Great Britain and Ireland will take a one-point lead into the final day of the 2026 Walker Cup after a dramatic Saturday at Lahinch, where Stuart Grehan delivered the defining moment. Grehan rallied from two down with three holes to play to defeat world No. 1 amateur Preston Stout, birdieing the 16th, benefiting from a Stout bogey at the 17th and then holing the winning birdie putt on the 18th. The victory sparked celebrations among the 8,000-strong home crowd and helped GB&I move ahead 6.5-5.5.
Grehan’s comeback came in a match featuring 15 birdies, with Stout recovering brilliantly from a difficult lie on the final hole to leave himself a 21-foot birdie chance. When that putt missed, Grehan converted from close range to secure the point. “There was just a calmness over me,” Grehan said. GB&I captain Dean Robertson called it “the finest golf tournament, day of golf I’ve ever been involved in,” while warning that the Americans remain a major threat.
Luke Poulter also produced a crucial win for the home side, beating Miles Russell 2&1 after Russell found trouble in the deep heather on the 17th. Niall Sheils Donegan defeated Tyler Watts 3&2 and Eliot Baker beat Josiah Gilbert by the same margin, while the United States won four consecutive matches through Ethan Fang, William Jennings, Jay Leng Jr. and Stewart Hagestad. The final day begins with four morning foursomes matches before 10 afternoon singles contests. The opening match sends Stout and Fang against Grehan and Baker, followed by Leng and Kihei Akina against Poulter and Sam Easterbrook. Forecasts call for gusts of up to 40 mph and rain at Lahinch.
At the Omega European Masters in Crans-Montana, Paul Casey leads heading into Sunday, with Rafa Cabrera-Bello six shots behind after a third-round 69. Cabrera-Bello opened with rounds of 65 and 66 after his clubs were delayed in transit, using a borrowed set that included rare Titleist 681.AS irons originally designed for Adam Scott. He ranked second in strokes gained approach during the second round, but switched back to his own clubs for Saturday after they arrived Friday night. Cabrera-Bello, who had made only one cut in his previous six starts, will need another exceptional round to challenge Casey for the title.