Robertson Retained to Lead GB&I at Lahinch
Veteran coach aims to end decade-long drought in Walker Cup
Seoul, Korea - Dean Robertson will captain Great Britain and Ireland once more when his side meets the United States at Lahinch in the 51st Walker Cup next September. The Scot’s reappointment follows his debut as captain at Cypress Point last month, where GB&I trailed by only a point before the Americans surged to a 17–9 victory.
Robertson, 55, who serves as Head of Golf at the University of Stirling, earned the trust of players and selectors through meticulous preparation and a deep rapport with his team. “I am proud to accept the honour of captaining Great Britain and Ireland again in the Walker Cup at Lahinch,” he said. “Leading a talented group of players at Cypress Point was a huge privilege. We showed strong foursomes play, but the singles revealed what improvement and belief we still need. The focus will be to build on that performance with the goal of winning back the Walker Cup next year.”
A former Walker Cup player himself in 1993, Robertson enjoyed a notable professional career highlighted by victory at the 1999 Italian Open, a one-shot win over Pádraig Harrington. He also represented Scotland in two World Cups and made four appearances in The Open.
Robertson’s second term comes as part of a wider reshuffle in GB&I amateur golf. Catriona Matthew will lead the women’s team in next year’s Curtis Cup at Bel-Air in Los Angeles, aiming to repeat her side’s success at Sunningdale, while Niall MacSweeney and Becca Hembrough will captain the boys’ and girls’ teams respectively in the Jacques Léglise and Junior Vagliano trophies at The Island in Ireland next August.
The 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch will mark a new chapter in the event’s history, now played in even-numbered years to align with the World Amateur Team Championships. For Robertson and his young squad, the mission is clear—halt the USA’s run of five straight victories and bring the Cup home for the first time since 2015.