Youngest and Oldest Walker Cup Golfers

The oldest golfer ever to play in the Walker Cup was in his mid-50s, and the youngest-ever Walker Cup golfer wasn't yet 17 years old. The Walker Cup is the biennial amateur golf competition for men played between teams representing the United States (USA) and Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I).

The Walker Cup has been played since 1922. In the span of its history, there have so far been three golfers aged 52 and older, and six golfers younger than 18, who've played in the competition.

The following lists include each golfer's age, the year of the Walker Cup, and his match record (wins-losses-halves).

Oldest Walker Cup Golfers

• 55 years, 8 months, 11 days — Michael Scott, GB&I, 1934, 0-2-0 (no wins, two losses, no ties)
• 55 years, 5 months, 11 days — Bill Hyndman, USA, 1971, 0-1-1
• 52 years, 9 months, 11 days — Mike McCoy, USA, 2015, 0-3-0

The recordholder, Michael Scott, also holds the record as oldest winner of the British Amateur Championship. He won that, also aged 55, in 1933. He was player-captain in the 1934 Walker Cup, and also played for Team GB&I in the 1924 Walker Cup. Scott won numerous amateur titles over his long career, but he also was the winner of the inaugural Australian Open in 1904 (and won it again in 1907).

Note that none of the oldest Walker Cup golfers listed above won a match. Only Hyndman managed to avoid losing all matches he played.

Youngest Walker Cup Golfers

• 16 years, 10 months — Connor Graham, GB&I, 2023, 1-2-0
• 16 years, 11 months — Oliver Fisher, GB&I, 2005, 1-2-1
• 17 years, 2 days — Conor Gough, GB&I, 2019, 2-2-0
• 17 years, 10 days — Justin Rose, GB&I, 1997, 2-2-0
• 17 years, 7 months, 7 days — Akshay Bhatia, USA, 2019, 2-1-0
• 17 years, 7 months, 15 days — Ronan Rafferty, GB&I, 1981, 2-2-0

Until Graham teed off in the 2023 Walker Cup, Fisher was the only golfer younger than 17, so far, to play in the Walker Cup. His one match victory in the 2005 Walker Cup was over Michael Putnam, 2-up, in Day 1 singles. Fisher went on to a professional career on the European Tour, with a victory in the 2011 Czech Open.

The only Team USA player on the youngest list is Bhatia, who is also the only golfer on either list, youngest or oldest, who posted a winning record. Bhatia went 2-1-0 in the 2019 Walker Cup. He turned pro shortly thereafter, still 17, and earned his first PGA Tour victory in 2023 at age 21.

Related articles:

Walker Cup golfers undefeated in singles matches

Brothers-sisters, husbands-wives who played Walker Cup/Curtis Cup

List of all Walker Cup team captains