Former Walker Cup star Wallace Booth is rooting for young Perthshire golfer Connor Graham in his own quest to play in the famous amateur contest.
Graham was this month included in a squad of 19 players who are in contention for selection in the Great Britain and Ireland team to play the United States of America in the 49th Walker Cup at St Andrews.
The biennial and prestigious encounter will be played over the Old Course in September, with the final 10-man team being revealed in August.
Blairgowrie Golf Club member Graham, aged just 16, was the youngest named in the initial squad.
“It is a massive confidence boost for him being in this squad,” said Booth, who played in the 2009 event at Merion Golf Club across the pond.
“Obviously, the selectors think he is in the top 19 Great Britain and Ireland players at the moment. That is massive.
“For a 16-year-old, what a boost. It is always nice to get the acknowledgement and it reaffirms the self-belief.
“I am definitely rooting for Connor. It would be amazing and good for Scottish golf and Perth and Kinross.
“September is the latter half of the season for the amateur circuit. They will be watching the squad of 19, unless someone out with that is doing incredibly well.
“It is good to be in that 19, put it that way. So it’s really good for Connor.”
Booth, who is from Comrie, has not personally met Graham but has noticed his impressive results.
“I see Connor’s name all the time, which is great,” Booth smiled. “I’ve seen his results and they are very impressive.
“I’ve never actually met him but have played with his brother Gregor.
“I don’t recall too much where I was at 16 - not in contention for Walker Cup anyway!
“From the outside looking in, it looks like Connor plays with absolutely no fear. The same as his brother and the same as Bradley Neil before.
“Whatever they are feeding them in Blairgowrie is clearly pretty good.”
Reflecting back to his own Walker Cup experience, Booth still has fond memories of playing in the “pinnacle” of amateur golf.
He told the PA: “As an amateur, it is what you dream of - playing in the Walker Cup before you turn pro.
“That was the main goal and, for me personally, it was also a relief to be selected.
“At the start of 2009 I was pretty confident I’d be in the team, but I then had a really bad second half of the summer. So I was delighted when I got the call.
“I thought I was lucky that it fell on a year where it was over in America. The atmosphere was incredible.
“It was quite a small space at Merion Golf Club and everything was packed in. You felt like you had 10,000 people on your shoulder.
“It did feel like you were in a colosseum, it was intense but amazing at the same time. What a buzz.”
Booth did, however, add: “If you were lucky enough to play a Walker Cup in the UK, I don’t think there would be a better place than St Andrews. That will be the best.”
