 Welcome back to the 43rd Ryder Cup here at Whistling Straits. We are with Shane Lowry. Shane, 34 years old, is there any extra gratification being on this team, and Lou, of how hard you work to get here, especially because perhaps it didn't come earlier in your career in an easier fashion? Yeah, I suppose I haven't really thought about it like that. Look, I'm just happy to be here. I think it shows how hard it is to make a Ryder Cup team. I've had a pretty decent career so far, and it's all led up to this now. And I'm here this week, and I'm happy to be here playing for Europe, and so excited to get out there competing and hopefully winning points at the weekend. OK, let's hit the floor here. We'll start right behind me, number 20. Hi, Shane. Can you give us a little bit of insight into what the guys have been getting up to behind the scenes, team room last night, anything like that? Not much, to be honest. We've been just chilling. We've got a great setup back in the hotel. We've got a great team room. There's a great buzz every evening, good atmosphere, and everyone's just kind of sitting around hanging out. Yeah, not much, not a whole lot, to be honest. Just sitting around chatting. We've obviously had a few team meetings, few little things that we've had to do with the captain and the vice captains, but I'm obviously not going to say too much about those. And yeah, it's just been great fun. We've obviously only been here a couple of days, but I'm loving it. Like, I'm really enjoying myself and trying to soak it in as much as I can. Let's go back left. Scott's back there, number 25. Hey, Shane. You said after you got picked for the team that this ranks as sort of a crowning achievement for your career and kind of raised some eyebrows, considering you want to clear a jug in Ireland, can you sort of explain why it means so much to you and why this is such a big accomplishment for you? Just because I've never done it before. And it's something as a European player, look, you obviously want to win majors and you want to compete at the highest level and golf, for the most part, is an individual sport. But as a European player, as an Irish player grown up, you've watched Ryder Copes. Obviously, you know, Christie Jr., Philip Walt, Neymar Darcy, Rory, G-Mac, Paddy, Paul, Darren. All the great Irish players that have played the game. For me, it was something that I really wanted to do and I felt like I had to do. Do you know what I mean? If I want to be up there with those guys when you're talking about really good or a great Irish golfer. So it's something that I've, you know, I felt like I let it slip in 2016 and I should have made that team. I didn't play great towards the end of that campaign. And when I got my chance to share, I felt like I really wanted to take it. Obviously, I needed a pick at the end of the day and I'm very grateful that Paddy has put his trust in me. But yeah, it's just something, as an Irish player grown up, it's, you know, playing a Ryder Cop is just, it's right up there with everything. And obviously, you know, now that I'm here, there's only one goal for us a week and that's to win. And, you know, that would obviously be the icing on the cake. We're going to go straight back, 26. Yeah, do you think that your golfing upbringing kind of equips you well for playing here because it seems to be pretty windy and I'm going to say that way? And if so, what are the kind of skills that you have that help you in those conditions? Yeah, I do think I'm pretty happy with the conditions here, to be honest. I'm pretty happy with the golf course and that cold wind. It feels very much like a summer's day in Ireland when you're out there, you know, it's, it's quite difficult to play in these conditions because you need to get your head around hitting a 6-R in 150 yards as opposed to, you know, normally most guys hit their 6-R in over 200 yards. So it's just little things like I feel, you know, might help me this week or conditions and, you know, stuff like that. But yeah, how do you go with coping with it? It's just sometimes it's hard to practice for that. You just kind of need to know how to do it. And I feel like I know how to do it. So I'm very excited to get out there competing and, you know, hopefully winning some points. I'm going to go over here to number 6 on your right. Shane, you know, obviously when the US plays in this thing, they carry around the US flag. They play for their country. With Europe, it's a bunch of different people from different places. What's sort of the rallying point that makes, that brings you guys together in such a good fashion usually? Um, I honestly have no idea. But when you enter that team room, there's almost like something just hits you. Like it just feels, it just feels so good to be a part of a group like this and a group of great players, you know. I was sitting back the other evening with Terrell Hatton. And we were just kind of soaking it all in. And you look around the room and Sergio Garcia is there and Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood and, you know, some of the greats of European golf. Obviously the vice captains are there who are the greats of European golf as well. Paddy is our captain who's, you know, one of the all-time greats of European golf. And I just think to be a part of a group like that just feels so special. And it just feels so special to be here competing for Europe. And I think we all believe so much in ourselves and we all believe so much in each other that, you know, we're here playing for each other and we're here fighting for every last point and every last point we can get. We're fighting not only for ourselves this week, but for each other. And I have no idea why that is that way with Europe. But, you know, that's just the way it is and that's the way it has been for many years. I'm going to go back to number 10 in the back row. That's me, Shane. All the best this week. Thank you. Good to see the green hat. How cool was it yesterday when you were called out as number 163 of 164 players to play for Europe in the Ryder Cup, a special moment? Yeah, very special. I think it just goes to show, you know, how few people have actually played the Ryder Cup for Europe and how hard it is to do it. And I'm, you know, very proud of myself of what I've achieved to get here. But obviously I want to be here and I want to, you know, make points and whatever. But yeah, it's, it is, it is pretty cool when you see how few people have done that. And it's just, it is very special. It's, you know, it was pretty cool on Monday evening when we, you know, watched that video with everyone in the team room and the team room was pretty full and he made the rookie stand up and take an applause. And that was pretty cool. And yeah, it's just been, look, the whole week so far, I know we're only two days in has been, has been an unbelievable experience and I'm so excited for what lies ahead. We're going to go same direction, number 12. Hi, Shane. I think I'm right in saying that Puerto Rico said that every player will have his own special mission this week. I'm just wondering, what's your mission and have you set yourself your own, your own mission, your own promise to yourself? That's the first I've heard of that. My mission, my mission in my own head is to, look, I don't care if I don't make any points this week and we win on Sunday. It doesn't bother me. I don't care if I don't play and we win on Sunday. It doesn't bother me. So there's only one thing that matters this week and that's winning the trophy. And that's, you know, it won't be a successful week unless we're standing there with the Ryder Cup on Sunday evening. So I'll do whatever it takes to be there on Sunday evening with the Ryder Cup as a part of this team. And yeah, whether it be playing loads or not playing at all, it doesn't bother me. I just have to do what I'm told this week and do it well. Straight across four. Shane, as a captain's pick and being selected by one of your real good friends, do you feel added pressure to not let him down? No. I don't think there's gonna be any, you can't feel any more pressure than there's probably gonna be out there on Friday, Saturday, Sunday. It's, you know, you're playing for your team, you're playing for your continent. We're playing for the European tour. You know, we're playing for a whole lot of things. So obviously I'm a captain's pick but I was, look, I was very close to making the team. I was first man out, felt like I deserved a pick. So yeah, I feel like I deserve to be here. So if I didn't feel like I'd deserve to be here, it'd probably be a bit different but I really feel like I deserve to be here. And you know, I'm, like I said, I'm just excited for the week ahead. Dog on 23. Shane, as a first timer, I'm sure you've kind of had in your head kind of some expectations of what the week would be like. Having been here for a couple of days, has anything matched whatever expectations or thoughts or visions you had? And did anything surprise you? It's everything I expected and way more. It's, it's, look, you know, you walk, we committed all the time, we get downstairs into our team room and it's just the setup in there and just sitting around. I'm in a part of a group like this. It's, it's, it's hard to explain how special it is. It's kind of, you know, a good chat with GMAC the other day and, you know, he said at certain points, you kind of want to stand back this week and really look at what you're doing and soak it all in. And I'm trying to do that as best I can. And it's just, it's just so special to be here. It really is. And you know, anybody that's known me, anyone that's been my friends and family back home, my teammates or my team, anybody that's been involved in me over the last 10 years knows how much I really wanted to be here. And, you know, I'm here now. And it's just, yeah, it's, it's everything I expect and more. We're going to go to eight over here on your right. Shane, you were asked earlier about what unifies Team Europe. And I was curious, is America itself maybe some kind of unifying factor that whatever status America enjoys in the world of golf does that sort of motivate Team Europe as in we want to beat the juggernauts or however you think of that, is that part of it? I don't know. No, like, I don't know. Like I said, I don't know. Like, I genuinely don't know what brings us together as well as we do. As I say, we, like, just my first one, but like, you know, you watch European Ryder Cup teams over the years and they do seem to have that something that it takes to compete in this tournament. And you just can't teach that or you can't train that or you can't buy that. It's just something that has to be, has to come from within. Like it's something that I think we've had and we have this week and, you know, hopefully we can bring it out and perform our best and then, you know, Sunday evening, hopefully it'll be our week. You wouldn't say there's a special chip on your shoulder in regards to America or for the team itself? No, like, look, we know all the American players. We play week in, week out with them on the PGA Tour and, you know, some of us are friendly with them, you know, it's, they're just, they're just a team that are in our way this week to do what we want to do and we want to beat them. And that's, you know, that's just the way it is. I don't think there's anything there that makes us want to beat them more than just want to be standing there with the trophy on Sunday evening. It's nothing about them or nothing about their country. It's just, they're in our way for what we want to do this week. And yeah. Front left, 19. Shane, when Patrick was winning his majors in 0-708, what role did that have in inspiring you as a younger player? And can you account your first encounter with him? Yeah, I think, I always say, like, look, we've been very fortunate in Ireland over the last since the 2007, you know, when it comes to major golf, how successful we've been. You look at what Paddy did and then obviously GMAC after him and then Rory, Darren and myself. It's, you know, we've kind of batted above our weight, you know, it punched above our weight. It's been great. And I think Paddy kind of paved the way for the rest of us to kind of maybe believe more in ourselves and believe that we can do it. And it's obviously been great. My first encounter with him, I don't really know, to be honest, obviously, it was probably when I came on tour. But he was over here a lot. I didn't really get to know him until I was a few years out on tour. Obviously, I would have played a few practice rounds with him and stuff whenever I could. But, you know, I got to know him while over the last five or six years and we've since formed a great friendship and it's just great to be here as a part of his team because he is one of my good friends. And, you know, that'll be an extra kind of added incentive for myself to win for him on Sunday as well. All right, last question, really quick, 24. Hi, Shane. GMAC obviously advised you to sit back and soak it in a bit. But your big personality in your own way, a strong character, do you find that difficult or what do you think you bring yourself? Not sit back and stay out of the way. Sit back and, you know, kind of soak in what's going on around you and then get to work like it's... I do believe I'll have, you know, a big part to play in this team this week. And I do believe that, you know, I can bring a lot when it comes to it on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, when push comes to shove in this tournament. But, yeah, I don't think I meant that. I didn't mean, like, sit back and kind of, you know, just go about my business to where I normally do or be. I just have to be myself. I think I was asked about it, you know, on the Sunday evening after I got to pick, you know, what can I do this week? And I think if I just be myself this week, I think that'll be good enough. So I just go out there and be myself and hopefully pick up some points. And like I say, hopefully win that trophy on Sunday. Don Shane, thank you for your time today and have a terrific day and week. We are joined by Mr. Tommy Fleetwood. Tommy, welcome to what is your second career, Ryder Cup. It's been three years since Paris and your European team is similar but different. Is there, is the concept of momentum, can you carry something over like that over three years or maybe it goes back further with the recent successes of Team Europe? Can you have momentum from previous Ryder Cups? I guess if you look at it like that, I think, yeah, we've got a fantastic record over the, you know, however many years in the Ryder Cup. So I think we always can draw on that and take from that. I think probably what we do is we have a lot of experience in what has gone so well for Team Europe at Ryder Cups in the past. And I think we take that with us and draw from that. And then I'm sure any time a Ryder Cup comes around, it's a new challenge and a new group of players. So it's its own individual week, but I think what we take is experience and a lot of good times in recent years and a lot of things that we know have worked. So I think that's what we do. Okay, let's go to your back right, number nine. Yeah, I mean, last Ryder Cup, you and Frankie are this wildly successful pair. But he's not here this week. And you recently played with him. I'm just kind of curious if he expressed any thoughts to you about not being here, if it feels somehow a little lonely without him. No, definitely, definitely not lonely with the guys and the team that we have. I, you know, I feel massively privileged to be here with everybody that's part of the team and loving every minute. I think Fran, of course, like players that either, you know, anybody that hasn't played a Ryder Cup or when you have been to one, you want to be part of it all the time and you want to be just adding and contributing something to the team. So he would, of course, love to be here. Speak to him all the time. He's a massive supporter of the team and he will be this week. But for me, you know, it's another Ryder Cup. It's with a bunch of guys that were in Paris. It's with some new guys, but guys that you see all the time. And I think just being part of Team Europe, everybody feels and is made to feel so at home and so part of it. And I love being in the environment that we create when a Ryder Cup comes around. Again, in the back right, number 11. Hi, Tommy, you probably hugged more Europeans in Paris than you're going to see all week here. I just wonder, you're somebody who feeds off energy. Are you going to be able to get yourself up and show the same energy without the fans out there? I think we create ourselves and we do it with each other. Of course, this is a different challenge, a different atmosphere for us and something that I've actually never experienced before. So even though it's not my first Ryder Cup, it's my first one in America, I'm still excited by the challenge and what the crowds, what a way crowd for us brings to it and that advantage that maybe the Americans have. But I think I'm really, really looking forward to going out with my teammates and going and fighting for this Ryder Cup together and either pulling each other up or whatever it is that we need to do to do that. But I'm looking forward to going out there with the guys and just creating our own atmosphere. Has there ever been a moment when you've looked back on Paris and thought, oh, the hell do I follow that? No, it's memories that I will have and that team will have for a lifetime and hopefully we'll do the same in this one. But whatever happens in each individual event, whether it be a Ryder Cup or major or regular tournament, life goes on and there's always the next challenge around the corner and that's just what this is. So let's just create our own memories this week and keep them in the locker forever as well. Front right, one again. So really, how much do you miss Francesco this week and then if there was a substitute for Bollywood this week, like a different version, would it be like this Patrick Wood, with Berger Wood? I mean, it's not the same thing. I think Mollywood was a great name. I think we have that one given to us. But you know, it's... Listen, like Mollywood was in Paris and I think we're obviously very, very close. I think people may be overly focused on it. It's not around this week, but also we have an unbelievable team and I can't wait to partner up with whoever that's going to be and whatever the captain wants me to do, what sort of matches he wants me to play, who would like me to play with, who we fit well with, it's the same for all the guys. I had an incredibly lucky experience that in my first Ryder Cup as a rookie I had someone like Francesco that was by my side and he was obviously playing great and I was playing well, but none of that really matters at all this week. It's completely different and I'm just excited to play with whoever my partner is as is the rest of the team. Rex, number three. Tommy, everyone talks about how extreme the first experience is, but the first pair seems to be the extreme example of that. How would you describe your experience three years ago before you walked over for your first match? I had a really good experience of it because I think the first team at the Ryder Cup you do hear from a lot of people, you hear unbelievable stories about how nervous you are, can't put the ball in the tee, you're seeing three balls, you just want to make contact and being on that first tee, going into Paris for 18 months my goal for the Ryder Cup was standing on that first tee on Friday morning and I'd pictured it so much, I'd pictured what the crowd would be like, I could hear the roars, I could see the first fair because it was a golf course that we were so familiar with so I had such a clear image of what my goal was that year sort of when I walked onto the first tee I kind of achieved that goal and I had like a, it was by far a calming sensation but it wasn't like the horror story of not being able to put the ball in the tee or anything like that, I was playing with this blue Nike Firewood which was my favourite club of all time that eventually bent but I had a lot of things going for me on the first tee and I had a particularly nice experience I managed to like pull draw one that just about stayed in the fairway but that was a good experience for me and yeah, I think players that have played in a Ryder Cup can all say the same thing about first tee is an incredible place to be in golf it's something that we don't experience ever except for once every two years but at the same time we all strive and dream to be there and experience whatever that is whether it is you can't put the ball in the tee whether it is you feel like you're going to miss the ball whatever it is you've dreamt of this your whole life so thrive on it and enjoy it Back right number seven Hi Tommy, I'm curious do you think the essence of a good pairing is one where your games mesh together or one where your personalities mesh together? I think what is the 24 players there and I think the 24 are the best players in the world games obviously do play a part I think personality is probably if I was to favour one that's more important the other I would probably go with that one just for the sheer level of golf that we all play week in, week out and obviously foursome is a different thing altogether you've got golf balls and what not I know how people play but a lot of it goes down to if you play well then you're a good team and that's all you can really do but I think again Europe is so lucky with the personalities that we have and how well we gel together and everything and we've always come out of it really really good Going over here on your left the Andrew 21 Tommy, I was going to ask you something different but now you mention it what have you done with the Blue 95 would it bend to the base right of Cubshot with? It's in the garage somewhere it deserted me at Bay Earl 1 year where it just sort of bent so Do you bend it? No I didn't bend it it was just out of overuse unfortunately 24 We're hearing a lot about how they've set the course up to suit the kind of bombing game of Dishambo I just wondered if you agree with that if you could describe that for our layman readers what that means on the course and if so what do you need to do to kind of combat it? I think for the majority of time and as a simple rule of life if you're going to hit 350 and straight it's going to suit your most courses so I like setting a course up like that is always going to Bryson it's got an advantage for our Fari it's sitting for our relatively straight I sort of got a sense when I was playing it yesterday I didn't really think it made that much difference that's the sort of obviously first morning and I couldn't really see there was a few holes where you know probably didn't feel like it was that much of an advantage I think at the end of the day you still got to play and you know like setting it up like when you ask a question and say set it up for Bryson they have 11 other players as well so all of those have still got to play the same golf course the same as those and I'm not really sure I think on any given day like everybody has to play and you have to play well I think the wind is going to have a massive effect we played it yesterday and one wind apparently it's a different wind on Friday so we'll see it's hard to judge from nine holes of golf yesterday on the first day when you're sort of getting into it and getting everything ready and all of that but we'll get a closer look today and see how that goes but no matter how the course is set up for whoever you still have to go out and play golf and you know that's just what we'll all keep in mind Doug Ferguson 23 Tommy it seems like for you know we have four days of practice and pictures and team rooms and then Friday morning hits and it goes so quick warp speed almost what are your recollections of that in your first writer cup and is it something you can even try to explain to the three first timers you have yeah the week goes quick and for sure there is so much more to do than anything we do on a regular basis it is it's an incredible week I think it's it's definitely difficult to you have to be mindful of it it's difficult to find a rhythm a lot of the time with the amount that's going on and what you have to do and if you kind of have that in mind and know that not be too hard on yourself out on the golf course on practice days get your stuff done and work into Friday because Friday, Saturday, Sunday is what matters in the week and I think yeah as soon as the week starts it goes quickly and the pressure in the atmosphere lasts from the first tee all the way to the last on Sunday which is unlike anything else that we get as well so we have amazing rookies in our team as the USA and I think for our rookies we're not lacking in experience or winning tournaments or handling big moments so yeah the radical is different I think the guys definitely seem very comfortable in the team room, they seem good at the golf course and everything I think they're going to be great Did you find it hard to go to sleep at night because the buzz, the adrenaline was so great or were you so exhausted you were out quick Even each other out I think I'm always like the first ones to bed anyway I think so I'm always fine with that Right back here number 20 Hi Tommy, for a long time in this event Tiger Woods would have been the scout but every European would have wanted, he's not here obviously this time, who would be the American you'd most like to defeat this week I don't really care you know just whoever if I don't beat anybody in the team wins then great, if I beat everybody in the team wins then great all we want to concentrate on is getting the points for Europe and then celebrating and moving on and having that so we just want to go out and play and whoever your opponents are they're going to be 12 of the best players in the world and you're just going to go out and have to play your game and hopefully get the points that we need Last question, very quick 10 Morning Tommy You're hugely popular wherever you go and probably one of the most popular European players with American fans Have you ever experienced the tackled or the crowd rooting against you? Not very often No, I think this is a very very different experience and yeah like I say this is my first Ryder Cup in America and I have not you know I don't have the experience of previous Ryder Cups and you know the away fans they're all just part of the Ryder Cup that's what it is that's what makes the event so special great I've of course spoke to the guys the experienced guys that have played a few and you have to thrive off that atmosphere and play your game and enjoy it in a way and that's I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like I'm looking forward to getting stuck in and yeah whatever happens it's all just part of the Ryder Cup and you know happy to be here and happy to be competing for Team Europe I thought you might say Sunday and Port Rush I don't remember that day Alright Tommy thank you for the time have a great day and a great stay Thank you We are joined by Bernd Beesberger Bernd welcome to your first career the first Ryder Cup of your career Curious when it became apparent and I guess I'm not familiar with the European notification system but when you were assured of being on the team who was the person that you reached out to that you were most excited to hear that news with and you know just who was that person you wanted to connect with emotionally about making this team Yeah in my case it was I'm probably the given that the free captain speaks of it actually came after me but I was probably the last to qualify for European teams or deep into Sunday afternoon at the PGA championship at Wentworth so I was quite nerve-wracking but I'm here right now you know given that I'm playing my first Ryder Cup it's been obviously a big goal of mine to be part of a European team and as you can imagine we've got all a lot of people who have worked with us or supported us from different stages of our career but obviously it's very personal and very emotional when you get to qualify for those teams so family was the immediate call up once I got the thumbs up after the Sunday round at Wentworth to be part of the team. Let's hit the floor for some questions and we'll begin with Doug number 23 behind me. One of the picks that Patrick did, Poulter went out of his way to mention you as one of his best friends I'm just curious how that relationship will be and what you think of him. With Ian? I think the whole European team knows each other very well we've played a lot of golf with all of the guys I've played a lot of golf with Ian I've played four Europe together with Ian on the Eurasia Cup a couple years back so I think everyone within this team has a long standing connection with each other and you know everybody gets along really well with each other on the team room so you relax the atmosphere and I feel like Ian and myself are very similar in character we have good banter and good fun on and off the golf course so yeah you can imagine it's always quite entertaining when you stand on the golf course with Ian regardless if it's the Ryder Cup week or any other. How are you guys similar? Do your eyes ever get really bug out or? I sure hope you see a lot of eyes poppin' this week from all the European members but his intensity is unique especially during this week I hope we're going to see lots of it as well this week and I'm sure I'm going to try my best as well to channel my inner Ian pool and get some of that going this week as well. Front right, Juan Guillen So Brett, I think it's been an emotional like two and a half or three years until here you were in, then out, then in, then out how do you leave that? Did it put pressure on your game or was it better for your game? You know last time, the Ryder Cup in Paris I was part of chairman speaking TV and tried to give my senses to what's going to be the outcome so I was on this side of the press conference and trying to you know make sense of what's going to happen that week and along this week something kind of fueled inside me and I drove it and took it as motivation to be once my injury was healed that I had in 2018 to be part of one of these teams I never really vocalized it or spoke about it too much but it was definitely a massive motivation to be the first experience of Ryder Cup first hand, it was my first one I've been to but even more so giving myself the chance to be part of that of a European team and those days in Paris definitely started that and everything that was along on that journey were steps in the letter and I've had some really good success since and I'm very proud to have played my way on the European team in that way I know this is a team and you represent Europe but I mean representing your country are you getting that response already from your country man what kind of messages or feedback are you getting? No everybody is super excited in Austria we've had we have some great talent in Austrian golf with you for having an Austrian representing Europe in the Ryder Cup I'm very proud that it's me I'm absolutely certain that I won't be the last Austrian who represents Europe at the Ryder Cup but you know as you can imagine everybody is really really excited and looking forward to the week and as am I to you know get going on Friday and put the Austrian flag on the European Ryder Cup team banner just as much as victory for Norway and you know maybe even write a little piece of golfing history for Austria so everybody is really excited to get a lot of messages and hopefully well I'm sure that there will be tremendous support from home as well during the whole week Bern over here number 19 Jeff I guess you received number 164 of the 164 when you saw that what resonated with you and then what does that mean exactly I think it's a brilliant idea what the guys have done I'm very very proud to to have that number for life everybody is buzzing and the individual aspect of the game that we have but this week we all come together yet everybody has that number and nobody can ever take it from them I was very very surprised that it's been this few actually I could have not told you if you would have asked me how many players would have represented the European team in the history of the Ryder Cup so I'm going to be 164 and it's going to be amazing and the guys really loved it it brings a great theme to the whole week for us back right number 7 Hallo Bern with all the emotions going on and media and everything else how much does this affect your personal routine you usually do before a tournament you know I think we all came here knowing that it's a different different type of week as individuals I think we normally have our all kind of schedule and preparation time that we have for the events but this week is totally different we're all have a little bit of an agenda everyone and the schedule but I was in my case because I'm a rookie I've not experienced this before I was I got a lot of input from former captains and the senior players we've been here many times and manage expectations and manage my schedule and manage our schedule so everybody is rested up and well prepared for when push comes to shove on Friday we're going to go to number 6 what do you think from you were an outsider now you're an insider these guys kind of from different countries really together to be such an effective team at the Ryder Cup over the years I mean it's tough to put it down on one one thing I kind of always stood where you were and thought what is it that makes this European team in a way always getting from the underdog position to a victorious team especially over the last couple of years at the Ryder Cups and being part of the team being part of the bigger picture of what is Team Europe this week but I suppose over the last couple of years it really bonds us really well together obviously all the guys are unbelievable golfers but the way everybody comes together everybody loosens up for the week has fun it's always their time goes out there do their work and get prepared as good as we can but then just detach and have the best time possible is really great to be a part of and experience that and I'm sure that also just feeds into the performance or the victorious side of things for the European team straight across the way Adam for 2-4 I'll go one at a time what was the best tip you got from one of the past captains or veteran players that was very very unique was to absolutely enjoy the week to there's going to be a lot of distractions you know as I said stuff that's going on around it enjoy have fun you know that's what I'm trying to do here as well this week and soak it all in and just let it all out there on the golf course and you've played tournaments over here in the US but I think of the 12 you're probably the one who's played the least hasn't had a pj tour card per se is that something you plan to pursue at some point? you know what happens happens I've played enough golf over here in the states tournaments WGC and the odd regular pj tour event where probably the only guy would call himself purely European based from playing standpoint but again I think I've always enjoyed the challenge of playing globally and getting the chance to play over here in the states yeah so you know whatever happens happens in the future we'll see but as for now I'm really enjoying my time in the European tour and competing on the European tour but also cherish the events that are happening for me up here in the states we're going to wrap it up last question 21 Andrew particularly in Paris the way it's developed first and second as it was it's almost like football stadium atmosphere singing, chanting is that something you think you're relish you'll have an idea of how other sports feel in team events yeah we never get stuff like this happening obviously there's people who love that player this player that player but never you either blue or red I think that's what makes the Ryder Cup the Ryder Cup first one that I experienced was Paris and I did it non-playing wise but still if you go and get on that tee regardless if you're playing the experience there for the guys must have been unbelievable and it will be the same this week but especially Paris for like it really became a big big empty theater we have it this week again and really you know bring the maximum out of the crowds for both teams so really looking forward to stepping on a packed first tee there thanks for finding us today have a great day and enjoy your stay here in Wisconsin we are with European captain Patrick Harrington Patrick the wind is up today I think everybody's seeing and feeling that how much different is this golf course with a little bit of wind let alone a lot compared to pretty docile day I mean maybe describe that and what the people experience out there yeah obviously the course is designed to play like a lynx and you need a bit of wind for that so if there's no wind it's stadium golf hit from A to B and move on whereas if it is windy like it is today and yes there was a nice bit of wind yes the difference today being cold and windy it really does affect the golf ball when the temperature drops so it's it's playing like a true lynx you got to hit wind shots you got to keep the ball down at times you've got to aim off you know off into trouble and trust that the wind is going to take it back there's lots of little issues like that when it gets windy and it's you know nobody wants it too windy I certainly don't want it too windy this week it's not you know that's not conducive to a good fair battle but a bit of wind is a true test of golf okay let's start over here number six and then we'll go to Phil we've got to say that your team's mounting a bit of a charm offence about there with the cheeseheads the colours and everything and how much do you think it's working look the crowds are great you know everybody's everybody embraced that as you would have seen on the first tee that was you know when we were doing the clothing with Laura Piano you know they were talking about maybe bringing some Irish colours in for me I'm not really into that sort of stuff so I came up with why don't we do something with Wisconsin and obviously the Green Bay Packers kind of fitted both the Irish and the Green Bay Packers and then the cheeseheads came in and a bit of you know a bit of fun with it and look it's lighthearted you want it that way it's somewhat respectful of obviously of Green Bay Packers and they were very much on board with this so a bit of fun and we got a nice reception with it and that's kind of what you want on the practice days and obviously business starts on Friday but at the moment the players are enjoying and having a having a good time with it just really remind me of 2004 on that front first tee Bernard Langer had you guys doing something similar just the way you engaged with the crowd is it all related to that do you learn from that even back then? Yeah well look I think Steve alluded to it in his press conference with me the first day that they're going to try and give the crowd something exciting and kind of kind of go back to sort of Val Halla style type thing so yeah look everybody's out here to have to get on well with the crowds there's no doubt about that we obviously can't sign autographs this week which is something that traditionally we would do so these fans have come out and they've come out in a cold day they've come out to watch us and we want to give them something to watch Phil back right Nails asked pretty much the right questions I was going to ask but I was just wondering when you were made right a captain a few years ago did you think you'd be stood here talking about throwing foam bits of cheese into the crowd I suppose not no not at all and that's it is a nod to Wisconsin and obviously the green bay that we've gone and done this we've gone with the colours and obviously the cheese heads and throwing the things up there is a bit of fun for the fans that are here but the Wisconsin fans are very appreciative so we want to show our appreciation back and it's nice we think the colours turned out nice we think the outfit looks really good the players are pretty stoked out there that they're doing something to show their respect for the local stage we're in we're going to go to Jeff over here on my right number 19 Patrick Shane was in here earlier today in talking about the friendship you two have developed the last five or six years or so what's the sense of pride for you to watch him earn his spot on this team and what does he bring to this team he brings an awful lot into the team room all three rookies do he's got a great personality in there and really mix as well and helps the others golfing wise he's a big time player he delivers on a big stage he's good under that sort of pressure and he has that belief so he's ideally suited for this sort of format match play golf course but really for the occasion and he's definitely embracing it for sure very happy with the way he's going about teams and as I said he's the sort of guy who delivers on the big stage so looking forward to that this week we're going straight back to Alex 23 Patrick just to understand the Green Bay thing just a little better when did you make that decision it must have been a long time ago yeah it's at least maybe two years ago at this stage when you're going through the clothing with lower piano you're looking at the different colours and as I said the first the obvious one oh do you want to wear some green for Ireland and I I'm thinking well look this is a European team let's do something different and then I said well why not recognise Wisconsin where we're going to play and it fit it in very nicely then to go with the Green Bay Packers so yeah it was just a really nice idea and obviously it grew a little bit when it came to the cheese heads and the foam and the hats and I said they were very good Green Bay Packers that they we've been in contact they bought into it too and they supplied the hats and that so it was you know worked very well in all sides let's go across way to Derek number five and now I'm a fan for life and considering I'm going to say this I'm a Patriots fan so now I'm a Green Bay Packers fan so I changed the legion somewhat the conversion I just wonder on a long and demanding course like this one do you have to be careful in how much you ask of the veteran players and your team I mean is it really absolutely yeah you know we all know and Ryder Cuffs there's a fine line between playing too much trying to stay fresh fine line 36 holes a day obviously I have a slightly older team experienced team pretty fit team you know that's the one thing about you know we're not struggling in that sense somebody older guys you know like you could put a Sergio or Paul Casey they're fairly fit and strong you don't see them having any issues with playing 36 holes if they have to but yeah it's something I would be aware of that you don't want to burn players out before the weekend before the Sunday front right our friend Juan Guillen go ahead Juan so the American players are coming through and kind of talking more openly about their parents or what the players they play well with that's what we had Candleep talking about Trofele we had Justin Thomas talking about speed and then we know that there's probably no chance that the Shambu and Kepka are going to play together so that's it give you an advantage to kind of have this information and how you're going to talk about that mainly I'm focused on my team somewhat when it comes to positioning the players you know yeah I would have a look at who we think we're going to come up against what positions and try and mix a match depending on what we like so yeah not at this stage but definitely when it actually comes to one, two, three or four matches yeah we would look to see well who do we think we're coming up against and who wants what so yeah look it's a little part of it it's not it certainly wouldn't be you know there's no point in focusing too much on the other team you have no idea just like you said with Brooks and Bryce and you know people have asked about that so much and I keep going well we just don't know they could be the best of pals this week partnership thrown out there so I'm not focused on anything really about what they're doing until I'm kind of looking at my order of positioning of my partnerships and then maybe it might go well you know who wants to play against who Captain we're going to beam out to Adam Schupack Adam go ahead you're with Captain Harrington Adreck in 2018 Thomas Bjorn gave his team a little bit of incentive promising them that he would get a tattoo at a certain place on his body if the team were to win I'm wondering if you have made some similar type promise to them this year's team I am delighted that that's all they asked for because I'd given up a lot more so yes I will be getting a tattoo if my team produce a winning week I will be getting a tattoo to mark the occasion and very comfortable that's that they only asked that much of me because I would have given more if they actually asked you to do that I think it's an unwritten rule so it has come up yes in conversation maybe didn't ask maybe I offered and they felt that was enough but definitely it's it's a given now in Europe Captain has to get a tattoo and I don't have any other tattoos at this stage so it would be a new experience for me we're on the body I know it depends no I can't cut that right it depends how long it is I'm going to get you off the hook we're going to go to Eamon here at number 4 Roderick Polter said earlier that he relishes this kind of chest thumping atmosphere and would never apologize to any opponents over the years that have been irritated by him is it useful as a captain to have one guy who's not afraid of being a lightning rod to let other guys on the team kind of fly under the radar if he draws any public criticism I think very much in what you said there in many senses it's useful to have somebody who takes the attention and somebody takes away from others it's useful for somebody to help build up other players to get them into it so there's a lot of emotional swings around about this and you have to be very wary of it because as Rory spoke earlier it's easy to get involved and then burn yourself out for the weekends and then the players play for the glory in this match they come here because they get an experience that they get nowhere else so they want to have the excitement you only have to look at the celebrations of the individual players when they've won matches they're nothing like what they celebrate when they win tournaments the character does change of a player this week so emotionally you have to watch that and good and bad can tire themselves out doing that so and Polter he is who he is and we wouldn't ask him to be anybody different it's fun to him there's nothing in it to him that's in any way it's not a deliberate thing it's a bit of fun to him it's a bit of his personality and he just likes having a he is maybe a little bit of Marmite he's pretty much a crowd favourite because of his personality just filled with other guys on the team to sit back and let Ian get attention for the week so they can go about their business absolutely you have players that just focus on playing golf they're just golfers they want to concentrate they want to know what they're doing just like a regular week and you have other players that want a bit more of a hyped up week and can deal with it not everybody wants that and he can take it and can be a lightning rod to inspire the team and also as you said maybe to give other guys a quiet or an easy run time for a couple more we're going to go back to right number 9 Ewan there's been so much chat understandably about the kind of partisan crowd this week in 90% it's going to be American crowd at what point does that become there's so much expectancy on them delivering here it is an interesting one there's no doubt most of the focus for us coming in is the fact that it is going to be 90% 10% 80% 20% and as I've said all along Europe we'd rather play in front of 40,000 Americans than zero fans but it has maybe when we got here has changed a little bit you can see that there's expectation pressure from the fans going the other way they have a new strategy so yeah there's no doubt home captain has to deal with pressure and stress but it's not like we don't have to deal with it too so a little bit out of no doubt about it and I suppose we just have to wait and see we'll wrap her up on number 10 go ahead it's been long enough out there and quite blustery Shane said earlier that certainly won't hurt from a European team perspective if it's like that over the coming days this would be a beach day at home yeah look my players don't need that they're good enough they're great ball strikers so we're not looking for extreme windy conditions tricky conditions the best we're all happy that the temperature is to go up on Friday we don't have a problem with that we're relying on ourselves not relying on outside agencies and the conditions but yeah maybe there is a little bit of an advantage if it does go that way but as I've always said we really have probably our best team ever of ball strikers so we're not relying just like we're not going to be hiding players or anything like that we're not relying on conditions to give us the edge bonus question 20 sorry Patrick someone just texted me that's in the media center do you have any key holes out here this week that you can think of? all 18 all 18 you've got to start at the first you've got to be ready to go you know you can't just pick out one hole you know clearly 17 is a really tough hole an 18 as well if your matches go there they're going to be the key holes 18 is the key hole if you get to it but you've got to play 17 holes before that so every hole in itself is important I can't see why you would choose any particular hole making a big difference to the match there isn't exactly you know if this was stroke play or something like that you might have a risk reward hole that you could play safe depending on how you're going and if you had to you could chase and go for it but this is match play you've got to play it under conditions today how your match is going at that moment so yeah I can't say a particular key hole even though there would be if it was stroke play you're not getting through this tournament until you finish that last hole for sure but in match play you've just got to play each hole as it comes Captain thanks for your time today I've got to give Brian Kio a question there he's travelled a long way and I can't even put his hand up come on Brian you've obviously made a big effort to get to know your players as well as possible and you know many of them very well just wondering has anybody exceeded your expectations so far this week and surprised you with what they've brought to the party Victor and it's hard to believe he could exceed it but he's been brilliant burnt, very relaxed and obviously Shane is right on expectation there the rookies that are in the team the other guys I knew what to expect they've been great probably as captain probably Sergio a little bit more has exceeded my I kind of knew this but really he works really hard behind the scenes I wouldn't say there isn't a player in that room that hasn't had a quiet word Sergio hasn't had a quiet word so he's continually working working that so probably if ultimately they're all doing everybody's doing their job but nobody is in any shape or form below but definitely Sergio has really I suppose done what he should do what he's expected to do but definitely delivering in the team he's just great fun to be around he really is really good he's embracing it he's at the centre of a lot of the of the banter and fun he's excellent I've got to say he's kind of we kind of knew that a bit about Victor like Tyrrell was that guy the last time in 2018 he came in and you kind of see the personality on the golf course but his personality in the locker room is completely different and I wouldn't say that about Victor but he's certainly living up to it he's certainly the centre the fun in the locker room