Historic trophy returns to St Andrews for birthday

THE Walker Cup will mark its 101st anniversary at St Andrews after the Scottish links was confirmed as host for 2023.

Great Britain and Ireland will face the United States for the ninth time on the Old Course, a venue which has held the biennial amateur event more than any other, but the first since 1975.

The event was first contested at the National Golf Links of America in 1922.

“We are excited to be bringing the Walker Cup back to the Home of Golf for the first time in nearly 50 years. We look forward to watching some of the world’s most talented amateur golfers contest the match over the famous Old Course in 2023,” said Duncan Weir, executive director of golf development at The R&A.

The match in 2023 will be the 49th Walker Cup and, of the 46 matches played to date, the United States have won 36, GB and Ireland nine with one tie.

Royal Liverpool will host the 2019 event with Seminole Golf Club in Florida staging the event for the first time two years later.

JUNE’S US Open will have a new two-hole play-off in the event of a tied finish after the USGA abandoned its 18-hole, next-day format.

The move, which comes into force immediately, brings the tournament into line with the governing body’s other events the US Women’s Open and both Senior Opens.

If the players are still tied after their two extra holes the play-off moves to sudden death until a winner is decided.

In its 117-year history, the US Open has had 33 play-offs that have employed 18 and 36-hole formats.

The last came in 2008 when Tiger Woods memorably won the last of his 14 Majors by defeating Rocco Mediate.