Niall Sheils-Donegan reacts to Walker Cup gimme gaffe: "I missed it like an idiot"

Niall Sheils-Donegan took full responsibility for a rules mistake during the opening foursomes session of the 51st Walker Cup at Lahinch.

Sheils-Donegan and Josh Hill were 4up through eight holes against Americans Ryder Cowan and Josiah Gilbert when the Scot missed a 6-foot birdie putt at the 9th.

He then picked up his 18-inch par putt, believing it had been conceded.

It had not.

A confused Cowan pointed out that the putt had not been given, prompting a discussion with the match referee. 

The ruling was that GB&I lost the hole with a bogey, cutting their lead to 3 up.

Sheils-Donegan, playing in his second consecutive Walker Cup, did not shy away from the mistake.

Before heading out to for afternoon singles session, he told Golf Channel: "It was completely on me.

"I hit the 6-footer and missed it like an idiot. I had a foot back, and I just dragged it away like I'm in a Sunday bounce game, but those aren't the rules of golf."

The mistake, however, did little to derail GB&I. 

Sheils-Donegan said it instead gave him added motivation to keep the Americans from getting back into the match.

"It's not about how you screw up, it's about how you bounce back and we bounced back amazingly," he added. 

GB&I regained control two holes later at the par-5 12th. 

Gilbert found a bunker with his second shot, while Cowan’s third sailed over the green. The Americans failed to get up and down, allowing GB&I to take the hole.

Hill and Sheils-Donegan closed out the match 4&3 after Hill made a par-saving putt at the 15th.

The victory gave GB&I its first full point of the weekend and helped the team take a 2½-1½ lead after the opening session. 

The United States have not won the opening foursomes session since 2009.

"Momentum is a big player in match play, especially in a week like this where you've got an entire team around you," Sheils-Donegan said. 

"If you can get some golf going, try and get some energy throughout the entire team room, it plays a big part for sure."

Golf Channel also reported that Sheils-Donegan sought out the referee to apologize for the incident before returning to the GB&I team room to prepare for his singles match against Tyler Watts.