​The Walker Cup is just two months away, and on Wednesday the USGA revealed the first quartet of selections for the United States team. Preston Stout, Tyler Watts, Ethan Fang, and Miles Russell will carry the stars and stripes into action September 5-6 at Lahinch in Ireland, the site of the 51st Walker Cup, a biennial contest pitting the top amateurs from the United States against their counterparts from Great Britain and Ireland. Stout, Watts, and Fang earned automatic spots on the U.S. squad by being the highest-ranked Americans in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, while Russell was chosen by the Walker Cup committee.
Stout, a rising senior at Oklahoma State, recently ascended to No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He claimed the individual title at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship in June and previously earned a spot on last year’s Walker Cup team at Cypress Point. He also captured medalist honors at the 2025 U.S. Amateur and is expected to be No. 1 on the PGA Tour University Class of 2027 rankings. Last week, Stout made his first cut in a PGA Tour event, finishing in the top 15 at the John Deere Classic after competing on a sponsor exemption.
Watts claimed victory at the Northeast Amateur two weeks ago, rising into the world’s top five and becoming the youngest champion in the event’s history. The 18-year-old is currently ranked No. 3 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and will join the team as a Tennessee freshman, likely one of several teenagers on the crew.
Fang, another rising senior at Oklahoma State, is also a returning Walker Cup member. He captured the 2025 British Amateur at Royal St. George’s and went 1-2-1 at Cypress Point. He sits at No. 4 in the world rankings and helped the Cowboys reach the NCAA Championship semifinals. Fang’s prior experience and high ranking add extensive depth to the U.S. lineup.
Miles Russell, a rising high school senior who has committed to Florida State, sits at No. 1 in the American Junior Golf Association ranking and is widely regarded as one of the best juniors in the world. The 17-year-old from Jacksonville, Florida, navigated local and final qualifying for the U.S. Open and earned a share of 39th place at Shinnecock, illustrating his readiness to compete at the highest amateur levels.
The Walker Cup, staged over two days, features 18 singles matches and eight foursomes matches. The United States leads the overall series at 40-9-1, though the American margin has been slimmer since 1989, standing at 12-7 in the last three decades. The U.S. team will be finalized after the conclusion of the U.S. Amateur, scheduled for August 10-16 at Merion in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.
Cameron Jourdan serves as an assistant editor for Golfweek, where he covers college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour, and more. You can follow him on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan). This report originated with Golfweek’s coverage of the USGA’s first four selections for the 2026 U.S. Walker Cup team, including two teenagers for enhanced depth and potential.