Although Texas senior Tommy Morrison’s U.S. Amateur campaign was cut short in the first round, Morrison will compete for Team USA in the Walker Cup at Cypress Point, California, on Sept. 6 and 7.
Morrison entered the round of 64 in the U.S. Amateur as the second overall seed. However, Morrison lost in the first playoff hole against 18-year-old phenom and eventual champion Mason Howell. Morrison and Howell will now tee it up as teammates, as Howell also earned himself a spot on the Walker Cup roster.
In the eyes of an amateur golfer, the Walker Cup is as good as it gets. 10 of the top American amateurs face off against 10 of the top amateurs of Great Britain and Ireland in one of the most highly anticipated golf tournaments of the year. Only organized every two years, a spot on the Walker Cup roster is one of the top feats in an amateur’s career.
Not only will people tune in for high-caliber golf, but the course will also have everyone’s attention. Located directly on the Monterey Peninsula, the Cypress Point Club is widely regarded as one of the best golf courses in the world. With breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, world-class course conditions and the possibility of strong winds, the track will captivate the world’s top amateur golfers. Despite being one of the most famous courses in the world, it is nearly unheard of to have the opportunity to play Cypress Point due to its incredible exclusivity, so even just watching Cypress Point is a treat in itself.
Morrison’s addition to the Walker Cup lineup was no surprise. Morrison is one of the most decorated Texas golfers in the school’s history, carrying on the long tradition of great Texas golfers.
As a freshman, Morrison competed in seven of the Longhorn’s nine matches while ranking third on the team in scoring average. In his sophomore season, Morrison became the first American player to win the European Amateur Championship since the tournament began in 1986. Morrison joins an elite company of past winners, which includes former Masters champion Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy, who recently achieved the Grand Slam (winning all 4 major tournaments).
“I’m over the moon right now, couldn’t be happier,” Morrison said after his signature victory. “I was just happy to have another chance; I’ve been playing great golf the last couple of months and took it as a moment to show people how I’ve been playing and what I can do. I did a great job, so I’m super excited.”
Morrison carried over this momentum into a dominant junior season, taking the amateur golf world by storm. Morrison was a semifinalist for the Ben Hogan Award, given to the top collegiate golfer, while also receiving second-team All-America honors from both PING/GCAA and Golfweek. He was also named to the second-team All-Southeastern Conference team and took home SEC Men’s Golfer of the Week in February.
Morrison claimed his first collegiate victory at the Amer Ari Invitational played in Hawaii by setting a Texas program record for low 54-hole total score and low 54-hole score to par, shooting 21-under par, giving him a combined score of 195.
The Walker Cup will offer the latest look at Morrison’s game ahead of his long-awaited senior season. He will tee off Saturday, Sept. 6, at 8:00 a.m.
