. But the Americans responded in Saturday singles, with Bryson DeChambeau cheering them on, winning 5.5-2.5 to take a one-point lead into Sunday.
“I think just him showing up in general means so much to us,” American captain Nathan Smith said of DeChambeau. “He gave them a pump-up speech last night, which they loved and got them going. You know, 36 [holes] is a long day, so they were ready to play today.
DeChambeau stayed around Sunday to watch as the Americans, led by World No. 1 amateur Jackson Koivun and 18-year-old U.S. Amateur winner Mason Howell, hunted a fifth straight Walker Cup win.
Bryson mic’d up at Cypress following the USA Walker Cup Team 🇺🇸
— USGA (@USGA) September 8, 2025
He checked out his all-time favorite hole in golf too 👀 pic.twitter.com/BFzdyFj638
The two sides split the Sunday morning foursomes sessions, with Howell providing the moment of the day when he holed his approach shot on the 17th to win the match and put a point on the board.
WALK! OFF! WINNER!!! 🇺🇸
— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 7, 2025
Mason Howell finishes off a 3-and-1 victory with a dunked eagle hole out! pic.twitter.com/Kr0W05jhBQ
The 2-2 split in the Sunday morning session meant the U.S. entered the Sunday singles portion with an 8.5-7.5 lead, needing 4.5 points to retain the cup and five to win it.
Koivun got things going for the Americans on Sunday evening. The World No. 1 amateur went out in the first match and defeated Luke Weaver 3 and 2 to inch the American closer to the cup.
That's called setting the tone in the lead match! @AuburnMGolf's Jackson Koivun locks in at least half a point as he's now 3 up with 3 to play. pic.twitter.com/aKue2P1QoT
— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 7, 2025
The first point in Sunday singles belongs to Jackson Koivun! 🇺🇸
— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 7, 2025
USA now leads GB&I 9.5 to 7.5. pic.twitter.com/qvEAbM9gSc
Morrison followed with a 3 and 2 win over Niall Shiels Donegan to bring the U.S. within 2.5 points of cup retention.
Another one for the red, white and blue! 🇺🇸@TexasMGolf's Tommy Morrison earns a full point with a 3-and-2 victory over Niall Shiels Donegan. pic.twitter.com/bq3ctqeGU4
— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 7, 2025
As the fog rolled in and made visibility hard for the players, the American team kept its foot on the gas with its goal in sight. Ethan Fang rolled over Stuart Grehan 5 and 4, and Howell halved his match with Connor Graham to stretch the lead to 12-8. Graham’s putt to win the match was tracking, but hit the lip of the cup and rimmed out.
Agony at Cypress Point 😩
— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 8, 2025
Connor Graham settles for a tie in his singles match against Mason Howell.
USA now leads 12 to 8. pic.twitter.com/bRNPj41oqL
With the Americans one point away from retention, Stewart Hagestad, playing in his fifth Walker Cup, rolled in a long birdie putt through the Cypress Point fog to dispatch Eliot Baker 4 and 3 and give the Americans the cup.
STEW! BUCKETS! 🪣
— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 8, 2025
It's a 4-and-3 victory for the one of the most accomplished players in Walker Cup history. pic.twitter.com/vE1Tq8FeuY
“Credit to everyone else for doing their job,” Hagestad, who is now 7-1 in Walker Cup singles matches, told NBC’s Kira K. Dixon after the match. “The timing of it couldn’t have worked out [better]. I’m just so happy that went in. I hit that one a little hard but every putt is a straight putt if you hit it hard enough.”
Not a minute after Hagestad’s bomb, Preston Stout left no doubt by knifing his approach shot on the 17th through the thickening fog and sticking it to a foot to win his match over Luke Poulter and ensure the Americans did more than just retain the cup.
The shot that clinched the Walker Cup! 🇺🇸@OSUCowboyGolf's Preston Stout seals it for the United States! pic.twitter.com/2Z1iRFquaM
— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 8, 2025
“I’m just blown away,” American captain Nathan Smith said after his team’s win. “They showed up all weekend. I mean, both singles matches in the afternoon and I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a Walker Cup team bring it like they did in singles this afternoon.”
When the dust settled on Sunday evening, with the fog thicker than ever, the Americans had won 17-9. They went 8.5-1.5 in Sunday singles in an unstoppable showing of talent and force that surely impressed the two-time U.S. Open champion, and Ryder Cup “weapon,” who was in attendance.