Super-talented Scottish amateur Connor Graham is making a third straight Walker Cup appearance for this weekend’s showdown at the famed Lahinch course in Ireland at the age of just 18.
Graham brilliantly made his GB&I Walker Cup team debut in the 2023 side by becoming the youngest player at age just 15 to play in the Walker Cup.
Though any joy was somewhat soured as the team lost by three points on the Old Course at St. Andrews.
He retained his place for the 2025 team that was no match for the home Americans in losing by eight points at Cypress Point near Pebble Beach in California.
The Walker Cup has moved to being staged in an even-numbered year from 2026 and Graham is back in the GB & I side no doubt looking to make ammends for the past two Walker Cup’s, and also just some two months shy of his 19th birthday on 24th October.
Graham’s third straight Walker Cup showing could also be his last as he very well may be considering joining his older brother, Gregor in the play-for-pay ranks.
This journalist first met Connor along with his brother and their golf pro father, Stuart when they teamed to play a practice round on the Craighead Links course at my home club at Crail Golfing Society.
Connor, and already playing off a handicap of 5, was just 12 years of age at the time and very much looked much younger than that. Indeed, he looked very much the baby of the family.
The trio had entered the Scottish Amateur Championship that had been first staged in 1922 and was being hosted by Crail for a first time on the relatively new Gil Hanse designed Craighead Links course located some 10 miles from St. Andrews.
Whereas dad Stuart had previously contested the event, Connor was hoping to make his debut as he was still listed on the last day of practice as ‘first reserve’ though there was good news in receiving a call in the evening to be advised the due to a ‘WD’ he had received a tee time.
Fast forward and in 2025 Graham superbly qualified for The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush and twice finished as the leading stroke-play qualifier in The Amateur Championship. Graham continued his impressive development at Texas Tech last year by recording nine top-20 finishes in 12 events and earning All-America and First Team All-Big 12 honours. He was also a member of the winning International team in the Arnold Palmer Cup for the second successive year.
So fast forward to this week and the 51st hosting of the Walker Cup at the famed Lahinch course – Ireland’s St. Andrews.
The USA leads the series 40 wins & having won the last five contests while the GB&I side has 9 wins with one match tied.
How dearly will Graham, and all his GB & I team-mates, dearly love to end the run of outs with victory, and team captain Dean Robertson appointing ‘the whole of Ireland’ as he wildcard selection choice.
2026 GB&I WALKER CUP TEAM
Eliot BAKER (23) – Tiverton, England
Ben BOLTON (19) – Enville, England
Sam EASTERBOOK (19) – Olton, England
Connor GRAHAM (19) – Blairgowrie, Scotland
Stuart GREHAN (33) – County Louth, Ireland
Josh HILL (22) – Fox Den (USA), England
Luke POULTER (22) – Woburn, England
Niall SHEILS DONEGAN (28) – Meadow Club (USA), Scotland
Tyler WEAVER (21) – Bury St Edmunds, England
Jack WHALEY (22) – Rotherham, England
Reserves
Thomas HIGGINS (23) – Roscommon, Ireland / WAGR #191
David HOWARD (27) – Fota Island, Ireland / WAGR #817
FOOTNOTE …
While Connor Graham is linked with Blairgowrie Golf Club as his home club he is also proudly a member at Crail Golfing Society.
And Graham graciously showed his appreciation for all the support he’s been afforded at golf’s seventh oldest club by donating a specially framed tribute of his record-setting appearance in the 2023 Walker Cup.
Connor’s tribute is just inside the main clubhouse entrance door at Crail Golfing Society.
Crail Golfing Society club member Connor Graham donates a special momento to golfs seventh oldeest club of his historic 2023 Walker Cup selection. (Image GOLFBYTOURMISS)
