The first tee at Cypress Point had all the feels as a Walker Cup nine years in the making finally begins

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PEBBLE BEACH — “It’s finally here,” said U.S. Walker Cup captain Nathan Smith as he greeted friendly faces behind the first tee Saturday morning at Cypress Point Club. The XX-year-old insurance salesman from Pittsburgh, Pa., has been waiting two years to lead his 10-player team in the greatest amateur event in the world. The build-up has been a mix of excitement and nervousness, his expression as the 50th Walker Cup match finally began showing a little of both along with a dash perhaps of relief

“It’s surreal. A lot of it feels like a dream,” Smith said on Friday of the experience. “For two years to watch these guys, to get to know everyone closest in their lives, friends, families, coaches, parents, and then kind of see them all here now and kind of … everybody come together here at Cypress Point, it’s really been incredible, just beyond words.”

The same could be said for the leadership at Cypress Point Club, who have been waiting for this moment for nine years since offering to host the event. Peter Barker, the former club president and general chairman of the event stood proudly as the four foursomes matches played away, the smell of the wood-burning fire from the locker room 20 feet away providing its own unique ambiance. Mike Whan and Mark Darbon, CEOs of the USGA and R&A, respectfully, proudly watched on, dressed causally in sweaters. Dean Robertson, captain of the GB&I team, even “thanked” Whan for wearing the same blue color that his squad was wearing that day.

If the players were nervous after being on site for more than a week, it was hardly noticeable. Everyone’s tee shots made it safely over the hedge in from of 17-Mile Drive. There was no Dustin Johnson moment, one that took social media by storm earlier this week when the two-time major champion recalled his opening jitters when playing for Team USA during the 2007 Walker Cup at Royal County Down. Paired with Colt Knost and hitting off the first tee in their foursomes match, Johnson stepped up and striped his drive before the announcer could even say his last name.

The only nervous on Saturday that were seen eventually came from Smith. After looking at the early leads Great Britiain & Ireland had taken in the first two matches, Smith decided to take off his blue sweater, draping it over his right shoulder. “Let’s try to change it up,” he joked.

Of course it was early … and not more than a half our later all four morning matches were tied, setting up the potential for a glorious two days of high stakes golf that could create memories that will last a lifetime.

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com