European Golf Association

The St Andrews Trophy returns this week at Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro, Spain.

The match, normally contested every other year, is played between the best male amateur players from Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) and the Continent of Europe.

The two nine-player teams will face each other in sunny Madrid, on Thursday and Friday (24 and 25 July) in the 35th edition of the match.

Here’s everything you need to know before the event gets underway on Thursday:

ABOUT THE EVENT

The St Andrews Trophy is one of amateur golf’s most historic and prestigious team events, pitting the best players from Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) against the top amateurs from Continental Europe.

The biennial event was first contested in 1956 and was established to strengthen ties and foster top-level competition among Europe’s finest amateur golfers. Traditionally dominated by the GB&I side—especially in the early decades—the balance of power has shifted in recent years. The Continental Europe team has secured multiple victories since the early 2000s, including wins in 2012, 2014, 2018, 2022 and most recently in 2024, signalling the depth and rise of elite talent across the continent.

Over the decades, the St Andrews Trophy has featured many players who would go on to achieve global golfing success, including José María Olazábal, Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, and Francesco Molinari among many others.

The format sees a total of 25 matches contested over two days. Four foursomes matches are played on both mornings, while the afternoon sessions see players go head-to-head in a singles format.

The last six editions have seen three wins by the Continent, two wins for GB&I and one match halved, suggesting another tight encounter this year. Both of the last two matches have been won by the 'away' team, which is a trend the Continent of Europe will look to break this week.

THE VENUE

The Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro, located in Madrid, is one of Spain’s most prestigious golf clubs. Founded in 1895, the club features two 18-hole courses that are consistently ranked among the best in Europe. Designed to blend with the natural terrain, they offer a challenging yet picturesque golfing experience. Over the years, Puerta de Hierro has hosted numerous national and international tournaments, attracting top players and maintaining its reputation as a cornerstone of Spanish golf.

THE TEAMS

A star-studded lineup, in amateur golfing terms, on both sides make the favourites tough to pick on paper. The visitors boast five players in the top-10 of the European Amateur Rankings, while the home side is led by recently crowned European Amateur champion, and European number-one, Filip Jakubčík.

Four players enter the match having competed in The Open last week, and will have to quickly adapt to vastly different conditions between Portrush and Madrid.

A notable participant this week is Tim Wiedemeyer (GER) who is representing a Continent of Europe team against Great Britain & Ireland for the fifth consecutive year. The German became the all-time highest point scorer for the European side at the Jacques Léglise Trophy in 2023 in his third appearance in the junior match, and helped the men's team to victory in Wales last year. He'll make it five wins from five if the Continent of Europe can defeat the GB&I team this week.

Great Britain & Ireland