Ian Poulter gets the party started as GB&I celebrate historic Walker Cup comeback

Ian Poulter wasted little time getting the party started after Great Britain & Ireland produced a stunning comeback to win the Walker Cup for the first time since 2015.

Poulter, a European Ryder Cup hero, was in attendance at Lahinch on Sunday to watch his son Luke Poulter play a crucial role in Dean Robertson's victorious GB&I team.

Luke secured an important 3&1 singles victory over Ethan Fang as GB&I completed a remarkable turnaround, but for Poulter, the celebrations were about far more than simply watching his son succeed.

Poulter had been following the entire GB&I team throughout the week and was desperate to see Robertson's side get over the line.

Luke's victory was understandably a hugely proud moment for his father, but it was the team's remarkable comeback that ultimately had Poulter celebrating alongside players, families and supporters.

"Absolutely thrilling," Poulter told Golf Channel's Steve Burkowski. 

"As a dad, as a fan, as someone who loves golf and has been part of golf, that was truly special."

Poulter has walked every hole with Luke at the past two Walker Cups, including at Cypress Point last year, and was one of the first people to embrace his son after Sunday's victory.

But there was little time for a father-son celebration before Poulter joined the wider team party.

The celebrations began at the Lahinch clubhouse before moving into town, where Poulter took over a microphone inside a local Irish bar and delivered a message that was greeted enthusiastically by the victorious team.

He announced that the bar was an open bar and that the drinks were on him.

Then came the moment that summed up the mood perfectly.

"I've just got one thing to say to you all," Poulter shouted before leading the room in a familiar "Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole..." chant.

The noise quickly drowned out everything else as GB&I players and their families celebrated one of the greatest comebacks in Walker Cup history.

Watch Poulter get the party started: 

The victory had looked highly unlikely earlier on Sunday. 

The United States swept all four Sunday morning foursomes to establish a commanding 9.5-6.5 advantage, leaving GB&I facing a three-point deficit heading into the decisive singles.

Instead, Robertson's team produced an extraordinary response.

Stuart Grehan got the comeback rolling before Jack Whaley delivered an emphatic 8&7 victory over William Jennings. 

Luke Poulter then defeated Fang 3&1, with Tyler Weaver beating Jay Leng Jr. 4&3 to complete a remarkable four-match sweep.

Suddenly, GB&I had turned a three-point deficit into a 10.5-9.5 lead.

The Americans fought back in the closing matches but could only claim 2.5 points from the final six.

That left Josh Hill needing just one more point to secure the Walker Cup, and he held his nerve on the 18th against Tyler Watts, getting up and down from a greenside bunker to clinch the decisive point.

GB&I's 13.5-12.5 victory ended five consecutive American wins in the biennial contest and secured their first Walker Cup triumph since 2015. It also completed the biggest comeback in Walker Cup history.