Stuart Grehan achieved the biggest win of his career as an Irish player who won The 131st Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool.
In a tight 36-hole tournament, the 33-year-old from County Louth thwarted American Matt Moloney’s recent rally and won by one hole to become the first Irish winner since James Sugrue in 2019.
A year after his County Louth clubmate, Gavin Tiernan, lost in the final at Royal St George’s, Grehan went one better and followed in the footsteps of Irish decorator Joe Carr, who won the first of his three Amateur Championship titles at Royal Liverpool in 1953.
As well as joining a string of notable honours, Grehan’s success also earned him an exemption from The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale next month, the 2027 US Open and an invitation to the 2027 Masters Tournament.
On a bright, breezy day over the famous links of Hoylake, which played the first Amateur Championship in 1885, it was Moloney who was successful in opening 18 holes in the morning.
While Grehan struggled to find his rhythm, particularly on the front 9, Moloney was neat and tidy from tee to green and could have made a huge profit if his putting had been more clinical. Two up after five holes, the American would go three up on the 12th as Grehan failed to get up from the mound to the left of the green.
The Irishman, ranked 46th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, needed a spark, and he found it on the 5th 13th with a birdie and won his first hole of the day when Moloney missed his own birdie putt from seven feet. The American then made his first bogey of the round on the 14th and lost the hole before Grehan squared off on the 16th as his opponent was penalized after going into a greenside bunker.
The momentum was with Grehan, but the pendulum swung back in Moloney’s favor on the 18th. Grehan’s forehand found a home near the green and he had to go wide. Moloney, meanwhile, played a skillful chip to four feet and rolled in a birdie putt to take one hole at lunch.
However, his advantage did not last long. The 20-year-old double-bogeyed the 19th and bogeyed the 20th to give Grehan a one-hole lead. The swing of the match continued as Moloney responded on the 21st with a birdie to restore parity before going ahead again when Grehan putted 22.
A large, supportive and vocal gallery of County Louth members flew into the final, enjoying an exciting, hard-fought contest. After leveling the game again in the 23rd, Grehan put together a few telling moments as the tie tightened.
The 2025 GB&I Walker Cup winner made a crucial 25-foot putt to stay level on the 24th, before playing a superb approach to five feet on the par-5 26th that led to an eagle and a one-hole lead.
When Moloney got into trouble on the 28th, then three-putted 33rd, Grehan had a three-hole lead but his American rival, who had been 18th and better in all his previous rounds heading into the final, refused to give up. He birdied the 34th to win a hole back and cut the deficit to just one when Grehan missed a 12-foot putt for par on the 35th.
The title will be decided on the 36th and Grehan held on bravely in the heat to equal Moloney’s division and become the 131st Amateur champion.
Speaking after lifting the trophy, Grehan said: “I’m really desperate.
“I came in by myself at lunchtime and just took a few minutes, then I spoke to Dean (Robertson, GB&I captain). I met my coach, Dave Ruddy, in the area, and we talked about a few things. I played really well this afternoon and hit some really good shots.
“Obviously when I got to the floor, there were a few, but there is a lot of pressure and a lot at stake so it will happen.
“I’ll be talking about The Open. I’m going to love it. It’s not set in stone yet that I’m going to the US Open and the Masters as well. I’m just going to enjoy it and take it all in.”
To watch highlights of the finals, visit www.randa.tv
