Battling Walker comes up short in final

Walker’s thrilling comeback ends in final green disappointment

Scotland’s Euan Walker showed the battling qualities that served him so well all week in a thrilling Amateur Championship final at Portmarnock. But this time he came up just short. In the 36-hole contest on Saturday the Barassie golfer fell five down to home favourite James Sugrue after just nine holes before his comeback took the match to the last green.

In front of around 3,000 spectators, Walker lost the 36th hole and the chance to play in the Open, the US Open and the Masters.

Sugrue became the first Irish player to win the famous title since Alan Dunbar in 2012.

“It is hard to believe really,” said Sugrue. “It hasn’t sunk in yet. Everything that comes with the win and all the crowds that were out there, it’s incredible.

“It’s more relief than anything else really to get over the line, especially after being three up going into the afternoon session. I’m just delighted to do it.”

Walker, ranked 71st in the world, reflected: “I don’t think there is anybody in my position that wouldn’t be nervous.

“I’ve never played on such a big stage before. It was a bit tough to hold the club first thing this morning but I got over it eventually.

“James is such a good player and is playing so well at the moment. I couldn’t give him the first three holes and expect an easy comeback from there, even though it was 36 holes.

“I did play much better the back nine of the first round and then into the second round. It wasn’t the volume of the people that was a challenge, it was the match itself as James is playing so well.

“To get it back to all square I had a chance going down the last three holes but I wasn’t very good off the tee on 17 and 18, driving off to the right.

“It was a great week and I’m absolutely gutted to lose.”

Sugrue is the eighth Irish winner of the Amateur and joins a list of past champions that include major winners José María Olazábal, Sergio Garcia and, more recently, Matteo Manassero and Romain Langasque.

The 125th Amateur Championship will be played at Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire next year.

I’ve never played on such a big stage before. EUAN WALKER

Picture: Getty. James Sugrue is the first Irish player to win the Amateur Championship since 2012.