Unconceded Putt Costs GB&I a Hole in Walker Cup Foursomes

A missed short putt turned into a one-shot penalty during Saturday morning foursomes at the 51st Walker Cup, after the United States team did not concede it before Great Britain & Ireland's player picked it up.

What happened on the ninth green?

Niall Sheils Donegan and Josh Hill of GB&I were 4-up on the United States' Josiah Gilbert and Ryder Cowan through eight holes at Lahinch Golf Club. On the par-4 ninth, Gilbert and Cowan made par, leaving Sheils Donegan a putt to move GB&I to 5-up. He missed left, the ball rolled about a foot past the hole, and he scooped it back with his putter before the Americans had conceded the putt.

The four players called in a Rules Official, who ruled the putt had not been given. GB&I's score on the hole moved from a four to a five under the rules governing a ball lifted without consent, and the hole was halved rather than won outright.

Has this happened before in team golf?

The dispute recalled the 2015 Solheim Cup, when Europe's Alison Lee lifted her ball at the 17th hole believing it had been conceded by Suzann Pettersen. Pettersen had not given the putt, and the hole was awarded to Europe, who went on to win the match 2 up.

Pettersen later said of the moment: "I thought I would still like to see it."

GB&I held a 2.5 to 1.5 lead after the foursomes session at Lahinch, with the Saturday afternoon singles to follow.