Stuart Grehan eagles his way to historic Amateur Championship triumph at Royal Liverpool
The Irish stalwart outlasts American Matt Moloney in a tense 36-hole marathon at Hoylake to punch his ticket to the Masters and two Major championships.
Paju, Korea - Irishman Stuart Grehan produced the performance of his career at historic Royal Liverpool, weathering a fierce morning deficit to secure a dramatic 1-up victory over American Matt Moloney in the final of the 131st Amateur Championship.
The 33-year-old from County Louth became the first Irish winner of the prestigious title since James Sugrue in 2019, writing his own chapter at Hoylake exactly 73 years after the legendary Joe Carr won the first of his three Amateur crowns at the very same venue.
“To join a roll of honour of this distinction is incredible,” said a delighted Grehan, who celebrated the historic milestone surrounded by a vocal contingent of travelling club members. “It was a tight, tense battle all day, but I managed to hold my nerve when it mattered most.”
The marathon 36-hole showdown delivered immense match-play theatre on a bright, breezy day over the famed links, with Moloney seizing an early 3-up advantage on the front nine before Grehan ignited his comeback with a crucial birdie on the par-five 13th to square the match before lunch.
The momentum swung decisively on the afternoon loop when Grehan conjured a moment of pure magic on the par-five 26th hole, firing a sublime approach to within five feet to card a spectacular eagle and claim a lead he would ultimately refuse to relinquish.
Despite a fierce late rally from the 20-year-old American challenger, who birdied the 34th and capitalised on a late bogey to pressure the final hole, Grehan safely matched his opponent’s par on the 36th green to secure the life-changing triumph.
The monumental victory completely reshapes Grehan’s competitive calendar, earning him lucrative exemptions into next month’s 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, the 2027 US Open, and a traditional, highly coveted invitation to tee it up at the Masters Tournament.