Tag: Professionals

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Ladies Tours Live LPGA Tour

LPGA Tour Georgia Hall: “Happy with my long game, so I think just focus my short game in a minute.”

Georgia Hall of England walks the fairway on the 2nd hole during the first round of the Cognizant Founders Cup at Mountain Ridge Country Club. (Getty Images)

COGNIZANT FOUNDERS CUP

October 7, 2021

Georgia Hall

West Caldwell, New Jersey, USA

Mountain Ridge Country Club

Q. Georgia Hall, 69 here today in round one. You got off to a solid start starting your day on the back with four birdies, but some struggles coming in. What changed at the turn?

GEORGIA HALL: Yeah, I think the front nine, so it was my back nine, I think it’s playing a bit tougher actually, a bit longer with some tricky pins.

Yeah, I just got my two bogeys from two wedge shots, which was a little bit disappointing, and missing a seven foot on the last to go 3-under.

But I played really, really well. My long game was great. Probably one of the best it’s been all year, so I look forward to tomorrow.

Q. You’ve had three Top 10s this season. What would be a satisfying close as we get into the final stretch of the year?

GEORGIA HALL: Obviously I’d love to win this event. I mean, it’s a fantastic golf courses, one of the best we’ve played all year. I really look forward to playing it tomorrow.

But, yeah, I mean, I just have a really good week and play well.

Q. What will you work on now heading into round two?

GEORGIA HALL: I think a little bit of putting and then maybe a bit of chipping. Happy with my long game, so I think just focus my short game in a minute.

Interview Transcript by ASAP Sports

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European Tour Live

European Tour: Ross McGowan goes low to lead in Madrid at the ACCIONA Open de España after the first round.

Ross McGowan of England tees off on the 18th hole during Day One of The Open de Espana at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid. (Getty Images)

Thursday October 7, 2021

Tournament: ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid
Race to Dubai: Tournament 35 of 40 events
Venue: Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Prize Fund: €1,500,000

Round One Report

Ross McGowan produced more magic in Madrid to fire a course record 61 and lead the way after round one of the 2021 ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid but World Number One Jon Rahm was just two shots back on home soil.

Englishman McGowan claimed his first European Tour win in the Spanish capital 12 years ago at the Madrid Masters but had to wait 11 years to seal a second at last season’s Italian Open.

A third round 60 in his victory at Centro Nacional de Golf represents his lowest ever European Tour round and his opening effort this week is his second lowest as he moved to ten under at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

Home favourite Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez was his nearest challenger but all eyes were on Rahm, who was at eight under as he seeks a third consecutive victory at his home open.

The U.S. Open Champion took huge crowds with him after this event was cancelled last season due to the coronavirus pandemic but it was McGowan who stole the headlines as he carded eight birdies and an eagle.

Dutchman Wil Besseling, Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Scot David Drysdale were at seven under, a shot clear of another Scot in Grant Forrest, Kiwi Ryan Fox, Swede Joakim Lagergren and Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist.

Forrest recorded the 31st hole-in-one of the 2021 Race to Dubai, holing an eight iron from 181 yards at the ninth.

Player Quotes

Ross McGowan: “First out this morning, it was a bit chilly on the range and the first four or five holes the ball wasn’t really travelling but got away with a really good birdie on three and the par five on four as well, and after that it started warming up and I started finding my range with the irons, so holed a couple of putts and hit it close so went well.

“I think a few things have clicked. Some work I have done with the coach and some of the covid restrictions somewhat easing off, I find mentally I am in a better place, so I think it is a combination of the two.

“I always seems to putt pretty well here and last time I played quite well here too, so looking forward to tomorrow.”

Jon Rahm: “It was a really good start. Played eight flawless holes and then a bit of a stumble from 18 through three, I didn’t hit my best shots and was able to save a couple pars to minimise the damage. After that I was able to play some good golf coming down the stretch, giving myself some chances, but obviously we saw what Ross McGowan shot this morning – ten under is a heck of a round out here.

“I played good enough to maybe do it, but you have to play flawless and make the putts, hit the right shots and on a golf course like this that is a little bit more old school, it is a little narrower and targets are smaller, so it is easier to end up out of position. Overall, very happy with my round.

“I have a better understanding, but it doesn’t compare to Centro Nacional de Golf, it was my home course for two years. Nobody in that field in 2018 had played it more than me, I knew it inside and out. Last time I played here was the first time on the golf course, but it didn’t take long to learn. You have to hit it really well off the tee, if I drive like I did early on and at the end when I was hitting it long and straight, wedges into every hole, then it is a doable score.”

“There are quite a few fans out here and they are rather enthusiastic, they have been cooped up for too long and they have the chance to come out and watch me play, which I haven’t played on Spanish soil since this event two years ago, so they are golf hungry, and they were great. From the beginning, every single shot and every single putt I made they were really supportive, and every time I missed a shot, they were extremely supportive as well, so that always helps.”

Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez: “My start is fantastic, it’s in my mind. I remember so many years ago playing the Open de España and it was a great moment, plus Jon Rahm is near the front and I am very good friends with him, we played a lot together, and it is fantastic. So many fans, my friends and family are here. My dream!

“There were so many friends and family watching, this is my home, it is ten minutes from here, but it has been an incredible week so far.”

Press Release by the European Tour Communications

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European Challenge Tour European Tour Highlights Tours Ladies European Tour Ladies Tours Live LPGA Tour PGA Tour Professionals Satellite Tours Top Tours

How the Skandinavian professional golfers raise up their national pride. A weekend filled out with golf.

Joakim Lagergren

Last weekend hosted events for all professional tours, and this is an overview on the performance of the golfers from Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. There are not many players from these countries. However, some of their names are getting more and more noticed within the golf world.

European Tour: Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Starting of with the European Tour, the Swedish golfer Joakim Lagergren, was close to bring home the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship trophy. He signed four rounds of (67-72-67-66) to finish with a total of 16-under par, for a silver medal only two shots behind the winner, Danny Willett. Lagergren showed a very solid game throughout the entire tournament, being two and six the average of bogeys and birdies per round respectively. Kristoffer Broberg finished strong with a fourth round of 7-under par (65) for a T9, coming close to the end one of his best seasons in the European Tour.
To round out the Swedish crew, Alex Noren came in T12 with a total of 11-under par (70-68-70-69). Noren is currently ranked 59th in the OWGR, and he is one of the players from Sweden with the most number of European Tour wins, a total of 10, only one victory behind Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson.
Nicolai HØJGAARD and Jeff Winther, from Denmark also had a good performance that placed them both at T14, finishing with a total score of 10-under par.

Joakim Lagergren of Sweden tees off on the 5th hole during Day Four of The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at The Old Course. (Getty Images)

Challenge Tour: Swiss Challenge

Moving on to the Challenge Tour which consisted of the Swiss Challenge hosted at Golf Saint Apollinaire, Michelbach-Le-Haut, France. Denmark leaves a mark within the Top 10 finishes, bringing the first and second place trophies home. Marcus Helligkilde was proclaimed winner after he signed a total of 25-under par (65-67-62-69). Helligkilde is currently 3rd in the Challenge Tour, and ranked 143rd in the OWGR. All signs point at him playing the Main Tour next season. Only one shot behind at the Swiss Challenge, his fellow national teammate Nicolai Kristensen completed a four-round performance with scores of (65-67-65-67) for a total of 24-under par and a T2. Kristensen improved his Challenge Tour Ranking (CTR) by 28 positions last weekend, although that will not be enough to get the main card just yet.
Niklas Nørgaard MØLLER, also from Denmark, made a Top 5 at Golf Saint Apollinaire, shooting a total of 20-under par, and Lauri Ruuska came in T8 for Finland, only one shot behind of 19-under par.

LPGA Tour: Shoprite LPGA Classic

Looking at the LPGA, we can focus on the Swedish professional golfer Anna Nordqvist. She recently came in at T12 at the Shoprite LPGA Classic with a total of 9-under par and rounds of (69-69-66). Nordqvist currently holds 9 Career victories and 75 Career Top 10. Her solid game shows in the Rolex Ranking, where she is placed 16th. Anna felt at home during the Shoprite LPGA Classic and that is how she wanted to transmit it through social media: “No place like home but some weeks on the road are a little better than others… thank you @borgataac and my @mgmresortsintl family for making me, my clubs and my caddy feel “home” this week during @shopritelpga” published Anna on her Instagram account after the tournament.
Few positions below, her fellow Swedish player Madelene Sagstrom, and the professional golfer from Finland, Matilda Castren finished 6-under par for a T27 position.

Ladies European Tour. LET: Estrella Damm Ladies Open

The Estrella Damm Ladies Open took place last weekend 1st-3rd of October 2021, in Club de Golf Terramar, in Spain. Maja Stark from Sweden, took a 2-shot lead and brought the tophy home after three rounds of nonstop improvement (74-69-65) that drove her to be first with a total of 8-under par.
With a difference of four strokes, Krista Bakker (FIN) came in T4 and Linda Wessberg (SWE) T6 with a total of 3-under par. Sweden showed some golf power as Jessica Karlsson also made a Top 10 on the leaderboard with rounds of (71-70-73).

PGA Tour: Sanderson Farms Championship

Lastly the PGA tour where the Sanderson Farms Championship was played at the Country Club of Jackson, in Jackson, Mississippi. Henrik Norlander sits on the spotlight as he was the only player from the Skandinavian area to make the cut. Norlander left the standards high with a T4, only 2 shots behind the leader Sam Burns, from the U.S.

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Ladies Tours Live

MEL REID: “I think it’s extremely hard to win on the LPGA. I don’t think people realize how good these girls are.”

Mel Reid of Team Europe plays her shot from the 14th tee during the first round of the Solheim Cup at the Inverness Club (Getty Images)

SHOPRITE LPGA CLASSIC PRESENTED BY ACER

September 29, 2021

Mel Reid

Galloway, New Jersey, USA

Seaview, A Dolce Hotel
Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the media center for the 2021 ShopRite Classic presented by Acer. We’re joined this afternoon by defending champion here at Seaview, Mel Reid. Thanks for stopping by today. You became a Rolex first time winner here last October; what is it like to return to an LPGA Tour event for the first time as a defending champion?

MEL REID: Yeah, obviously it’s nice. Have some really good memories here, as you can imagine. Yeah, I mean, it’s just always nice when you come somewhere and you’ve got nice memories and you can see yourself hitting good shots. Really happy to be back, and obviously very, very proud to be a defending champion.

Q. Do you see the course differently than you did in previous years?

MEL REID: I haven’t actually been out. Dez, my caddie has been out and he says it’s not that much different, so I don’t imagine too much change.

But I’m excited to get out tomorrow and see what it’s playing like. I know they’ve had a bunch of rain but apparently the course is looking really good, so I’m excited to get out and see it.

Q. How has life changed or your perception changed since the victory?

MEL REID: I think my expectations are certainly higher. I think it’s extremely hard to win on the LPGA. I think the strength and the depth of the players out here, I don’t think people realize how good these girls are.

And so yeah, I think there’s a certain amount of respect throughout the players when you win a tournament because people have been — great players have been out here for many, many years and not been able to go over that line.

For me I feel like I’ve got a little bit more respect out here. Obviously it’s nice to get that monkey off your back, to pull through and know that you can win out here, and it does wonders for not just your confidence, but it has changed my career to a certain extent.

A lot more opportunities and things like that, so obviously it was a huge moment for me in my career.

Q. The ShopRite Classic owns the title of world’s largest pro-am. Do you have any PG13 stories that you can share from the pro-am here over the years?

MEL REID: Yeah, I’ve met some really great people. One comes to mind is a really good guy called Paul Creely (phonetic); played with him, his brother, and his friend, and I think it was my first year, so four or five years ago.

We’ve remained in contact, and when I moved down to Jupiter three years ago, he was one of the first people that texted me. He kind of looked after me a little bit down there. They’re kind of the relationships that you build during pro-ams. That’s why I say to rookies I know probably pro-ams aren’t the most fun, but you never know who you’re going to meet. I’ve formed some fantastic relationships in pro-ams, and that’s a great example of one of them really.

Yeah, we’re still in great contact and I’m supposed to be going up to Georgia with him in a few weeks and play some golf with him. I think that’s probably one of the best things about the pro-ams this week.

Q. Where are you playing in Georgia?

MEL REID: Ohoopee?

Q. Ohoopee Match Play?

MEL REID: Ohoopee, yeah, so we’re going up there, so he’s a member there.

Q. The Solheim Cup, you were not playing great coming into that and had a tremendous Solheim Cup. How is that going to propel you going forward the rest of the year, do you think?

MEL REID: I don’t know. I’ve struggled the last probably four or five months. Like I went to Asia, I picked something up there, not saying that’s an excuse, but I’ve not felt right since. Had to withdraw from — I can’t remember which event it was now, in Grand Rapids.

Just haven’t — traveling a lot in the summer hasn’t really helped me.

Yeah, I just haven’t felt right since Asia, honestly, and I don’t know what it is. I’ve done a bunch of blood tests. We don’t know what it is. I’m starting to feel a little bit better. Now we’re having a little bit of breaks in between tournaments.

Yeah, obviously I’m hoping for a good performance this week because I haven’t — I seriously haven’t played great. Been very disappointed with my results. But we’re trying to kind of finish the year strong, and hopefully coming in here and having some good memories is going to kind of kick start — I know I’ve only got three or four events left, but it would be nice to finish them in somewhat good performances.

Q. Talk about the golf course for a second because it’s got a very linksey feel to it. Do you play out there and think, this kind of looks like home?

MEL REID: A little bit. It’s usually quite wet here, like it doesn’t necessarily play like a links. But they kind of — the look of it certainly, I think, obviously being on the coast a little bit, it does help with that kind of look of it.

Yeah, I mean, honestly, before I won, I hadn’t actually played great here. I feel like if — the greens are kind of tricky to read. I feel like if you hit a lot of greens, you’ve got a great opportunity to win here, and think that’s why someone like Anna Nordqvist who hits a lot of greens has always performed well here. When she gets her putting going, she’s pretty hard to beat.

Yeah, if you’re ball-striking it pretty well, you’ve definitely got an opportunity here this week.

Q. Do you expect there to be much difference in the way the course plays from May as opposed to September?

MEL REID: I mean, maybe. I mean, I don’t know. Like I came for a Media Day, I thought the course was in actually really good shape considering the amount of rainfall they’ve had. I know the green keepers have had a bit of a hard time getting it ready for it, but I’m excited to go see it, excited to see how it’s playing.

Obviously I feel like it sets up well for me. Like I keep saying, it’s always nice coming back somewhere where you’ve actually got good memories and not bad memories, so I’m excited to see how it’s playing.

Q. After the AIG in August you had a few weeks off, obviously, with the exception of Solheim. What did you do with the downtime?

MEL REID: We just moved into a new house, literally before that seven-week stretch, before like the Olympics and stuff, so I’ve basically just been — I can’t sit still, so I’ve basically just been painting, doing all that kind of stuff.

Yeah, I mean, we’re finally getting there. But yeah, I think that’s probably taken up a lot of my time, is moving into a new house and just trying to recover, honestly.

Honestly Solheim, as well, takes a lot out of you. It was nice to have a couple weeks off before playing last week. Yeah, it’s towards the end of the season, your energy isn’t quite where you want it to be, so that’s probably the most important thing is to take some downtime and recover and get your game in a bit of shape, so yeah, that’s basically what I was doing.

Q. Obviously you didn’t play the weekend last week in Arkansas and you mentioned to me how badly you want to be playing the weekend. What is something maybe you’re working on to get into that rhythm for the final stretch?

MEL REID: Yeah, I mean, I parted ways with George. I did that last week. We’re completely fine. I just felt I needed something different. So yeah, I’m just kind of figuring it out on my own for a little bit until I kind of find the right person to kind of bring into my team.

Yeah, I mean, it’s hard. It’s hard when you break up with someone who you’ve had such a close relationship. It’s kind of an emotional relationship. We’re obviously on great terms and I have a huge amount of respect for him, but yeah, I’m trying to figure the last stage of my career, I guess.

I just turned 34 and I still want to achieve really cool things, and just trying to figure out the right kind of path for that now.

Q. Speaking of things you want to achieve, what motivates you at 34 to keep going, especially with maybe some of the changes that you have made in your life?

MEL REID: I think especially like in women’s golf, I think that people retire pretty early, whether that be because they want to have families or the girls out here are just so good, so young that I think that they kind of burn out a little bit.

I kind of want to change that perception a little bit. Obviously we have the likes of Laura and Juli who — and Angela Stanford — who are playing into their later stages of their career, and I think that’s fantastic for women’s golf.

Because you’ve just got to look at the Ryder Cup like Lee Westwood at 48 and Paul Casey at 44. They’re still winning golf tournaments, which I think is amazing. I think it’s really healthy.

I would love to kind of change the perception that you still can have a career from the age of 34 and a great career, like the best part of your career from 34 to 41, 42.

I also do it — my motivation, as well, is I feel like I have a little bit of a voice. The better you play, the more people can’t ignore you, so that’s something that always motivates me, as well.

Q. You mentioned trying to get right after Asia and your withdrawal at Meijer. Has it been a fatigue thing or what has it been that you’ve been trying to just more or less figure out? Has it affected the game?

MEL REID: Yeah, it’s affected my focus, honestly, more than anything. You know, when you’re not focusing, you just can’t do that out here. The girls are too good and you start missing a few shots that you wouldn’t normally hit because your focus isn’t there and you’re a little bit fatigued and you’re seeing shots that you don’t normally see.

So yeah, it’s kind of — that’s pretty much what it is. It’s funny. I was talking to Carlota about it, and since she had COVID she felt like she couldn’t focus for about a year. I didn’t have COVID, I got tested for it, but I felt like it was something pretty similar. It’s just kind of interesting really.

We don’t know exactly what it is, but I’m certainly feeling a lot better, which is good. Like I feel like I’m getting stronger again, like working hard in the gym again.

So yeah, I’m definitely on the mend. It was just bad timing. That’s basically what it was.

Q. The Aon Risk-Reward challenge hole this week is No. 18, switched from No. 9. How impactful to you in your perspective has the venture between Aon, the PGA, and the LPGA Tours been?

MEL REID: I think it’s awesome. I mean, any chance that we can be on par with the men. I think Aon coming in and doing equal pay for men and women is huge. I know the girls are obviously very interested in it. It’s life-changing money for us. It’s life-changing money for anybody.

Yeah, I think it’s an unbelievable concept, and so yeah, we’re really thankful to Aon for kind of providing that with us.

Like I said, having equal money to the men, I mean, that’s what we constantly try and fight for, so I think it’s a huge step forward.

Q. What’s your strategy for the par-5 this week, and do you think it could be a determining factor in how the leaderboard shakes out?

MEL REID: Yeah, the par-5s are good this week because you can reach them in two. I feel like sometimes on Tour we have par-5s that are too long.

So yeah, it’s nice that we are able to actually go for it in two and have the potential for an eagle putt. Yeah, I think the par-5s this week are going to be huge. I feel like that’s one thing that I did do well last year, I did play the par-5s really well, and that kind of set me up to have good scores.

Yeah, I think the par-5s are strategy-wise you’ve got to pay attention to it and you’ve got to take your opportunities.

Q. Since becoming the title sponsor, ShopRite has donated more than $37 million to charity. There’s a few other sponsors on Tour that I can think of that reach a number even close to that. From a player perspective, what does it mean to see a title sponsor contribute to the community and beyond a tournament in that way?

MEL REID: I mean, it’s huge. Being a golfer you want to give back to the game, and I think what ShopRite has done is extremely impressive, honestly.

That’s why we want to bring tournaments to different parts of the country, because we want to impact the community. That’s our ultimate goal at the end of the day. And obviously we’re trying to win golf tournaments, but when you hear something like that, it just makes the event even more special.

That makes me even more proud that I was able to win here and get ShopRite up in lights a little bit more than maybe it was. And so yeah, I just think it’s an unbelievable achievement, and they should be really proud of themselves.

I will obviously stop in at some point. I’m going to probably wait until Carly gets here. I’m actually shocked Dez hasn’t been in yet, to be honest with you. He’s trying to behave, I think.

Q. About the ShopRite tournament, this event has been here since 1986 and there are few events outside the major that — Nancy Lopez played in, Kathy Whitworth played in. The fact that this event connects the LPGA to its past and winning an event like that, how special does that make this tournament and this stop?

MEL REID: I think it’s huge. I think it just goes to show the great relationship that ShopRite has with the LPGA. I think Laura has pretty much played in — I don’t know if she’s missed many of them. She’s back here this week. That’s what we love to see. I’m obviously close with Laura, but I love to see her coming out and playing.

I think it’s just a huge achievement from a relationship point of view from both the LPGA and ShopRite. I think you want to build these long relationships and we’re obviously very thankful that ShopRite want to be a part of the LPGA, and hopefully we bring a little bit of entertainment to the town, and like we said, a little bit of giving back to the community.

So I think it’s an unbelievable achievement. I think it’s huge.

Q. I remember Laura played in a playoff here in 1992, and you talk about having a longer career. Could you see yourself here in 30 years?

MEL REID: Absolutely no. This game will put me in the ground before that.

Yeah, no, I want to achieve other stuff in life, but yeah, right now I obviously want to play and have the best part — I still feel like my best part of my career I haven’t had yet. But yeah, still half the girls weren’t even born when Laura was doing that in 1992.

Yeah, I think it’s cool. I think it’s really cool and it’s really healthy for women’s golf, honestly, that Laura has played this long, and she’s still playing really good. I still think that she can win out here, I really do.

Obviously she wouldn’t be out here if she didn’t think that. Just to have the women out here like that, people like Laura still playing and playing well is great for our game.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Mel. Good luck this week and enjoy the defense.

Interview Transcript by ASAP Sports

Categories
European Tour

ROBERT MacINTYRE: “I’m out here this week to try and win a golf tournament.”

Robert Macintyre of Scotland plays a shot during a practice round ahead of The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Carnoustie Links (Getty Images)

ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP

September 29, 2021

Robert MacIntyre

St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland

Press Conference

CLARE BODEL: Welcome to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Tell us how much you enjoy this tournament and how good it is to be playing on home soil this week.

ROBERT MacINTYRE: No, it’s great to be back. I mean, it’s always good to play golf at the Home of Golf, and yeah, just hopefully the weather kind of hangs on and we get a good side of the draw at least.

Yeah, just looking forward to playing, playing again. Took a few weeks off there to just kind of refresh myself but now I’m just looking forward to getting going.

Q. How difficult was it to declutter after the wee spell you had when you got home and just tried to have that time to freshen things up?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Pretty easy. The club stayed in the travel case that they went back from Wentworth in for about a week. I just went to spend time with family and friends. I’ve been travelling the world for the last 12 weeks, 15 weeks, I feel that I’ve hardly seen family and friends, and just to finally get home and have time to actually spend it with them. That was really the only way I was going to do it and now I’m feeling as ready as I can be for the week.

Q. Has there been a reset in goals or anything for the next few months during that time you’ve had off?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: I’ve not really reset goals. That’s one thing I’ll do at the end of the year. This year I’m just trying tos build on what I started the year on. I started really well, and the last eight weeks, I feel like I’ve just kind of plateaued out. Obviously missed a few cuts.

But at the end of the day, if I go out here this week and I put on a good performance, them three missed cuts, no one’s talking about them. For me, I’m not really thinking about them, or I’m not thinking about them at all. I’m out here this week to try and win a golf tournament.

Q. Last week we were watching The Ryder Cup. Was there any thoughts of what might have been or was it just something you enjoyed or didn’t enjoy?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Yeah, I watched it but I didn’t actually sit down and watch it all night. I don’t watch a lot of golf, I’m being honest with you, but look, a great golf course and two great teams going at it, and Americans were just — they got the breaks when they needed them. They just holed the right putts, and that’s match play.

I mean, it’s a big momentum game. When you see some of the guys missing, they have got about a 10-foot for birdie to go, say, 3-up and they miss, it and the next hole they lose, and now they are 1-up and it’s just a battle. It’s just momentum in match play, and it’s harder against the best players in the world.

Q. I just heard you very nicely wishing the best to both sides in whatever tournament it was. I thought that doesn’t sound too like the Americans we were hearing. I mean, what was it you were wishing?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: It was just about a wedge. I gave Brian a golf club that I used for a golf day, and there’s going to be two teams going at it and someone’s going to win it.

Q. Did you think the American crowds were a bit hard on the Europeans?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: I think you were hearing it more because there wasn’t European fans there. It was just — I mean, it’s like any sport, football, when you’re at home, they are going to shout for you. So it doesn’t — at the end of the day, it’s only you that can control what you do with the golf ball. You’re in charge of when you hit the shot.

So I mean, that’s what golfers try and do, we try and blank out the noise and we do that to the best of our ability.

Q. The crowds shouted — they are terrible at shinty, are they.

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Shinty and football. Doesn’t matter. If you go and sit in the crowd, you’ll hear some shouts.

Q. You weren’t so close to the selection for The Ryder Cup this year and even though it’s two years away, the road to Rome, what was your determination Sunday night when you saw the result?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Again, it’s golf. I don’t know what’s going to happen from here to the end of the season. I don’t know what’s going to happen from here to Rome. But that is high on my list. Now I’ve got two years to achieve it, and just turned 25 years old, so it’s not — this year I was close, but I mean, I was trying to achieve other things.

As much as I was trying to get on The Ryder Cup Team, I was trying to, golf is an individual sport, and for me I was trying to get my PGA TOUR card, and that’s what’s best for my career, that’s what’s better for myself. That’s the reason I didn’t played in the States and done what I done.

But no, Rome is top of the list. Come the start of next season, there’s going to be goals set, and I’m 100 per cent sure that Rome is going to be top of the list for a two-year goal.

Q. Any aches and pains from the shinty at the weekend?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: No, all good. Couple of bruises but I get that just running about at my mum’s house.

Q. Did you get a call at all from P�draig in the lead-up to the wildcard announcement? Was there any communications?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Yeah, I did. I got it just before he went on to announce the team just out of respect, and I kind of knew it was coming, so it wasn’t a surprise. No, disappointed obviously, but we go again.

Q. There would be encouraging words in there?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: There was. It’s just he’s always going to be encouraging to me, and I get on great with him. Again, he picked the team he picked and I respected the guys he picked end of the day, top-class players. Obviously disappointed but that’s the way it goes.

Q. Just on the Dunhill Links, your debut as an amateur was a few years ago, 2013 in the Dunhill?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Something like that.

Q. It was a big, huge event and a great experience for you then. Did that springboard in many ways to the professional career?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: That was pretty much the time that I realised I could play at this level when I was — I think I must have been 16. And yeah, I played with Eduardo de la Riva, and we still laugh about it every time we cross paths.

No, that really opened my eyes to the world of golf. I thought, I could do this for a living, and here we are now.

Q. What were the laughs with Edoardo? Just the good time you had with him?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Yeah, it was brilliant. I think we finished fifth that year. Obviously I was off forward tees; so the better they played off of the forward tees. But it was great fun, and he had done well that year in The Open. I think he finished top 15 in The Open that year. So he knew what he was doing on links golf and it helped me out.

Q. Tournament golf can be a bit of a groundhog day for you guys because it’s week-after-week with days of traveling between. How important was it to get that wee reset back home with friends and family, switch off a bit and get the old Celtic hoops on?

ROBERT MacINTYRE: It was really important. I actually sat down after Wentworth when I missed the cut, or thought I was going to miss the cut and I spoke to Stoddy, my manager, and I’m like, I’m playing well. Just nothing’s happening. Should we go to Holland and play the event.

We sat there and we thought, we need a break. I mean, I’ve just played so much golf. So we decided to take the break. I love going home. I’ve got friends out on the Tour but they are not my pals, you know what I mean. They are not the people that I could — if something is going wrong, I could phone them up and say, look, help is out here or they could phone me up. It’s not really going to happen out here.

But back home is where it’s at for me, and friends, family, and obviously shinty, everyone knows that I’ve been playing shinty for a few years. I don’t think they knew that I was probably playing shinty, but sometimes things come out, and now, I mean, it is what it is.

Q. We were speaking to Dundee’s best French golfer, Victor, earlier on, and he was talking about momentum, confidence, all that kind of stuff. They were saying before, this kind of two-year cycle, do you think it’s time for Scotland’s young golfers to step up? There’s a whole half-dozen of that you could be in contention for The Ryder Cup in two years’ time, and fantastic tournament golf over that period as well.

ROBERT MacINTYRE: Yeah, totally. I think that — I personally think that there will be at least one of us, if not two, maybe three of us. We have got the guys, we have got the support around us. I’m not just saying that because there’s three of us in the same management team.

But you see the results. The results speak for themselves. Callum is on a trend that’s rocking. Grant is obviously in great form. And then there’s me, as well, which I’m fully expecting to be there come two years’ time and we support each other as much as we can. If someone is doing well — you seen Grant won Callum just missed out, there was a celebration on the green, even though Callum is disappointed. We’re all behind each other, pushing each other.

CLARE BODEL: Thank you, everyone.

Interview Transcript by ASAP Sports

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European Challenge Tour European Tour Live Satellite Tours

Santiago Tarrio: “I look around and think I can do this..” Welcome to the European Tour, Santi.

Santiago Tarrio Ben from Spain during Day Four of the B-NL Challenge Trophy at The Dutch golf course. (Getty Images)

Good morning, we are here today with Santiago Tarrio and his caddy Noelia, a Spanish golfer from Padron. He has been playing the European Challenge tour since 2016. We are going to get started to get to know you a littler better and what your goals are and how you feel about this upcoming season, you obviously are ranked number one now, showing a solid golf game so we hope to keep it that way for longer.

Welcome to Golf Post, how are you today?

Tarrio: The feeling is good, the results are amazing and it is going better than expected. I am very happy for me and for my team. The main goal was to make it to the main European Tour, and now that is accomplished after all, I am very happy and excited about next year, I cannot wait to be surrounded by all of the other boys from the Tour and try to play my best.

Golf Post: You have accomplished one of the biggest goals that any golfer can dream of, how does that make you feel?

Tarrio: I am very excited. Now, we are playing in some of the European Tour events, and I am looking forward to playing all of them next year, and enjoy those nice courses out there and catching some experience.

Golf Post: We are here today at the golf course that saw you grow up since you first introduced yourself into golf. After five years of jumping from one place to another every other weekend, does this course still feel like home? Do you still practice here or have you found some other field that fits your needs better?

Tarrio: Yeah, I was basically born on this course, I started to play here, this is my course and this city is my home, so when I have one week off, I come here to see my family, friends and have some rest too. Of course, I also play and practice at other courses but I like to spend time at the course that saw me growing up. I love it here.

Golf Post: In 2005, your handicap was 6,5, and now in 2021 you are Top 100 in the OGWR. How does that feel? Did you expect to come that far in your golf career?

Tarrio: Wow, I was only 15 years old in 2005 and I tell you what, I do not remember what my handicap was back then, but it is really nice that you tell me and now for me to think about it. I always try to improve every year. I stopped playing golf entirely for five years when I was 17 though. But I returned 5 years ago, and I started to play the Alps Tour and some minor tours. My goal was to become a professional golfer and play the Challenge Tour and soon the European Tour. Now, five years later, I accomplished my goal, and I am very happy about it, I got it.

My amateur life was short, I only used to play the national championship once a year and some regional tournament. I found this was a disadvantage compared to other players because I think it is necessary to play important tournaments as an amateur to enrich your experience and to work with the best national coaches and trainers. It is something that grows into one’s game. I guess that being able to accomplish my goals without having lived any of that makes me feel more proud of my team and myself.

Golf Post: After all, as you said, you still managed to turn professional and be first ranked in the Challenge Tour right now. You began to play this Tour in 2016, is there an event that is more special for you?

Tarrio: In 2018, I played my first season with full card in the Challenge after I won the Alps Tour. I would say that was the most special moment for me because of the big gap that exists from one to the other. I like to learn from the other guys, and I liked the Alps Tour because most of the players had a lack of sources, so we used to share travel expenses as well as accommodation. That brought me a lot of good moments and it was very special for me to close that stage with a win.

Golf Post: Noelia, you have been his caddy and partner in crime at the golf course ever since Santi started this journey. We have heard that no other caddy reads the greens as good as you do. What was the most special moment for you?

Noelia García: Our first victory together at the Spanish Challenge. Although I also have experience in the PGA Tour, where we started with a triple boggey on the first hole, we made a 7 because we took the wrong meassure, but now we remember it as a funny memory.

Tarrio: She is a really good caddy, I am afraid I will have to fight the best players in the world that try to tempt her with better contracts and want to steal her from me, because she is a very nice caddy.

Golf Post: You are playing insane golf this season, collecting two wins and five Top 5. Once again, you are currently Top 100 in the OGWR. What has been the key to the success?

Tarrio: I think it is the mental game. I make birdies and I look up around me and think “Ok I can do this, I can play this game just like these top golfers here, I can do this.”

Golf Post: What are you most thankful for that guides you to this success?

Tarrio: My team. I have a lot of people around me that supported me through the bad moments and push me through them always. I think that is key and I am very happy with the team I brought together.

Golf Post. Now that your team and you have secured a spot in the main European Tour for the upcoming season, what are your goals? How do you see your future playing out in the European Tour?

Tarrio: My main goal is to maintain and consolidate the spot in the Main Tour during the first year, and then I will try for my first victory of course. I want to go step by step, which has always been the process we followed up until today. Of course my ultimate goal is to play the Masters of Augusta, and to play a Ryder Cup with the European Team. But for now, we need to work hard on every step on the path.

Golf Post: In April 22-25th, you played the Limpopo Championship, in South Africa. Then, you were T72 in the Challenge Tour ranking. Only two months later, in June you were proclaimed winner of the Spanish Challenge and leader of the Challenge Tour. How do you and your team manage the pressure to keep it that way?

Tarrio: We try to go shot by shot and week by week. I felt the pressure when I missed nine cuts in a row, or when I needed a good tournament to get the full card privileges. It was very hard to be able to bear the expenses playing the Alps Tour because of the lack of sponsors, and the low money prizes. So having to play the Alps for one more year also put pressure on me because that would have cut down the chances to continue maybe. Golf is not rocket science, and the effort may not always pay off. But now, we found more sponsors, and also the money prizes are higher. We are seeing the effort show in the scores, and when the game is good, there is no pressure.

Golf Post: About a month ago, the Olympic Games of Tokyo 2020 were celebrated. Jon Rahm tested positive and you were up next to play according to the current ranking. However, the Spanish Federation and NOC decided to fly out Jorge Campillo instead. What happened? Do you think it was an unfair decision?

Tarrio: When the inscription lists were closed, I was ranked just one spot behind Adri Arnaus in the World Ranking, so I knew that I had a small chance to go if anything happened that didn’t allow Jon Rahm or Adri Arnaus to go. I was surprised that I did not get the call to aware me that I was first in the substitute list. The week before the Olympic Games, I was playing in Italy when my team and I found out about the positive COVID-19 case of Jon Rahm.

I got in contact with my physiologist and manager, Joaquin to get in contact with the Spanish Federation to see what the next steps were because we believed that we should be the ones to go to Tokyo, but the time to sort things out was limited due to Covid restrictions and requirements previous to the Games. Joaquin called me and explained to me that the Spanish Federation had to send out a provisional list in March that collected all the names of the possible players that could represent the country in case something like this happened to the two players that were chosen in the first place.

The Spanish Federation believed that five names were enough. However, Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabrera rejected their spots to Tokyo. Therefore, there were only three left in the list: Jon Rahm, Adri Arnau and Jorge Campillo.

This meant that any other Spanish golfer that was out of that list could never have the chance to participate in the Tokyo Games whatsoever, although other players went ahead in the OWGR since March until the last update of the World Ranking previous to the Games, like it happened to me, the same way it could have happened to any other.

In this case, by the time the World Rankings were updated, Jorge Campillo was two spots behind me and one spot behind Otaegui. I think it was a huge negligence. The worst part is that the Federation acted shady and I am hurt that the Federation did not release a public statement informing on the situation to all golfers and fans explaining what is happening and how they are proceeding.

I recognize that I received apologies from the President of the Spanish Federation, who was not aware of the situation and did not know that I was next in the list. Therefore, the party responsible was the president. Actually, the Spanish Olympic Committee put me down on their list, but not the Federation, which was just a shame for me.

Golf Post: The weekend after the Olympic Games you proved a point at the Hero Open with a crazy total of 21-under par, with rounds of 69-66-67-63. You brought you own bronze metal home that weekend, and finished first out of all the Spanish golfers. I am sure that was a tough mental challenge, but you managed to get over successfully. How did you face such a challenge and how did you feel afterwards?

Tarrio: I think the week before was the hardest one playing in the European Tour event and awaiting to see what was going on with the Olympic Games. Then it turned out that I was not flying to Tokyo and quickly had to prepare to play in Scotland. I was physically and mentally tired, but it was very special for my team and I. The results were great, we finished third and I even got asked to sign some autographs, which I am not very used to do so.

Golf Post: Speaking of the Olympic Games, Paris 2024 is coming up soon, only three years away from now, and time flies. Is that one of the goals that you included in the long-term of your golf career?

Tarrio: It was not one of the goals that I was planning on chasing so far for now. I believe that if I ever accomplish such a goal, it will mean a reward to the team for all the hard work that we are putting in, and definitely a huge gift for us. It will be the revenge for Tokyo 2020(1), and we know that it will not be easy, but we will try our best always to get as far as possible.

Golf Post: So far you goal is to get to the European Tour next season and to maintain the card. Maybe bring a couple of victories home for the next couple of years, and who knows if we may see you in Paris as well. What is the part of your game that you are focusing the most on to improve your performance, is there anything specific that you consider a weakness?

Tarrio: I think I need to improve in all parts of golf because I have more golf inside me, I can improve in the physical, mental and technical parts. It is nice for me not to see the top of my golf game at the moment. I would say the physical part is probably the worst part of my game because of the non-stop traveling and training. However, I always try to improve in all parts because I think there is always blanks to fill.

Golf Post: Thank you so much for having us, for this interview. It was really great talking to you. We wish you the best of luck for the upcoming tournaments and for you to accomplish all the goals for the European Tour next season.

Tarrio: My pleasure. I hope to see you more times in the future for more interviews. Thank you so much.

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Highlights Tours Live

Lee Westwood took a step farther in the dreaming scale at the Ryder Cup and this is why

Lee Westwood of England and team Europe is consoled by caddie and son Samuel Westwood during Sunday Singles Matches of the 43rd Ryder Cup. (Getty Images)

After one more year of waiting for this moment to come, the excitement and the enthusiasm was incredibly high and both Team USA and Team Europe gave it all for them, the staff and the fans at the Ryder Cup. Team USA made history winning the battle 19-9 against Europe. However, all the players and the fans showed an impeccable behavior and respect to each other regardless of their team preferences. Europe had no problem in recognizing the great perfomance of the American players, although they would have wished to bring few more points home as well.

Lee Westwood falls back in love with golf during the Ryder Cup and he could not help but sharing such a special experience with his son caddying for him. Family always comes first, and Westwood was the lucky man who took a step farther in the dreaming scale and was able to live his all-time favorite event hand to hand with his favorite person in the world, his son.

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Highlights Tours Live

Jordan Spieth makes possible what seemed to be an impossible shot at the Ryder Cup 2020 and the crowd goes crazy.

Jordan Spieth hits an impossible shot on the thick grass of hole 17th at the Ryder Cup 2021

Jordan Spieth does not lose any chance to show his magic, and the Ryder Cup 2020 could not be different.
Golf never stops surprising the audience and Jordan Spieth clearly lives it up to that. The golfer from the USA Team breaks once again with the stereotype of golf being a boring sport made for the eldest. Spieth made possible the impossible shot during the Morning Friday Foursomes, where he had the ball at rest on the left side of the green on hole 17. His partner, Justin Thomas and him needed to win hole 17 and 18 to win half of a point, as they were 2-down teeing off the 18th. Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia had their ball for birdie and Justin had just missed the green, it was the turn for Jordan to give it all.
Simply incredible.
However, it is not as you may imagine, the ball was down the hill, and Spieth had to hit it as high as a kite to get it on the green. The feeling of getting that ball over what it seems to be a wall of grass had the entire crowd screaming happiness and excitement. Raising hands, screaming from the top of their lungs, smiling from side to side of the cheeks, waving flags all around… It was not only about the Ryder Cup 2020, the USA Team, or the fans of Jordan Spieth, but the entire golf enthusiasts felt the same joy in that moment.

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Highlights Tours

The Ryder Cup in a parallel reality.

Captain Padraig Harrington of Ireland and team Europe speaks to the media prior to the 43rd Ryder Cup. (Getty Images)

The sport competitions tend to bring people together and to make the audience feel as if they were at the field or the stadium, although they are not. The same way, magic happens and The Ryder Cup brings two sides of the world together joined by the same passion for golf. It is a matter of story-telling together with the emotions of the videos and pictures that allow you to feel through the screen.

Funny but real, this short video shows that words can be just words, and there is nothing like connecting them to images and giving life to them. The power behind every comment grows through images as they become real and meaningful. The Ryder Cup goes beyond the game of golf, it is about seeing the tear rolling down the number one golfer in the world because he just made his last putt to give a win to his team, captain, country, or even continent. To be able to see the tear of joy in the face of thousands of fans, and to hear the voice of the broadcaster breaking while speaking by the contagion of the emotion of the game, that is what the Ryder Cup is about.

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Highlights Tours Live

Bernd Wiesberger: “I’m forever going to be 164, and it’s going to be amazing.”

Bernd Wiesberger of Austria and team Europe speaks to the media prior to the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. (Getty Images)

THE RYDER CUP

September 22, 2021

Bernd Wiesberger

Whistling Straits
Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good morning. Welcome to the 43rd Ryder Cup here at Whistling Straits. We are joined by Bernd Wiesberger. 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 share that news with? Who was that person you wanted to connect with emotionally about making this team?

BERND WIESBERGER: Yeah, in my case it was — probably given that the three captains picks came after me, I was probably the last to qualify for the European team, so deep into Sunday afternoon at the PGA Championship at Wentworth.

So it was quite nerve-racking, but very glad I’m here right now. 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 through 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.

Q. On the picks that Padraig did, Poulter went out of his way to mention you as one of his best friends. I’m curious how that relationship came to you and what you think of him.

BERND WIESBERGER: With Ian? Yeah, I mean, I think the whole European team knows each other very well. We’ve played a lot of golf with — all the guys have played a lot of golf with Ian. I’ve played for Europe together with Ian on the EurAsia Cup a couple of years back. I think everyone in this team room has a longstanding connection with each other, and everybody gets along really well with each other in the team room. It’s a very relaxed atmosphere.

I feel like Ian and myself are very similar in character and we have good banter and good fun on and off the golf course. Yeah, you can imagine it’s always quite entertaining when you’re standing on the golf course with Ian, regardless if it’s the Ryder Cup or whenever.

Q. Do your eyes ever really like bug out when you make a putt?

BERND WIESBERGER: I sure hope you see a lot of eyes popping 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’ll try my best, as well, to channel my inner Ian Poulter and get some of that going this week, as well.

Q. I think you’ve been an emotional like two and a half, three years. You were in, then out, then in, then out. Do you think that put pressure on your game or was it better for your game?

BERND WIESBERGER: You know, last Ryder Cup in Paris I was part of German speaking TV and tried to give my sense as to what’s going to be the outcome, so I was on this side of the press conference and trying to make sense of what’s going to happen this week.

Along this week something kind of fueled inside me 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 massive motivation for me to be the first to experience a Ryder Cup firsthand, first one I’ve been to, even more so giving myself a chance to be part of a European team.

Those days in Paris definitely started that. Everything that was along on that journey were steps in the ladder, and I’ve had some really good success since, and I’m very proud to have played my way on to the European team that way.

Q. I know this is a team and you represent Europe, but representing your country, are you getting that response already from your countrymen? What kind of messages or feedback are you getting?

BERND WIESBERGER: No, everybody is super excited in Austria. We have some great talent in Austrian golf. I think it was a little overdue 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 to represent Europe at the Ryder Cup.

As you can imagine, everybody is really excited and looking forward to the week, as am I, to get going on Friday and put the Austrian flag on the European Ryder Cup team banner just as much as Viktor is for Norway and maybe even write a little piece of golfing history for Austria.

Everybody is really excited. I’ve got a lot of messages, and hopefully — well, I’m sure there will be tremendous support from home, as well, during the whole week.

Q. I guess you received No. 164 of the 164. When you saw that, what resonated with you, and what does that mean exactly?

BERND WIESBERGER: I think it’s a brilliant idea what the guys have done. I’m very, very proud to have that number for life. Everybody is buzzing. The individual aspect of the game that we have, but this week we all come together as 12, yet everybody has their 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.

I’m forever going to be 164, and it’s going to be amazing. The guys really loved it, and it brings a great theme, I think, to the whole week for us.

Q. 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?

BERND WIESBERGER: You know, I think we all came here knowing that it’s a different type of week. As individuals I think we all normally have our own kind of schedule and preparation time that we have for the events, but this week is totally different.

We’re all — we all have a little bit of an agenda, everyone, in the schedule. In my case because I’m a rookie I have not experienced it before. I got a lot of input from former captains and the senior players who have been here many times and kind of 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.

Q. What do you think — you were an outsider, now you’re an insider — brings all these guys kind of from different countries together to be such an effective team at the Ryder Cup over the years?

BERND WIESBERGER: I mean, it’s tough to put it down on 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.

Being part of the team room, being part of the bigger picture of what is Team Europe this week as opposed to 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, enjoys their time, goes out there, does 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.

I’m sure that also just feeds into the performance or the victorious side of things for a European team.

Q. What was the best tip you got from one of the past captains or veteran players?

BERND WIESBERGER: That was very, very unique was to absolutely enjoy the week, to — there’s going to be a lot of distractions. As I said, stuff that’s going on around it. But just go out there, enjoy, have fun. That’s what I’m trying to do here, as well, this week, and soak it all in. Just let it all out there on the golf course.

Q. You’ve played tournaments over here in the U.S.; I think of the 12 you’re probably the one who’s played the least and hasn’t had a PGA TOUR card per se. Is that something you plan to pursue at some point?

BERND WIESBERGER: You know, what happens happens. I’ve played enough golf over here in the States, major tournaments, WGCs and regular PGA TOUR events where I’m probably the only guy who would call himself purely European based from a 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 whatever happens happens in the future. We’ll see. But as for now, I’m really enjoying my time on the European Tour and competing on the European Tour. I’ve also cherished the events that are happening for me over here in the States.

Q. Particularly in Paris, the way it’s developed with the stands down the first, it’s almost like a football stadium atmosphere, football stadium singing, chanting. Is that something that you think you’ll relish? Is that something you have an idea of how other sportsmen feel in team events?

BERND WIESBERGER: Yeah, we never get stuff like this happening, obviously. There’s just people who love this player, this player, but never do you have like — you’re 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’re a golfer and you get on that tee, regardless if you’re playing that day, the experience there for the guys must have been unbelievable, and it will be the same this week.

Especially Paris, like it really became a big, big amphitheater. We have it this week again. Really bring the maximum out of the crowds for both teams. Really looking forward to stepping on a packed first tee there.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks for finding us today. Have a great day and enjoy your stay here in Wisconsin.

Transcript by ASAP Sports