The USGA has announced the first four players selected to represent the United States at the 2026 Walker Cup, with Preston Stout, Tyler Watts, Ethan Fang, and Miles Russell earning places on the 10 player roster for the matches against Great Britain and Ireland on Sept. 5 and 6 at Lahinch Golf Club in the Republic of Ireland.
Stout and Fang will make their second Walker Cup appearances after helping Team USA capture the 2025 Walker Cup at Cypress Point Club. Watts and Russell are set to make their debuts.
Stout, the top ranked American in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, earned an automatic selection after a standout season that included winning the 2026 NCAA Division I individual championship, defending his Big 12 title, and making his U.S. Open debut.
Watts secured his place after climbing to No. 3 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. The Tennessee signee recently became the youngest champion in Northeast Amateur history and has also captured titles at the Sunnehanna Amateur and Alabama State Amateur.
Fang returns after another strong campaign at Oklahoma State. Ranked No. 4 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, he made his U.S. Open debut this year after winning The Amateur Championship in 2025 and representing the United States in last year’s Walker Cup.
Russell was selected by the USGA Team Selection Committee following a season highlighted by a made cut at the U.S. Open, a victory at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, and a rise to No. 5 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. The Florida State commit will make his first Walker Cup appearance.
Additional players may be added before the 2026 U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club. The 2026 U.S. Amateur champion and the McCormack Medal recipient will also earn automatic exemptions to the team if they are American.
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