WALKER CUP

September 7, 2025

Dean Robertson

Connor Graham

Gavin Tiernan

Cypress Point Club

GB&I Press Conference

MIKE WOODCOCK: We're joined by the GB&I captain Dean Robertson, by Connor Graham and Gavin Tiernan. Dean, obviously a tough result in the end today, but you must be proud of how your players competed. At one stage this afternoon it was looking closer, but it just got away in the end. Can you sum up your feelings?

DEAN ROBERTSON: This whole week has been amazing. Exceptionally proud of all the team. The match itself, I felt that we -- the end result, I think it was 17-9. I felt that we were in the match for most of it. We were really strong in the foursomes day one and day two.

But for some clutch moments, I feel that we could have -- certainly to be 6½-5½ down yesterday, I didn't feel that reflected the play, and then this morning there was a big pivotal moment in the first foursomes match where it swung, and then that put us behind 8½-7½ going into the singles.

We still firmly believed that we had it in us to win, but hats off to Nathan Smith and the U.S. team because they were outstanding this afternoon in the singles. In fact, they were outstanding both days in the singles, and that really has been the difference. The U.S. team holed more putts that were important putts in important moments, but all the players from the GB&I can be very proud of themselves, and I'm exceptionally proud of them.

Cypress Point, the golf club, has been an amazing experience. The memories these kids are going to have are going to last a lifetime, and for a number of them they're going to get to come back I'm sure to Lahinch in a year's time, and they're doing to have to do it all again, but it's not going to be any easier; it's going to be equally as difficult. But they certainly have got the talent, and with a little bit of belief and a little bit more growth in their careers, then Lahinch could well be a real exciting match.

Q. Connor, from your perspective you had a great performance over the two days. You came so close in your match at the end, that putt just lipping out. Can you sum up what this Walker Cup match has meant to you?

CONNOR GRAHAM: It's meant a lot. It's been such a great week from start to finish. It's been a week to remember. Getting to play a Walker Cup at Cypress Point is something really special and something you'll only get to experience once. It's just been such a fun week for us all.

Q. Gavin, getting the point this afternoon and it's always tough when the match is going against you by that stage, but you hung in there and got your point. Can you sum up how you feel about it?

GAVIN TIERNAN: Yeah, obviously such an amazing week and experience. The whole buildup and the buzz around the place is pretty cool. Obviously what a venue to stage a Walker Cup.

Obviously we come here to win, and obviously everyone is a little disappointed, but I think we can look back knowing that we all gave it 100 percent, and I think that's all that really matters.

Q. Connor, with this being your second Walker Cup, I know when people look at the rankings they think obviously the U.S. has a higher ranked team, but what do you think would be a big key for you guys going into Lahinch next year to have a stronger singles performance, or does it come down to they were just really hot with the putters this afternoon?

CONNOR GRAHAM: I think a lot of the matches were just really close, so it comes down to a putt here or there. I think next year, I think we just kind of have to be on it. If everyone has a good day, instead of being 1-down and you're 1-up, it makes a huge difference by the end result.

Q. Playing at a course like this, you both talked about it a little bit, but what's the key takeaway you'll get from being able to spend a week out here? What do you think you'll remember most about Cypress Point?

GAVIN TIERNAN: You know, just getting to experience this whole place is just very surreal. You have to be so dialed in on your approach play, and it demands a lot of you around the greens.

Every time I think I got out on some of these holes, it's still tough to believe that it's a real place sometimes. Just kind of taking away how really lucky we all are to be able to play a course like this in the Walker Cup I think is just very cool. Yeah, just really happy to have been able to play this week.

Q. I know it's a little raw right now and it's hard to reflect, but could you discuss maybe one favorite moment of the time since you landed and got together as a team? A shot, something at a team event?

DEAN ROBERTSON: I don't think we could narrow it down to one. I think the whole week has just been -- we're disappointed that we were beaten; however, we're going to really celebrate the fact that we've had a fantastic week. We've absolutely given it our best, and our best just wasn't good enough because the U.S. Team were better.

But from being at Monterey Peninsula Country Club to being at the Pebble Beach Club to being at Cypress Point, the buildup, the matches, the members, the support that we've had, it's been incredible. Maybe Luke Poulter's hole-in-one.

CONNOR GRAHAM: I think one of my favorite moments was -- it happened not too long ago. Most of the team was out watching Gavin finish, and on 16 he found himself on the beach but he found a little bit piece of seaweed, and he hit a pretty impressive shot from down there into the green and ended up managing to save a half, which was a pretty cool moment, to be fair.

GAVIN TIERNAN: Yeah, I'd probably say that was my favorite moment as well, hitting it down there. We were kind of -- it's pretty rocky down there. We didn't really think there was any chance really, and then we were kind of looking in the long grass, and Cody, my caddie, went down and was like, I see it here, and it was just sitting perched on top. There was a couple of rocks around, and then obviously when I got it out of there and heard the cheer from the boys, that was pretty funny. Yeah, that was definitely one of my favorite moments.