What Makes the Simpson Cup So Special?

One of golf’s enduring gifts is it’s one of the rare sports that can put you back in a competitive environment that is also a meditative one. 

One of the coolest events in golf is happening this week in Texas as Shady Oaks Country Club plays host to the 2026 Simpson Cup, an annual Ryder Cup-style event between teams of injured service members from the U.S. and Great Britain, who hold a 7-6 series lead against the Americans. 

Since its inception in 2012, the event has visited some of golf’s great venues, from St. Andrews and Royal St. George’s to TPC Sawgrass and Shinnecock Hills. This week, a new-look Shady Oaks is on display after the course underwent a total in 2019 and 2020 at the hands of OCM Golf. 

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More important than the world-class golf courses and records are the players themselves, and their stories of perseverance. Kevin Van Valkenburg explains why this event is so important to so many.