Strong winds at Lahinch Golf Club have become a central element in Great Britain and Ireland's (GB&I) hopes of securing a rare Walker Cup victory. The biennial match between GB&I and the United States, which takes place on links courses, has seen GB&I last win in 2015. Captain Dean Robertson has expressed confidence that the gusty conditions will play to the advantage of his team, which is looking to defeat the U.S. for the first time in over a decade. The Walker Cup is a prestigious amateur golf competition, and GB&I's top player, Tyler Weaver—ranked third in the world—has recovered from an oblique injury and is ready to compete in all four sessions on Saturday and Sunday. The U.S. team has faced its own difficulties, with several players affected by a stomach bug. World number one Preston Stout, along with William Jennings and Ethan Fang, missed Thursday's Walker Cup dinner. U.S. captain Nathan Smith mentioned that the affected players were feeling better and had "bounced around" after recovering. Smith also noted that the team received an extra day of rest, which he considered a benefit. Meanwhile, the first reserve, Max Herendeen, was initially placed on standby but ultimately did not travel with the team. Strong winds have been a consistent feature during final practice sessions at Lahinch, and similar conditions are expected during the match. The competition includes morning foursome matches and afternoon singles on Saturday and Sunday. Robertson described the conditions as "perfectly playable" but emphasized the need for adaptability and improvisation. He noted the importance of controlling the ball's flight and managing the physical challenges of playing in such weather. The challenging weather is expected to favor the home team, many of whom are used to playing on links courses, which are typically exposed to wind. In preparation, Robertson set up short game tests to simulate the difficulty of high winds on putting and chipping. The GB&I team includes notable players such as Luke Poulter, son of Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter; Jack Whaley, who recently won the U.S. Amateur title; and Stuart Grehan, the Amateur champion and the only Irishman in the home lineup. This is the first time since 2013 that GB&I has fielded the winners of the two most prestigious amateur events. Robertson expressed enthusiasm about the inclusion of these champions, highlighting the strong support from fans, whom he described as an "11th man." The first match is scheduled for 0830 BST between Stuart Grehan and Eliot Baker (GB&I) against Preston Stout and Ethan Fang (USA).