Eliot Baker expects to begin a professional career in the coming weeks, after providing the decisive moment that sealed Great Britain and Ireland's comeback in the Walker Cup.
The Story in Pictures
The 23-year-old from Devon beat Stewart Hagestad on the final hole of his singles match, as GB and Ireland overturned a three-point deficit to win 13½-12½. The result completed what the team described as the biggest comeback in Walker Cup history.
Baker said the immediate aftermath felt unreal. "I was in a complete state of shock for about 20 minutes until we actually lifted the trophy," he said. "It still kind of felt like the trophy was going to be going to them. I think just deep down it was almost what was expected with the scoreline going into the final session."
He added that the scale of the achievement would take time to register. "But I'm sure over the next couple of days it will truly sink in," Baker said.
This was Baker's second Walker Cup appearance and his only victory in the event. He halved the opening morning foursomes, and with team-mate Stuart Grehan he lost the second morning foursomes 3&2, but his singles win proved decisive after the match swung back in the United States' favour before the final session.
Baker described the moment as the high point of his amateur career. "That is the highlight of my career, for sure," he said. "Winning - that feeling was unbelievable. It'll take a long time to come down from that, but that is the pinnacle of amateur golf so it takes a lot to beat it."
He also indicated that the Walker Cup will probably be his last appearance in amateur team competition. On his next steps he said he hopes to turn professional soon and to play on the DP World Tour, while acknowledging some formalities remain. "I should hopefully be turning pro fairly soon," he said. "As long as all things go well over the next month or so I should be turning pro and hopefully heading out on to the DP World Tour. But it's a little bit of a waiting game to see, but everything's in a good position so far."
Baker's announcement and match-winning performance set the immediate path for his career and close this chapter of his amateur record, while leaving the precise timing of his professional debut subject to the next few weeks of preparations and approvals he described.
