Holtgrieve Named 2013 USA Walker Cup Captain


Jim Holtgrieve, of St. Louis, Mo., whose stellar amateur career includes a winning record as a member of three victorious USA Walker Cup Teams, the captaincy of the USA Team at the 2011 Match and an individual triumph at the inaugural U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in 1981, has been appointed captain of the 2013 USA Walker Cup squad by the United States Golf Association.

"I am indeed honored once again to be named to captain the 2013 United States Walker Cup Team," said Holtgrieve, 63. "The 2011 Walker Cup journey was an incredible experience for me and one that I will never forget. Golf fans, friends and family all over the United States as well as overseas were so supportive of me during this experience that I was praying that I would have the opportunity to captain the 2013 Walker Cup Team.

"I want to bring the Walker Cup back to the United States, but I also want to lead 10 men to have one of the best golfing experiences they can ever imagine. I thought I understood the true spirit of the game. However, the Walker Cup in Scotland proved so much more to me about the real meaning."

Holtgrieve will captain the United States of America team for the 44th Walker Cup Match, to be held September 7-8, at the National Golf Links of America in Southampton, N.Y.

"Jim has an exceptional grasp of the meaning of the Walker Cup Match and conveyed that very well to the members of the 2011 USA Team in Scotland," said USGA President Jim Hyler. "So it is fitting that he uses that well-developed perspective as a player and a captain to lead the USA squad in 2013 at the National Golf Links, which was the site of the first Match in 1922."

Holtgrieve was one of the country's top amateur players during the 1970s and '80s and played on winning Walker Cup Teams in 1979, 1981 and '83, where he had a combined record in singles and foursomes (alternate shot) of 6-4. He also represented the USA on two victorious World Amateur Team Championship squads, in 1980 and '82. A semifinalist at the 1980 U.S. Amateur and runner-up at the '83 British Amateur, Holtgrieve has won numerous state and district amateur titles in Missouri.

Holtgrieve played in five Masters Tournaments as an amateur - making the cut three times - and also qualified for the 1978 U.S. Open Championship. Holtgrieve turned professional in 1998 and played on the Champions Tour from 1999 to 2005, where his top finish was a tie for second at the 1999 Home Depot Invitational. He has played in four U.S. Senior Opens and a total of 42 USGA championships.

The USGA reinstated Holtgrieve's amateur status in 2007 after he played in 122 professional events. He currently serves as a member of the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship Committee for the USGA.

The biennial Walker Cup Match is an international amateur team competition between 10 players from the United States of America and 10 from Great Britain and Ireland. The Match consists of 18 singles matches and eight foursomes (alternate-shot) matches over the two days of competition. The Great Britain and Ireland Team won the 2011 Match in September at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Scotland by a score of 14-12. The USA leads the series, 34-8-1.

The above report is courtesy of the USGA. For more information, visit www.usga.org.