AMERICANS FLY INTO EDINBURGH FOR WALKER CUP MATCH

WALKER CUP WARRIORS: United States team with the trophy at Edinburgh Airport. From left to right: Blayne Barber, Patrick Rodgers, Harris English, Jordan Speith, Nathan Smith, Kelly Kraft, Russell Henley, Chris Williams, Jim Holtgrieve, Patrick Cantlay and Peter Uihlein.
Editor's Note: I didn't remember the Walker Cup was THAT big a trophy!

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R AND A

The United States Walker Cup team flew into Edinburgh Airport today with a week to prepare for the 43rd Walker Cup Match against Great Britain and Ireland at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club on September `10 and 11.
“We are really excited to be here,” said US Team Captain, Jim Holtgrieve. “This is where golf began and I know from my experiences in the game just what the sport means to the people of Scotland.”
Holtgrieve added, “The guys are all excited, we know it’s going to be a closely fought match but we are looking forward to playing a great golf course in front of a knowledgeable crowd.”
Team USA includes the reigning US Amateur Champion, Kelly Kraft, World No. 1, Patrick Cantlay and the 2010 US Amateur Champion, Peter Uihlein.
The biennial contest will see GB and I attempt to win back the trophy from the USA, who won it on home soil in 2009 with a 16 ½ - 9 ½ victory at Merion Golf Club, Pennsylvania.
On each of the two days of competition, there will be four morning foursomes matches, followed by afternoon singles ties. On Saturday 10 September, there will be eight singles matches, while on Sunday, all 10 players from each team will go head-to-head.
The match, dominated in its early years by the USA, is becoming more finely balanced. Over the last ten contests both teams have enjoyed three victories in succession with the USA counting six wins to GB and I’s four in the same period.
The teams line up with nine players each in the top 100 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) with the top three players in the world representing the USA.
The USA Team is led by non-playing Captain, Jim Holtgrieve and includes Blayne Barber (WAGR No. 55), Patrick Cantlay (WAGR No.1), Harris English (WAGR No. 6), Russell Henley (WAGR No. 24), Kelly Kraft (WAGR No. 13), Patrick Rodgers (WAGR No. 3) Nathan Smith (WAGR No. 114), Jordan Spieth (WAGR No. 2), Peter Uihlein (WAGR No. 4) and Chris Williams (WAGR No.11).
The Royal Aberdeen Course offers spectators free parking and tented village catering facilities with tickets available online at www.randa.org or by calling 01334 460000.

Further details and full player profiles for both teams can be found at www.randa.org.