 Welcome back to the 43rd Ryder Cup here at Whistling Straits. We are with Paul Casey. Paul, welcome to your fifth career Ryder Cup. You're one of the few. There's not many, but who've been here now for the fourth time. Three PGA's, and obviously this is for Ryder Cup. Your best finish was a T12 in 2010. I wonder if you might be able to go back to O4 and tell us your initial impressions of this golf course and maybe how that, your thoughts have maybe evolved over the course of time a little bit. I don't know, I think I probably only played two rounds in O4, didn't I? Don't remember. You've got the results. I don't remember my initial impressions. I mean, I would have, like I am today, I would have been wowed. I mean, this place is spectacular. What a creation. It's a brilliant golf course, always been a Pete Dye fan. I'll admit my memories, my knowledge of the course, I think, is strong. My memories of, my knowledge of my results has been weak, because that year in 2010, Christian Donald was on my back, who's on the team for us this week and the support staff. And I had to ask him, I said, did we play two rounds? He goes, no, you finished 12. So, which is great to hear, because it means I can play this golf course obviously relatively well. I mean, 12, obviously not right at the pointy end, but it wasn't bad. But yeah, to this day, spectacular, love it. What a challenge, and I think it's a great golf course for this week. Terrific. Thank you for that. Let's begin here. Rack set four, please. Paul, it looked like you guys had a pretty interesting, at least nine-hole alternate shot match. Are there any details you can give us about that from yesterday? We explored the property greatly. Lots of birdies, polterine and rory throwing in eagles as well. Details from it? No, we're just trying stuff out. Honestly, when it got as windy as it did yesterday, we thought foursome's was the best thing to do. I think everybody was struggling out there a little bit. Polter played very well on the front nine. I think he was three under on his own golf ball. I struggled in the wind a little bit, and so foursome's was just the thing to do. Plus, just being a long day, it sped things up a little bit. To be honest, you've seen, I think we've confused a few people on the first tee throwing the golf balls up on the tee. Nobody knows what's going on the outside it looks like, which is kind of part of the fun we have. But for us, it was, I mean, myself paired up with Lee, the most experienced guy here. We were just out there playing and getting ready for big day tomorrow. And just as a follow-up to that, maybe it's statistically, if you can look at the Americans record an alternate shot, it's not great in this event. Is there anything to the fact that you just seem to, the Europeans seem to enjoy it a little bit more, maybe embrace it better? I don't know what the best way is there. I don't know. I've never spent too much time looking at it. I mean, I think the British guys always spent a lot of time playing foursome's as kids. It's just something we did in matches. It was always foursome's in the morning and singles in the afternoon. It's just something you do in club matches, county matches, even up to the international level. I don't believe there's any sort of tricks and tips or anything. It's just something I think we're a bit more used to. I mean, there's certain golf clubs in the UK where foursome's is a thing. You have to play foursome's if you want to go play. No, I don't know what to tell you. All right, let's go right next door, number three. Hey, Paul, you've been a part of four teams, and I thought it was interesting to see that most of them were blowouts. Three in your favor, one against. I mean, they were lopsided in the end, at least. And I was curious, is it possible at this point in the week to get a feeling of how the week is going to go, or is it always sort of a surprise that you don't know until points are coming in? It's a surprise. I think, I mean, looking back at, there was some, there was a rerun of Oakland Hills on TV earlier this week that I saw, and we were just going through the office in our area. And it was my match with David Howe against, oh, goodness. Is that Furikin? Oh, I'd have to look at that. I can tell you right now. Stuart Sink, no, is that John? Friday's matches in the morning. It was Saturday morning at Oakland Hills. Saturday morning. I apologize for not pulling that. Furikin Campbell. Thank you. We were six, two down, or six, or whatever it was. It was six and a half, two and a half, whatever the score was. I mean, it was like, it was very, very lopsided the other way. And that was a big point. And then things turned. And then I think Westwood and Clarky and Monty and those guys went out in the afternoon and had a great session. And then, and then that result ended up being our biggest victory, biggest margin of victory in the U.S. at that point. Never have known that on a Saturday morning. So six and a half. Oh, were we? Two and a half, yeah. Sorry. Yeah, you were up big. Oh, we were already up big. Yeah. No. Yeah, six and a half to one and a half Europe after, after the Friday. Oh, I got a totally wrong one. Let's just go for another question. Just scruffle that last three minutes. What was the question? Sorry. No, I mean, do you, is there a feeling beforehand of how it's going to go? Or is it always a surprise? No, it's always a surprise. You get a gist here. I have no clue. Like, I don't remember anything. I don't remember. Last, last week. Would you see them fell, please? I'll try. Good morning, Mr. Casey. There was a 10 year gap obviously between your previous, 2008, 2018. How pleasing is it to have qualified again straight away for this one? Yeah, it's much nicer place than having to wait for a pick and all that. Actually, to be announced, even there was a mathematically in, was a nice thing during the week I went with. Yeah, it's, I was, there was a time pre-Paris when I thought I'd never, I might never play another rider cup having, you know, missed a couple, more than a couple. I was quite emotional in Paris because that was, because of that gap and, you know, the level, the form I'd been through and to be part of that great team in Paris was just, has been one of the most special moments of my career. The fact it was a pick made me sort of nervous, kind of coming down the last few weeks. This one I felt, I felt much more comfortable. It's actually, as much as I wanted to be on this team, I put it to the side. The thought of trying to qualify, it's just been a sort of organic process and a result of the good golf I've played. And now I'm even looking at Westie going, how many more can I kind of play? I think Westie is maybe the oldest European to represent, the oldest player to represent Europe, I think 48 or whatever he is now. And so I'm 44 thinking, can I squeeze a couple more out? It's amazing how my sort of, my view on it has changed. Gone from maybe never, that's it, maybe I'm done to, you know, what does the future hold? But in the meantime, yeah, this week, brilliant. I mean, it's been an absolute joy. The whole process from the qualification to here I am on a Thursday. Couldn't have been better. What would it mean to win potentially here this week? Would it make up for missing out on the Olympic medal perhaps? That's a different thing. But for me, the Olympics were very, not to get too much away from World Cup, the Olympics were very, very special. And as much as I would love a medal, what a moment. And to play with Xander and Hideki, final group. That's something that people, only people who have been at Olympics will understand. And that experience of being in the village, that's something I will cherish forever. And it doesn't, the not having a medal doesn't, it doesn't lessen it in any way. That would be the cherry on the top of the cream kind of thing. But no, the Olympics is pretty cool. Hey, Paul. Can you describe what Pulse means to your brighter cup? And do you have any idea what makes him tick? Can you put your finger on what makes him tick and why he's so successful? I don't know what makes him tick. I mean, he is unique. He's a big majority of the glue for this team. He is just, he's like the, we don't lack energy. We don't lack glue. We'll always be a very unified team. Even those teams when he's not been there or he's been there as a, you know, I think he was a hazel teen, you know, as an assistant captain. You know, yeah, we have everything already. He just adds to it so much more. I have no idea what makes him tick, but all I know is it's very, very special. It's infectious. I mean, you, you see some of it on the outside. I guess you see a lot of it. You don't see what we get to see in the team room and in the locker room. And this morning he's just rolled through and it's just, you just see that bounce in the step in it. Yeah, I hope he continues to play brighter cups. I hope he beats Westie's record of how long he goes because he's a massive part of our team. Just a quick follow on that. If you are an opponent of his, if you're the U.S. side, can you appreciate how maybe, I don't know what the word is, whether it's annoying, agitating, under the skin, whatever. Not that he's trying to be a bad guy, but just kind of, you know, when he gets on a roll and he's got the bug eyes going and all that kind of thing. I think, I don't know how well all the U.S. guys know him, but the one, you know, certainly Dustin, these guys who've known for years, I mean, they love him and they certainly want to, if there's anybody they want to play and have the opportunity to beat it's Polter without question. I mean, he's made his mark as he's sort of missed a rider cup. You know, it's that opportunity, isn't it? What an opportunity to go up against Polter. I wouldn't want to play him. Glad he's on my team. Doug, 24, please. Paul, it seems like over the years you watch Europe during the week and there's a lot of joy, you mentioned, a lot of fun, a lot of looseness, and Friday morning gets here and it's all business, all purpose. Is that true? And can you talk about this and kind of the sensation of how the week shifts and how the switch flips when you get to Friday morning? I don't think our switch flips that much as much as you think. There's still a lot of fun and humor and, look, we're going to have a great time this week, no matter what. It just ramps up. I think that maybe there are a few less smiles that are visible that are shown, but we're still trying to have the time of our life and play amazing golf. Yeah, I don't think it's a switch that flips. It wouldn't work, I don't think, Doug, if that were the case. You know, the whole week is we're very serious in our preparation. We're methodical, attention to detail. We try to leave no stone unturned because we know the margins are so small. You know, you can look at world rankings and all these things, but we all know, you know, it's it could be down to one putt or a fraction, you know, a fraction of a shot every day that's going to make the difference, but we don't, it doesn't suddenly become, it's serious or weak. And I guess we probably try to maybe deflect a little in a way, having humor. I still think it will be there come tomorrow. It's just maybe not as visible. Thank you. Hey, Daniel. Compared to the, sorry, compared to the other teams that you've played on, how would you describe Parig's leadership style and the dynamic within this team? Because it seems like an interesting mix of guys who have done this for a long time and some younger guys. I think, firstly, the dynamic is brilliant. With this is I don't like to compare teams and say one's, you know, this team's better than the other team I've played on, but this team as a unified team is so strong. I mean, it's broad in its age range, experience, but I mean, I'm proud to be standing next to my 11 teammates and captain and vice-captains. I mean, there is, we have such a unified team going and Paddy has been a major role in that because you can have brilliant teams and maybe not have and be slightly rudderless, but I've been utterly impressed with Paddy's captaincy. His communication skills have been top-notch and a relaxed air to everything we do, but a serious approach at the same time. Yeah, we as you know, we tend not to say what goes on behind closed doors, but it's been from this is my fifth. It gets better and better every single time. Really quick, 30 seconds. Last question, six. Paul, you mentioned dropping balls on the first tee and people from the outside potentially not knowing what you're doing. If you listen to talking heads, there's probably about 30 different partnerships that Europe could have. While Stricker has basically telegraphed what he's been trying to do since day one. Is that intentional on the European side to throw up some smoke screens? No, it's not. I know roughly what I'm doing. I actually couldn't tell you what the rest of the matchups might look like starting tomorrow. No, it's not trying to throw smoke screens or throw a dummy or a fake out there, not at all. I think we're so good. We're so comfortable of what we're going to do come tomorrow. It's like, well, why over-thinking on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday? Again, I know my pairing, possible pairings, it's again up to Patty what he decides to do. They're not in the envelope or however it works yet. But I'll still be throwing up the ball on the first tee later today. Matt, welcome to your second rider cup. Second on the road here. I'm just curious about your comfort level. Is there a greater more elaborate sense of comfort here this year as opposed to when you were rookie in 16? They're both on the road so that's a little bit of a different twist too. Yeah, definitely. I think there's a few things about my game. I didn't feel like it was as good as it is now then. So I feel like it's much better nowadays and my game's definitely changed a lot hitting it further and various other things. I also think just knowing the guys in the European team better. I'd only had my card in 15 and 16 so I only got to spend a little bit of time with the guys on the team and other players during regular weeks on tour so now it's been this is my eighth year I think on tour so I know everyone really well now so I think that makes a big difference. Being able to feel comfortable just talking about anything with them really so. Okay, let's hit the ground for some questions. That is number three, Beck Wright. Matt, I'm not looking for a specific name but I'm curious do you have a sense right now of who you're going to play with whenever you're going to play? And if the answer is yes when did you know that by? Yeah, I mean you know we we get a feel of who we're going to play with by you know who we're playing within the groups and stuff I guess and but the communication's been great or weak I've had plenty of conversations with the vices and Paddy so I think early doors that he told us all that we wanted to make sure that we knew where we stood going into the week and I think that's been really valuable for everyone really. Just quick to put you on the spot, you do know exactly whatever your first match is going to be you know that and you know who your partner will be. Yeah. You can tell us if you like. I'm not going to be the one to throw Paddy under the bus. Alright we are going to Daniel 8. From the outside it seems like it's hard to have more different golf courses than Hazel team and whistling straights and I'm curious from inside the ropes how different is this test versus the one you faced five years ago? Yeah, massively I tried to forget Hazel time Hazel team pretty quickly yeah that's how much I remember it but it is very very different there wasn't much penalty for really really wide shots in 2016 whereas here there is a penalty you know you've got the lake down most holes and you got random bushes in bunkers and bunkers that you didn't even know existed so it's definitely a different test and obviously you got the added wind as well so the golf course is much better than I thought it was going to be for myself so yeah I was really pleased to see that it wasn't similar to 16 Kind of going off that you know stricker in his explanation for his captain's picks talked a lot about driving distance how the stats said that was really important on this golf course are you getting that sense that it's like a bomber's course? I think this is obviously a handful of holes where it would be nice to just carry it 340 through the air but I wouldn't say it's like massive it's not sort of glaringly obvious in my opinion I think yeah I mean I think it's a second shot golf course personally I think you know you got to hit it and get it in position off the tee and then that gives you a chance to use the slopes on the green to move it close to the pin or just give yourself chances I think you obviously do have to put it in position off the tee but I definitely think it's a second shot golf course Right behind me, Mark 20 Could you describe what pulse means to this European side and have a follow-up on that? Yeah, I mean everyone knows what he impuls us about I think he wasn't on the team that I played in in 2016, he was a vice captain and I've already noticed that there's kind of a different feeling having him play on the team I think he kind of just almost I don't know what the word is kind of just gives you confidence you know, you sort of see how he interacts with the crowd you see how he goes about his days you know, he's very switched on, he knows what to do he's done plenty of these now I think for me it's being around him has kind of helped me you know, feel a bit more confident going into the week as well so that's always a positive Can you place yourself on the other side and imagine being an opponent when he gets on those roles where he's going nuts and the bug eyes and the whole thing and what kind of an effect that has if you're an opponent of his that he's on that role Yeah, I mean when he's holding puts from everywhere you just want to throw him in the lake I'm sure but he's yeah, you just don't want to face that he's when he's on, he's a man on a mission he's pretty much unstoppable when he's doing that to you so you know, from my side it's a long way to continue this week Okay, we're going to go over to fill number five I'm sorry to take you back to 2016 again but I was just wondering was the plan for you to play more if you were a hadn't lost the first session so heavily Honestly, couldn't tell you couldn't tell you Phil No idea Short answer Okay, right behind number seven Matt, kind of just to piggyback off that one of the hardest things a captain has to do is to tell four of the world's best players that they're not going to be teeing it up in a session just curious how that news was broken to you in 2016 and how you took it I mean listen, I was a rookie I didn't expect to be playing five matches obviously, of course, I want to play five matches, you know regardless of how we're playing you know, I wanted to be part of it and experience it but at the time disappointed frustrated really but I look back now and it made sense I look at the way I was hitting it at the time compared to I look at myself now it was very different I think I mean, I've just accepted that I've just accepted that it was my first ever one it was in America, it was around a golf course that did not suit me one bit kind of just adds up Number seven, Bec, right Hey Matt, you mentioned hitting it further nowadays and it making you a better player I'm just curious how that helps you tackle a golf course like this now versus say like a shorter hitting version of yourself shorter version I can hit drive it everywhere so that's good now I'm hitting a few three words so that's a progress but yeah, I mean there's just obviously a few holes that maybe they might move tees up that are drivable all of a sudden like I wouldn't say comfortable but I can drive it up by the green and that makes a difference rather than I don't have to really get after it I can hit a normal one and it's going to be up there and you know make it easier for myself or my partner or whatever obviously in the past holes like that it's like I'm hitting a great drive and it's 30, 40 yard short rather than up by the green so there's a bit of that and then also just being you know, confident in how straight I can hit it sort of as added speed in any way you know, the more confident I've become I can get after it more and hit more fairways and hitting it longer so and just for reference, how much ball speed do you think you gained in your own? I couldn't tell you I honestly couldn't tell you, we didn't really sort of measure from the start but I mean last week in Florida I was pretty close to Bryson 75 so yeah, I was about that last week in Florida but that wasn't for that many so yeah, not quite reaching those levels yeah Back left Doug, 2-4 Matt, as much as you say you want to forget your week at Hazel time You keep bringing it up No, no, I'm just curious if there was one experience or one lesson from there that you could apply to this week I mean it's not something that I can apply but it's something that I definitely learn I would have liked to have played a 4-ball match before my singles just to play my own ball to see what it is like in competition obviously then I played 1-4 some on the Saturday morning it's like the equivalent playing 9 holes really isn't it and there's no flow or rhythm to it so you never really get what it's like so that was the big thing I took away I made sure that if I ever played again and I speak to the captain I say listen, I'm not saying you have to play me in a 4-ball, I'm just saying from experience I feel like it would benefit me to play a 4-ball just to have that experience to feel what it's like going to be like Sunday with the crowds and the pressure from experience front right 1 talking about playing 5 matches so it looks like this golf course has a big physical test physical requirement do you think for some players even for some guys it might be too much to ask them to play 5 rounds in 3 days? it's a good point, I think if it's blown a gale all week that's obviously added extra too up to the T's and down to the greens and stuff that's a lot particularly for the caddies but yeah I think in terms of players nowadays most guys are great athletes so I'd like to think you can do 36 a day for 2 days and then play 18 on Friday I know there's obviously so many added stressors with the crowd and emotions and everything else comes with it but you know I like to think that everyone really can kind of get through that pretty kind of easily we are with Terrell Hatton welcome to your second career Ryder Cup just want to ask you where's there more comfort for you was it as a rookie on home soil in Paris in Europe or being a more of an established player here on the road where did you feel more comfortable as you came into the Ryder Cup experience? well I think obviously I'm in two different places in my career um Paris was an amazing experience and I was obviously pleased to make this Ryder Cup team I guess proved to myself that I can wasn't like a once off and it's a special team to be a part of and we're looking forward to the week ahead alrighty let's hit the floor for you for some questions I guess we'll start right here in number 20 Mark Hi Terrell with regard to Pulse you was a pretty emotional player I'm curious how you view him and kind of what makes him tick for all these done on the Ryder Cup yeah he's obviously a huge part of Team Europe very passionate and has a great Ryder Cup record and like I said he's a massively important part of this team if you were an opponent of his can you imagine how when he gets on those rolls and he's dropping those long putts and what not how that can affect the other side to some degree maybe get under its skin or whatever you know well I think momentum in match players is a huge thing and moments like that kind of can turn the match around or kind of get you going on to hopefully win a point so Pulse has been very good over the years at holding a chip shot at a certain time or you know a long putt and maybe turning the match or sort of taking it on to win that point so that's something that we all need to try and do this week and we'll definitely be trying our best to do that straight across number three a quick one do you know exactly when you're going to play your first match and exactly who it's going to be with without naming names of course and if the answer is yes how early did you know that I think the guys have been told um Paddy told us because it may be yesterday I think or the day prior just so that we all know kind of where we're at and um we know what we're doing we're going to go back right number eleven David we're here Tyrell there's always been a little bit of speculation that you might be a target um some of the crowds here but is there a sort of comfort that nobody here could ever be as hard on you as you are on yourself that's probably very true um I'm not sure exactly what um kind of reception I'll get tomorrow um as we're the away team I think we all expect a little bit of well not really any cheers so we'll take it in our stride um and um see how we go and this thing of being down on yourself at times is it easier to pull out of that when you've got a partner with you who's going to say no come on there's only one hole or whatever so does that then become easier to overcome it? oh well I think for me um I don't kind of for me personally I can't really do that this week because it's almost not fair on your partner you don't want to then essentially almost bring them down and that's not what we're about it's not what you do as a team you're in it together and uh obviously you support one another and um go out there and try and play as well as you can we're going to go to number seven I'm curious when you're on the course how often do you like change your game plan based on what your partner's doing um for instance are you hitting to more conservative targets if your partner's in trouble you know four sims versus four wars like how fluid is your plan and does it change a lot? I think it all depends what the situation of the match is and things like that um I think at the end of the day you just you still have to go out and play your own game um if your naturally a more aggressive player then sometimes shying away from that you're not going to hit as good a shot as you as you could um I think you just have to try and be true true to yourself play your own game um and yes I guess you do need to be a little mindful at certain points in the match but generally just go out there and just do what you normally do again back right number 12 have you spoken you mentioned here about you know clearly the crowd will be extremely partisan have you spoken as a team about how or if you should react to the crowd you know um in terms of you know hushing them in terms of reacting to what what what they do have you all spoken together and said right well this is you know keep calm and keep the living it um I mean we've spoken a little bit but I think at the end of the day you kind of go out there and we we're we're true to ourselves as our own individual people and I guess what you'd you'd sort of how you'd behave um any other week and yeah we're not I wouldn't say gonna be aggressive if that's what you're asking front left Jeffle 19 I would guess as a young player you aspire to be part of this European Ryder Cup uh dynamic once you're there as you were in Paris what's the biggest thing you pulled from being part of that uh I guess for me that I'm good enough to be here um the fact that I've made teams now is is good for me as individual and how my own thought process kind of works um and yeah as obviously growing up watching the Ryder Cup and certain members on our team that you've idolized and now you're sharing a team room with them and obviously it makes it very special number eight across the way here coming in off back to back and I'm just curious do you feel like form coming into the Ryder Cup carries over into the Ryder Cup at all or is it so different with being matched playing with a partner that it's kind of a new ball game well I hope not it's a different it's a different atmosphere out in the golf course um you know I'd like to think that generally when under pressure in big tournaments in the past I've played good golf and this week's obviously shouldn't is no different to that it's big pressure each day and generally over my career I think I've been able to play well in big moments so I take confidence from that although my form hasn't been great coming into this week with the added pressure that comes into it hopefully that allows me to raise my game to where it needs to be to help this team we're going to go back left number 27 Martin how would you rank the Ryder Cup with the four majors well it's hard because golf is such an individual sport most of the time it's hard to kind of compare them I think the Ryder Cup is extremely special and the bond that you create in the team room is is incredible really and you know we're all pulling in the same direction um and to be on the team obviously in Paris to be on a winning Ryder Cup team obviously made it even better and um I think it's like I said it feels very different to any major we have a special question coming from Scott morning Carol can you tell us about your trip to Asheville, North Carolina well that's where me and Emily got married earlier this year and I basically drank my body weight and beer so it's it's a cool place my waistline has not looked good since but obviously look forward to going back when we can now you're married alright, Terrell thank you we are with world number one John Rom John welcome to your second career Ryder Cup you know frequently through these interviews we hear about the reverence you know the European side Espersevi and Jose Maria and such but beyond your two countrymen which are obvious answers are there any other players as you were growing up as you watched a Ryder Cup beyond the two that you kind of locked into and you know were kind of captured by their spirit and their fervor for the Ryder Cup I think one that is often or often can be overlooked is Monty you know Monty had a really good run the Ryder Cup especially in singles right somebody who had a great career who maybe was not the most vocal player out there like maybe Sevvy was but got things done he was a tough guy to beat so I think Monty is one of those that can be overlooked okay thank you for that insight let's start back right that is number 11 hi John only your second Ryder Cup but you're already pretty much expected to be one of the leaders certainly on the course aren't you ready to make that step up what kind of a player would I say if I say no right so yes yes I'm ready for that it's a challenge I look forward to obviously so a lot of players in our team that have a lot of experience and know how to get it done I'm ready to add my name into that into that group tell me a feeling that there was going to be extra responsibility on you given obviously your position in the rankings yes and no we have plenty of players in the team that are vocal enough that have done this enough that naturally will gravitate towards for guidance so I'm not going to actively go and just make myself hey I'm a leader now because I don't have that massive of an ego so in that case hopefully like I've done so far this year I let the clubs and the ball to the talking and I leave the speeches and the leadership to the guys that have been doing this for a long time John right behind me Mark 20 hey John can you describe what what you believe Pulse means to this team and what he's done over the years you know in this competition for you guys well I think Pulse is one of those players you might get once in a generation right that embody the spirit of the Ryder Cup right he you have somebody who war ranking wise it's from 40-50 you know you wouldn't say war ranking or stats wise is anything massively special but when he steps to the doors and you get to the Ryder Cup it is the impulter he's got a pretty good record and he's a tough guy to beat it's match play and it's something special and the beauty of this team and the beauty of this event and the beautiful part of something and somebody like Ian Pulter they really become somebody this week it's just as a follow to that can you put yourself on the other side can you put yourself on the other side as an opponent and when he gets on those rolls that he's gotten on with the eyes and the fist pumps and the long punch it's possessed how rattling or maybe under the skin can that be for an opponent do you think I wouldn't want to play Ian that's not in that especially in that mode like we saw in Medina because you have somebody who's a very good putter who will make the putt at the right time and even though like I said might not look like anything special he's not going to make any mistakes and he's going to hold on to that match and just be there and be relentless and that's the worst type of opponent he's a tough man to beat and you know it's a great guy it's one of those guys in other sports that you may hate him if he's not on your team but you love him if he's on yours I think number 5 hey John I know there's still the writer cup but when you look at the season that you just completed it there was a lot of stuff, there was a lot going on how do you sum that up or how do you reflect about that you know it's not the first time I answered this question and it just dawned on me that it's only been five and a half months since my son was born and there's been so many things that happen since then it almost feels like it's been a couple of years worth of experiences in those five months and besides the setbacks that I've already talked about extensively the good moments the great experiences the happiness vastly outweighs the setbacks and that's all I can say about this year I've became a dad we're in a really good place family-wise I'm very happy at home it's been amazing got my first major and played really good golf all year around I have nothing to complain it's been amazing no matter what happened COVID-wise no matter what events I missed or what could have been and I think that's the most important thing right I feel like it's very easy in life to focus on what could have been and what you didn't have but you know I'm choosing to just realize how many good things have happened and forget about those moments does that kind of perspective or does that possibly give you some perspective coming into an event like this that a lot of people view as you know the biggest thing ultra important super important obviously you want to win we do want to win but it's a team effort right it's not like I can do it by myself unless you're a polter he can do it by himself so it's it would be a really nice end to the year right even though we've already started the new season technically it would be a very nice end to what's been a wonderful year right that win in France you know you create a bond that it's unforgettable and it would be you know a really good feeling to be able to do it and first try in my case a new soil as well so it's it's something we all want to add to the calendar it's something we all want to add to the repertoire right being able to win a ride a cup especially in a way a way country straight across number three John from what you've seen so far what are the biggest differences in temperament and captaining style between Thomas and Patrick hmm don't know if my vice captain will let me disclose too much well I must say I didn't know either of them that much before the ride a cup obviously I've been a pro for a couple years only when it happened in Paris and I'm predominantly on the PJ Tour so I don't see Thomas I didn't see Thomas that much or Patrick they can say the only thing I must say Patrick is a lot more calm than Thomas was am I right on that? a little bit yeah okay so I feel like that's a better question for a vice captain because I think they see and hear a lot more of the reality because the captain needs to be calm cool and composed for all the plays it can't be going off on all of us so we might not see the whole truth but obviously they've both been very very well spoken and what they very well expressive and what they have in mind what they expect from us and they've made it very easy and very comfortable for all of us they've done a really good job but just letting us do what we have to do and just letting each one of us know especially in my case what they expect from me and what they want me to do and that's been wonderful I know you can't name names obviously how early did you know when you were playing first and who you were playing with wait what do you want how early were you given that information of who you're going to play with tomorrow and that well I still don't know so you tell me I think like you guys think we know a lot more than you guys know I mean I have an idea of a couple players I may play with I mean then you guys see us throwing balls in the tee yesterday and it's kind of well here you go that's how we do things just leave it out the chance straight back 26 and hey John can you talk about the transition going from golf as an individual sport to golf as a team sport what the transition is like for you honestly is great and it's something that for some reason for all of us becomes quite easy I think because we have so much of individual golf where for the most part you only care about yourself a lot of decisions in life and even at home I've made due to golf and what we need to do to become the better players when you get here it's not just about yourself or your family it's it's about all 12 of us and to be fair a lot of the decisions are made for us it's a lot easier but it is really cool to see you're here a long time I mean when Lee played the right of cup for the first time I wasn't even three years old yet and to see all these great people that have accomplished so many things come together with a smile that only a team event in the right of cup can bring to you a juvenile excitement that you don't usually expect a 48 year old half it's very unique and it's something that I wish everybody could see I feel like a lot of times we're missing that in life and a week like this can definitely give you that youth back in that sense mentally even though I'm still 26 I'm very young still takes me back to when I was a kid hoping to be playing in the right of cup when I was a kid representing Spain and how I felt back then and obviously magnified Toms 100 in this situation but it's something that is what makes the right of cup so special amongst other things we're all one and we're all the same and we all have the same level of excitement and the smiles that we see around and the happiness and the joy is something that again I wish everybody could see Far left 22 Hi John, you're world number one in the US national champion is that do you take how do you balance taking confidence from that to put on you and as a quick second part of run related have you ever actually met Monty? I have met Monty, god I can't say when but I have met him quickly in passing I remember not meeting him but I remember I watched him finish the last two holes in Valorama I think it was 0-9 and the Volvo Masters amongst many other players Paul Casey and Stinson signed my shirt so I remember watching him then and if anything being a major champion this year on a tough set up it's just a history to give you confidence at the same time it's match play it's different tomorrow morning four sums or four bowls so you're playing with a partner it's not individual anymore so it is a little bit of a different game but at the same time you got to do try your best in that sense it's the same thing so if anything just gives me confidence in that sense that I know what I'm capable of we've got three minutes left one question each let's go to six John's a pretty demanding golf course obviously and the cold and wind can wear down on anybody how do you prepare your body and mind for the possibility of going all five this week? I'm physically ready for it I know I look like it but I train every day when I'm at home believe it or not and I'm in really good shape in that sense 36 I feel like the biggest challenge on an event like this is possibly five rounds of the mental aspect of it and that's where I think you need to learn to really unwind quickly and get ready when you need to and I mean on the golf course as well you can be 100% focused locked in for five hours because that is mentally draining you got to learn how to switch off a little bit have a bit of fun with your partner and the caddies and then when you need to hit the shot be ready and in there so it's a bit of things also when you get to the team room after the round practice round whatever it is everybody is having such a good time that that in itself is a great rest now in my case the most important things outside of all that would be hydrating properly and getting enough sleep those two things are going to be the keys this week as well so throughout the week make sure you sleep enough and letting your body recover and hydrate to make sure that recovery is even better last English question here then we'll do a few Spanish John when did this competition really begin to matter to you and then the second part is the video that came out out of context from Team Europe is that an accurate depiction of how you celebrated in 2018 hahaha no but that's what they want me to do this year if we were to happen I mean it's not what I did can tell you the environment is not too far from that okay now nobody was on tables shirt off I certainly wasn't but it's the environment is somewhat similar some people were going just as hard that night celebrating which I don't blame them you know it's a stressful long year and like I said earlier when you're in an environment with no judgment you're not scared of anybody posting it on Instagram you can let yourself go a little bit and be vulnerable and that's a fun part out of things like that then when did this event oh sorry I don't know exactly the age but it's been on my radar for a very long time you know I think when you're born in Spain the right of cup is something special there's a lot of legacy in this event between Sevillali and the players got the most amount of right of cup points for Team Europe in history it's a lot to live up to a lot of expectation when you're a Spaniard but that just means a lot of times we're called a different word for passionate but I think that's when all this great emotions can be used in match play and that's why it's just general people have done great so for a very long time I've been looking forward to being a right of cup player and still is something you have in mind every day especially while you're approaching obviously we have a lot of individual events going on but you know when the topic comes up it is something can't explain it but it's very unique K-1 do you want to ask two quick ones Spanish? well tell a little about the main differences between Paris and here both as a player and personally and also the context I don't think we're less than 10 Spaniards including the cup there's a difference I'm not a novice it's not my first riders the second I know what's going to be the dynamics of the week more or less we don't have any and let's say how to manage my time organize myself better it's something very important that the first rider didn't know how many real commitments we're going to have and then that was my first year but I was also number 3 in the world this is my second which is relatively early but I'm number 1 after the Vagana Warante as a person there's a lot of difference I've learned a lot and I've grown a lot and I see myself a little more prepared for it not less a little less intimidated but with a lot of desire at the same time it's a very nice week and a lot of reservations of course and of course and of course of course if we have to talk about the strong points of Sergio and what would be the strong point of John how would it work? I think the strongest point is the grip and the the Spanish connection we're two that we never give up that we're going to fight every blow and with a certain imagination in the field, that's in match play it's difficult to fight, especially in a good day the strong point of Sergio but it doesn't fail so I'm delighted and it's not that I know someone from Tiagrin so we're two very good players from Tiagrin that in a field like this in these conditions it can be very difficult to fight but I think our strongest point is that grip, that determination that comes to us a little unique as a Spanish we would say a little bad we are joined by European captain Patrick Harrington we have pairings and now we have matchups too maybe an overarching thought on the four teams you put forth and what you see in the matchups that will go off tomorrow morning well obviously I'm very comfortable with the team I've put out there a strong experience team I did have 12 players that could play for some so probably that was a pretty tough decision to have to rest for it wasn't a very easy decision I think it was pretty clear to me where we were going though very happy with my partnerships I've put out there and clearly it's interesting when you see the matchups we would have been aware that JT and Jordan would have gone first obviously so we were obviously going to lead ourselves with a strong partnership as you can see with John and Sergio so I'm sure the whole world would be watching that one after that we got Victor Hovland what a great player what a great guy equally matched up with Paul Casey strong player over the years not really necessarily thinking that we're going there for an experienced guy with a rookie Victor is in a nice place but two strong players together obviously Lee and Matt both from the same town at home Matt himself a great match player playing great and Lee you know a stalwart beside him with the experience I like the way that they've come out together, played together and I feel I feel pretty strongly about that and obviously everybody would have predicted the last one I assume that wasn't too hard Rory and Aneen played well in the past probably going up against their new young guns Patrick and Xander look like a partnership that they may be looking for for the future going against an established partnership of ours okay thank you let's hit the floor Shane, number three Patrick I thought it was very interesting that all four of your pairs only played together in the practice rounds one out of three days that's highly unusual not just for European teams for American teams for anyone can you explain the thought process there we knew our partnerships well in advance picks where we knew our partnerships with picks and all that was considered you don't want to get bored playing with a guy honestly you know I've had it in tournaments you play three days with somebody and then you're playing with them the next four rounds of golf that can be really tough I want everybody in my team to play with everybody in the team to not turn up in a week like this and by the end of the week I never saw a player I never experienced that player I never got to see what they were like in this situation so I was very keen on the players to mix with each other and to get the full experience of the other eleven players in the team I knew the partnerships were looking after themselves yes they have to try out forcems and they did have a go at the forcems and made sure that they're comfortable with which tee shot they're hitting and which ball they're hitting I didn't know enough of that but I just didn't want them to over do it so I know I'm probably the first captain to do it like that but it's certainly every captain has to bring their own personal experiences and from my personal experience you know you want to turn up on Friday and still have that freshness and enthusiasm and excitement and a little bit of I suppose a little bit of intrigue in the first you know when you're going out there and then a quick follow-up you hinted at it how soon did all these players know about these matchups when did they learn them? I would think the earliest ever so very early they're well aware of what they were doing early on this week and yeah players have said they want to know so we knew I probably told you these partnerships likely partnerships we've been working on these for months when the team was named a week ago I would say I have 12 players that could play foursome so yeah there was no partnership there were other partnerships that could have gone in there but there was no surprises in terms of what we could do we had plenty of options and this strong possibility we would make some match up foursome going forward as well because as I said we have 12 players who are very balanced very strong all the way through and good ball strikers that can play both foursome and fourball thank you on your lower left Jeff 19 Patrick you have Matt Fitzpatrick going out in the third game you were an assistant in 16 he had a rough go can you just speak to the growth that you've seen in him from that point to where he is now well look he's always had it I know he didn't have a very good week comfortable week that week in 2016 we had a tough week as a team but Matt's been an underestimated player for whatever reason for the whole of his career he continually delivers on a big stage he is a great player does fantastic all the way back to he's a US amateur champion yes seems to get lost just because he's a quiet lad and a studious lad works hard I think he gets lost a little bit in the general media in the sense of there's not enough razzmatazz if you look at his results and the way he plays he's great I've said it all along I focus much more on the score than anything else it doesn't have to be all showy and fancy and all that Matt is just a great solid golfer and always underestimated and not by me or his team but sometimes people just because you're not flashy people don't seem to not think of him at first point even there you were struggling to get the name out he's been around a long time and is a winner all right right across here the way number six Steve Stoker was saying that nothing is going to, barring injury or illness nothing will change his plan for tomorrow afternoon is that yours as well or are you going to watch how they go in the morning and maybe adjust things maybe adjust your plan for the four balls no I think we're pretty set I would I would know my plan for tomorrow all the way through players are aware of that plan and clearly we don't put the team on to late morning because things can happen anything can happen that's slightly I won't say unknown but slightly unknown at this stage but we will be very set in what we're doing and it would take a lot first to change your mind we're going to go to Alex on 20 behind me Patrick you've been a vice captain numerous times has the pairings part of this and when you told players change from the first time you were vice captain till now certainly changed since the first time I was a player you know I know my first one I found out just before the opening ceremony on the Thursday that I was playing Friday morning that was kind of somebody had pulled out sort of thing so that was a little bit different but I think we have tried over the years to be as early as possible we're given the information and I do believe this is the earliest this week for us I got it out there early because we were very comfortable and I said this is an interesting team for Europe it's very strong and balanced all the way through you know and for some it's very balanced and clearly football wise so it's not like it's we had plenty to sit down and work with it was a very fair way of putting out the team and the players responded to that they're comfortable knowing when and where they're going to play and they respond very nicely to that balance could you foresee playing anybody five matches this week yeah look it's it yeah absolutely you know you get a guy out there winning you can push him a bit too hard there's no doubt about that but yeah it is a possibility that players will play five times it wouldn't be off the cards no but maybe ideal worlds you wouldn't do that we are going to beam out to Ian Slattery Ian you're with the European captain go ahead sir hi Padre with Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick both playing Pro V1 X's and Hovland and Casey both playing Pro V1's they're both playing the same balls as their partners was that part of the reasoning of their choice on top of their obvious qualities and a second question is there any truth in the room where you've ordered Packers jerseys and ditched the uniforms for the lads tomorrow after Steve Strickers Chicago Bears admission uh golf ball wise yes it was a clear part of it players are interesting it depends on lots of players can by the way there's no one ball rule anymore so they have made it a lot easier so you can mix and match their golf ball as you go along but it certainly makes it easier if both players are using the same ball but also depends on the player himself some players you know have good history and might have used another ball at some stage and are happy to change other players you know might necessarily have that in their head so it's strongly considered what golf ball is being used by the players and something you have to be very aware of when you're looking at a partnership and we might recycle there are lovely outfits from yesterday the Green Bay Packer Esk ones look forward to that let's beam out again Adam Schupack go ahead sir you're with you're with Captain Herring right given that you said that you feel your team is very balanced that you could put so many different lineups out there is it safe to say that all 12 of your players will play tomorrow it would be like an unknown event if that didn't happen like clearly yeah something that I can't predict right now so we put the team in late tomorrow morning and we do that for a reason because obviously we have to look at all scenarios but I can't contemplate a reason for you know I don't know illness or COVID or something like that but everybody will play and everybody is ready to play and we have been ready for that for the last three days going out again to Scott Misha go ahead sir I was wondering I mean you've put all of your most experienced players out in that first session how much was that by design yeah we come with an experience setup yeah no doubt about it but it was our strong setup it just happened to be experienced so yeah you know I was happy with that there's no doubt when it came out and you're looking at it and you go yet that's very experienced that is a big bonus but it was also a very strong setup but it didn't weaken our four balls that was very important you know we still we still have a strong four ball setup and we haven't taken from the afternoon by going with a strong setup in the morning let's stay in the oh sorry go ahead Scott follow it thank you let's stay in the room let's go to Brian 8 can you just talk about the importance of the first session in a Ryder Cup on the Friday morning and maybe a little bit on the reason for your ordering of the four pairing look the first session the importance of it is decided after the result that's the way it goes the team that goes out there and gets a lead will say momentum is everything in the team that doesn't will have to find another way so in a perfect world you would like to go out there win the session, win it well and lead from the front and keep going we don't get that choice we've got to go out and earn it we've put out a strong foursome's group yes as regards to the sort of positioning of the matches the only one that would have been JT and Jordan and we've got a very strong pairing in that match outside of that clearly Rory and Pulse were a pairing that would predict it and I suppose if anything we could kind of just split those up from the first group there at the end and we've two lovely pairings in the middle so it's just a nice way but we weren't too focused prior to that first match where we would have been aware we weren't too focused on who they were going to come up against or how that was going to pan out just to follow up was there something you saw in Rory and Ian in Paris a couple of years ago that encouraged you to put them together again absolutely they played lovely there they worked very nicely on this golf course both of them are in good form so it was a partnership we came here you would have always had in your head and then when you match it up on this golf course you show this is a running certainty for Meridae in the week let's go over to Jeff, lower left 19 John Rahm is in here earlier today talking about the great Spanish heritage in this event and what it's meant how long have you been thinking about putting that pairing together with Sergio it's been there a good while it's something both of them really want I think they're both at a nice place in their careers now it is interesting when you match up countrymen I know I would say this I started off playing with Paul McGinley in the World Cup back in the day we won it in 97 and he was just a great partner captain but as I progressed as a player there was a period where we just weren't a great partnership anymore there wasn't a clear leader in it I think with John and Sergio they really have looked at this they matured themselves over the last couple of years into a beautiful position you know where it is the right of cup of course where Sergio is he's the experienced one he's leading out there and he knows he's playing with the world number one fantastic for both of them and they're really very very comfortable that they're going to get the best out of both of them both of their games right behind me Alex Patrick if you we make a lot of the matchups between the Americans and your team if you would have known what the matchups were beforehand would you have changed anything no you can't you can't really focus on the opposition you know and what your team is doing I'm happy with what I see on paper you know as I said we did know JT and Jordan were likely to lead out and we want a strong start ourselves that is an interesting match but you got to focus on your own team your own players and be comfortable that no matter who they come up against they will do the job Captain we're going to wrap it up right here on three Patrick obviously 4-0 in Paris got to be tough to leave a guy like that out how hard was it and how did he react that says a lot about our team you know very much says a lot about our team that he is comfortable after going 4-0 in the matches that you know he's not there in the foursome the first morning he can look around his team and be confident that there's other people taking up that strain and he is prepared to sit there and wait his chance in the afternoon which really sums up our team how balanced it is and how comfortable and the understanding of the players that they have to give other people their opportunity as well I want every player in my team absolutely dying to play every match but I want them to also understand that there's other people in their team they have to step aside and they've done that brilliantly they're in a very nice place they're ready to go and they're very comfortable that their teammates are going to pull their weight and that everybody will do their job this week captain you've reached Ryder Cup have a good evening and we look forward to seeing your team tomorrow