In a tournament where golf’s future stars announce themselves to the world, it was a 34-year-old golfer of a bygone era who stole the show.
The Walker Cup – the amateur version of the Ryder Cup – wrapped up on Monday morning AEST with the United States retaining the trophy against Great Britain and Ireland at the usually scenic Cypress Point in California, that was engulfed by fog.
The away team had received a video of support from Rory McIlroy during his Irish Open triumph, while the hosts were encouraged by Bryson DeChambeau walking the course to spur them on.
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It was not a promising younger destined to soon become a colleague of McIlroy and DeChambeau that secured the decisive point in the Sunday singles, however.
In an American team stacked with talent from the top college’s in the country, it was finance executive Stewart Hagestad, who used his broomstick putter to clinch a fifth straight US triumph.
“The timing of it worked out,” Hagestad said.
“I’m just so happy it went in. I hit that a little hard and every one is a straight one if you hit it hard enough.”
In some ways, Hagestad defies what the tournament is all about, but he has also become the beating heart of the modern iterations.
This week was the fifth time Hagestad has taken annual leave to play in the Walker Cup.
When he made his debut back in 2017, he was a teammate of current world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and two-time major winner Collin Morikawa.
Hagestad is the only member of that ten team not to turn professional.
When he finished his college career 12 years ago, instead of chasing the fame and fortune of the professional ranks, Hagestad opted to use his degree in business administration from the University of Southern California pursue a career in finance.
It was a decision more akin of the time the Walker Cup began back in 1922, when it was named for then United States Golf Association president George Herbert Walker, the grandfather of George H. W. Bush and great-grandfather of George W. Bush, the 41st and 43rd US presidents.
A century ago when the likes of Bobby Jones, who won five US Amateurs, four US Opens and three British Opens, would not turn professional because there was a better career to be made elsewhere – Jones went on to buy the land, team up with to legendary course architect Alister Mackenzie to design Augusta National Golf Club and co-found the Masters.
Hagestad’s endeavours took him to New York, where he soon enough became a Wall Street banker for many years.
He currently works as an associate for investment and advisory firm BDT & MSD Partners, who manage more than $60 billion worth of assets, and now lives in Florida.
To maintain his golf game while in the Big Apple, indoor simulators became his friend, so too did hitting puts on the mat in his living room.
Hitting the course has become easier since the move, and supposedly he gets the chance to play 18 holes with clients at times.
They would no doubt be fascinated by his stories of playing in The Masters and the US Open.
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In 2017, Hagestad was low amateur at Augusta National, making the cut and finishing tied 36th.
He earned his place in the field by winning the US mid-amateur title, a national championship for amateur golfers at least 25 years of age and with a USGA handicap of 2.4 or lower.
Hagestad also won the mid-amateur crown in 2021 and 2023, ensuring he has had two more cracks at a green jacket, although he missed the cut in both 2022 and 2024.
His amateur exploits have also earned him five starts in the US Open, making the cut once with a 64th place finish at Brookline in 2022.
The mid-amateur victories have also been Hagestad’s ticket to the Walker Cup, but the chance to play in majors only served to confirm in his mind that he had chosen the right career path.
“At the 2017 Masters, my golf was about as good as it could be, and I finished T-36,” Hagestad said in the lead-up to the Walker Cup when asked about his decision to not turn professional.
“So where am I gonna finish when I’m not playing my best?”
Hagestad has openly spoken previously of how opting against the professional grind has maintained his love for the game.
Sitting in an office allows him to dream of getting out in the fresh air and striking an opening tee shot like many weekend golfers do at their nine to five.
The big difference is that he has done that at many of the best courses in the world.
As well as playing majors at Augusta National, Erin Hills, Shinecock Hills, Pebble Beach, Brookline and Pinehurst, the Walker Cup have taken him to some of the top venues on either side of the Atlantic – Los Angeles Country Club, Royal Liverpool, Seminole, St. Andrews and Cypress Point.
“The first thing people ask you is where you played your Walker Cups,” Hagestad said.
“The second thing is if you won.”
He did win, all five times.
It is a record that makes him a near certainty for Walker Cup captaincy honours in the future.
He may have more editions as a player ahead of him, however.
The biennial event is taking place again next year at Lahinch, Ireland to move it away from Ryder Cup years.
If Haegstad is not on the team though, he will be very content sharing stories of his exploits to friends, family and clients during a round of golf.
“I’ve accomplished more than I ever thought possible in the amateur game,” Hagestad said three years ago after making the cut at the US Open.
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