3 Automatic USA Curtis Cup, Walker Cup WAGR Selection Dates Set for 2026 Teams

The three highest-ranked American players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking®/WAGR® as of the April 8 and July 8 updates, respectively, will receive automatic exemptions from the USGA onto the 2026 USA Curtis Cup and Walker Cup Teams.

The 44th Curtis Cup Match against Great Britain & Ireland will be played at Bel-Air Country Club, in Los Angeles, Calif., June 12-14. The Match is contested over three days with eight singles matches, six four-ball matches and six foursomes (alternate shot) matches. The USA leads the series that began in 1932, 31-9-3.

The winner of the 2025 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship, Megha Ganne, and the recipient of the 2025 McCormack Medal, Kiara Romero, have already earned automatic exemptions that can be utilized should they remain amateur. Romero is currently the top-ranked amateur in the world. The remaining players will be selected by the USGA’s Team Selection Committee following the NCAA Division I Regional events.

The 51st Walker Cup Match against Great Britain & Ireland will be played at Lahinch in the Republic of Ireland, Sept. 5-6. The Match is staged over two days with 18 singles matches and eight foursomes matches. The USA, which has won the last five in the series, owns a 39-9-1 record since the Match’s inception in 1922.

The winner of the 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship, set to be played this August at Merion Golf Club, in Ardmore, Pa., and the recipient of the 2026 McCormack Medal, will also earn automatic exemptions, should they be American.

Beginning with the 2026 Match, the Walker Cup will be played in even-numbered years to avoid conflicts with the World Amateur Team Championships. This will be the first time since 1938 that both Matches will be held in the same year.