A hand injury, coupled with a loss of confidence, saw Dunne (32) plummet from a career high of 65th in the world to 3377th today.
With no status on any major tour, he hasn’t played a tournament since he failed to win a card at the Asian Tour Qualifying School last December.
Having talent is one thing, but the vicissitudes of life continue for everyone, even professional golfers, and the famous five who triumphed at Royal Lytham a decade ago have suffered like any other mortal.
“All five of us went different directions in a way,” said Moynihan, who teamed up with Dunne to win the second edition of GolfSixes at the Centurion Club in St Albans in 2018, chipping in for a birdie on the first play-off hole to beat France’s Romain Wattel and Mike Lorenzo-Vera 2-0 in the final and split €100,000.
“For the two or three years before Covid, I had some nice runs or good tournaments, which I’m proud of, and I played some great golf. I felt just too much inconsistency week to week.”
Moynihan hasn’t played on tour since he ripped muscles in his shoulder last year, and as he works to get back to the level that saw him contend for the Open de France on the DP World Tour in 2019, he has great memories of his best golf.
“I feel very lucky to have played four or five years at the top level in Europe and played with some of the game’s best, too,” he said yesterday.
“Right now, tournament golf isn’t close, but I feel probably a bit happier over the past 18 months.
“From basically 2010 or 2011, golf has been full tilt, and I felt especially after Covid, I was trying way too hard and wasn’t enjoying it nearly as much as I used to before Covid or even as an amateur.
“I will definitely give it another go soon, I just feel time away is actually doing me the world of good.”
Great Britain and Ireland haven’t won a Walker Cup since Ireland’s five-man band of brothers won at Royal Lytham and St Annes a decade ago.
They have also failed to win an away match since 2001, when Graeme McDowell, Michael Hoey and current European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald won 15-9 at Ocean Forest Golf Club in Sea Island, Georgia.
They are underdogs again this year, but both Grehan and Tiernan will be keen to impress and return to play on the team at Lahinch next year, when the Co Clare club hosts the 51st Walker Cup match from September 5-6.
Today’s Walker Cup matches (Irish time)
Foursomes
4:00 pm Connor Graham / Tyler Weaver (GB&I) vs. Jackson Koivun / Tommy Morrison (USA)
4:15 pm Charlie Forster / Luke Poulter (GB&I) vs. Stewart Hagestad / Ben James (USA)
4:30 pm Eliot Baker / Stuart Grehan (GB&I) vs. Ethan Fang / Preston Stout (USA)
4:45 am Cameron Adam / Dominic Clemons (GB&I) vs. Michael La Sasso / Jase Summy (USA)
Singles
9:45 pm Tyler Weaver (GB&I) vs. Jackson Koivun (USA)
9:55 pm Niall Shiels Donegan (GB&I) vs. Jacob Modleski (USA)
10:05 pm Luke Poulter (GB&I) vs. Mason Howell (USA)
10:15 pm Connor Graham (GB&I) vs. Ben James (USA)
10:25 pm Gavin Tiernan (GB&I) vs. Stewart Hagestad (USA)
10:35 pm Stuart Grehan (GB&I) vs. Ethan Fang (USA)
10:45 pm Charlie Forster (GB&I) vs. Preston Stout (USA)
10:55 pm Eliot Baker (GB&I) vs. Jase Summy (USA)
