Tag: Team Europe

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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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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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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

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Viktor Hovland: “If they boo against us, that means that we are doing something good. I’m prepared for some yells here and there.”

Sergio Garcia of Spain and team Europe (L) and Viktor Hovland of Norway and team Europe look on from the 17th tee prior to the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. (Getty Images)

THE RYDER CUP

September 21, 2021

Viktor Hovland

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome back to the 43rd Ryder Cup here at Whistling Straits. We are very pleased to be joined by Viktor Hovland. Welcome to your first Ryder Cup. As a first-time Ryder Cupper, how comfortable is it to be in a team room with so much vast experience, not only in golf but especially in this competition?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, obviously it’s a very big stage and you know kind of what it means to people. That’s why I think it’s extra comforting when you get into a team room and you have not only veteran players, but also vice captains and captains.

I feel like just the whole support team and the players and everyone around it just have so much experience that they’re having fun, but at the same time they’re very at ease. I think that kind of rubs on not only me but also the rookies, and just makes everyone feel a lot better.

Q. How do you see your role in the team room specifically this week? Is it watch and listen, or are you actively trying to contribute something in particular there?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: That’s a good question. I haven’t really thought much about that. This is my first Ryder Cup, and I’m only 24 years old, and kind of — what I’m trying to do this week is just play as well as I can and try to be myself. I’m not trying to be anyone else. Just try to get to know the people on the team well.

I think we’re already off to a good start. We’ve only been here for 24 hours and our chemistry is good, so I just try to learn as much as I can from the guys that have been here five, six, seven times. They have so much experience, and I’m just trying to be around it.

Q. Do you have any childhood memories of watching this event on TV and thinking, Yeah, I want to be a part of that, that’s cool, that kind of —

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, the first Ryder Cup that I actually sat down and watched to the end essentially was at Medinah. I wasn’t too young, but I remember a lot of those final putts coming down the stretch very vividly, and I was sitting there watching with my dad, and I remember just going nuts.

There’s a lot of really good memories from then, and every single Ryder Cup after that I’ve been paying close attention. As well as just playing college golf in the United States, being a part of a team and playing for something bigger than yourself, I don’t think it gets any better than that.

Q. Was it an eye-opening moment for you when you first linked up with the team, something that took you completely by surprise?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Not really. I’d say kind of when we just created the group text that we have together, that was just one of the first things that made everything kind of sink in. Wow, we’re playing the Ryder Cup next week. I just remember just really looking forward to meeting up with the guys here and just spending a lot of time together. It’s not what we do but just being together and just talking about nothing and anything, I think that’s really, really cool.

I’m being around players that I’ve watched compete in the Ryder Cup since I was very, very young, and it’s an honor to be a part and on the team.

Q. You said that it is a bit of an eye-opener for you at 24. Can you imagine what it was like for Sergio at 19? And then at the other end of the scale you’ve got Lee Westwood at twice your age.

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it’s crazy. They bring so much history into this event. You know, those guys are — a couple of the guys are the reason why this tournament is what it is, because they’ve brought so much passion and blood, sweat, and tears into this event that it makes it so much more special to be on the team and even the same team as them.

Yeah, when you put it into perspective like that, it’s really cool.

Q. You’ll be listed as a rookie this year but you have some nice success in match play. What do you like about the format? And secondly, if you were to pair with Rory this week, do you feel you’d mesh pretty well with him?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I’d think so. I think we’ve got a lot of the same strengths and kind of personality-wise we think a lot alike. I’ve grown up in Europe. We play tons of match play and we play tons of foursomes in miscellaneous events. I have some experience doing that, and I very much like it. I like to compete with someone and be on a team.

For me when you get a person that you mesh well with, it’s a lot of fun. Obviously playing in the NCAAs in college and U.S. Amateur, I’ve got some experience playing match play, and I’d say some of my best golf has been played in that format.

It’s all about getting comfortable. You get a couple putts going and you get momentum, nothing is much more fun than doing that in match play.

Q. I know you can’t name names, but I’m curious, do you feel like right now you know who you’re going to play with and maybe when you’re going to play on Friday, or is that still something that you feel like is to be determined?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: It’s still to be determined. As we all do, we say who we want to play with, and then we just kind of use these days to figure out, Okay, is this a good fit or not, do we work together, and then we kind of go from there.

Other than that, I don’t really know.

Q. I just wonder if you could expand on your level of respect for the veteran guys, the particular guys, Lee, Sergio and Poults, in terms of what these guys have done over the years in this competition, and you being in your first, thinking about Lee in his 11th.

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it’s crazy. I probably don’t have enough respect as I should have. You know, you look at their records, how many events they’ve won, not just in Europe, not just in the United States, worldwide they’ve won so many events.

Obviously time and time again when they show up to this week they deliver every single time. I sat a couple weeks ago and just watched highlights of Poults and Sergio and Westy on YouTube in the Ryder Cup, and it was just so cool to see all the clutch moments they’ve had and just kind of how they handled everything, because it’s a big pressure. Just to see how they go about their business and handle all that.

I think that’s also why it’s cool to be behind the scenes with them when there’s no cameras and they’re not playing golf to see why they’ve been able to do all those things.

Q. Seems like the European Ryder Cup competitors, whether they’re rookies or veterans, they seem to have this in their blood from an early age. What’s your earliest recollection of the Ryder Cup? When did it become something that you paid attention to and that was important to you?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, the 2012 Ryder Cup was kind of the first one that I watched the whole thing essentially. I mean, just watching that as a European, that gets your heart going. I think that was kind of the big part of making the Ryder Cup one of my dreams to play in.

You know, it was just — it’s just all in all, they’re obviously great players that play on these teams, but they’re also great people. I think as soon as you’re just in that environment you just want to be part of it. It’s easier to play for something bigger than yourself when you all like who you’re with.

I think that’s a big part of it, and obviously just the tradition of it.

Q. You’ve been playing in the U.S. for a while, in college and then PGA TOUR. You kind of have a fan base, people that root for you. You are not the only one on your team that will be in that situation this week, but you’re going to have a lot of people rooting against you. How do you prepare yourself for that? Do you have mental exercises that you do?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: No, I mean, I’d like to think I have some fans out there that maybe won’t necessarily boo against us, but if they do end up doing that, that’s what they’re going to do. We’re still going to play golf, and if they do end up doing that, that means we’re doing something good.

I’m not going to take anything too personally. I can take a punch to the face. I’ve definitely gotten my beating so far in the group text. I think I’m prepared for some yells here and there.

Q. I’m curious who other than Padraig is the most active voice on that group text, and what kind of things are you all talking about on there?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Probably shouldn’t disclose too much, but no, it could be anything. Could be logistical stuff. Could just be, Hey, you’re hitting balls and your TrackMan numbers. It could be anything. What are you cooking, what are you eating. Just to kind of get to know each other better.

I’d say we’re all pretty vocal in it. It’s not just one or two people just firing off and annoying the rest of the bunch. We’re all pretty active in it. So that’s good. Yeah.

Q. What kind of a beating have you taken?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Well, there’s been some team members that have gotten a hold of some old pictures of me and had some fun with them. But it’s all good banter, and again, just bringing us closer together.

THE MODERATOR: Viktor, thank you for finding us. Have a terrific day and a great week in Wisconsin.

Transcript by ASAP Sports

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Rory McIlroy: “I’m on the winning team this week.”

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and team Europe walks off the 18th green prior to the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. (Getty Images)

THE RYDER CUP

September 21, 2021

Rory McIlroy

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good morning. Welcome back to the 43rd Ryder Cup here at Whistling Straits. We are joined by Rory McIlroy. Welcome to your sixth career Ryder Cup.

This is your sixth straight, so you’ve been on the scene for a decade, a decade of great prosperity for Europe. Maybe one thing in that decade that you’ve been around that’s changed or evolved and maybe one thing that hasn’t changed and you hope never does.

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I mean, I think as the Ryder Cup has evolved I think it’s become bigger, I guess, every year as it becomes more — I thought last time in France, the size of that grandstand on the first tee and the grandness of it all, it definitely felt like that was the biggest yet.

And then in terms of things that haven’t changed for us as Europe, there’s a lot of continuity in our team, and I think that’s been part of the reason for our success. That’s something that I hope never changes because it’s worked very well for us.

Yeah, I mean, I think that the Ryder Cup epitomizes everything that’s great in the game of golf. It’s competitive but there’s also a lot of sportsmanship shown. And obviously there’s partisan crowds and all of that, but that’s part of being in a team environment. You’re going to have a majority of the crowd rooting for one team or the other.

I guess that’s not something we get to experience every day.

Yeah, Ryder Cup is one of the best events that we have in golf, if not the best event we have in golf, and just excited to be a part of another one.

Q. With yourself and so many of your teammates spending a lot of your lives over here, does it make it any less of an away game, or will it be particularly away game style this year with so few fans from Europe?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I don’t think so. I think if anything that has evolved over the years with the Ryder Cup is the European team and the U.S. Team are probably closer than they ever have been individually. We all spend a lot of time over here. We play predominantly on the PGA TOUR. So there is a part of that.

But still, you know you’re — there’s a sea of red everywhere here. It feels like an American Ryder Cup.

But then again, I haven’t been here in a few years, and you first look at the golf course again and it seems somewhat familiar, and it seems — doesn’t look like a typical American golf course.

Whether that makes a difference or not, that’s to be seen.

I said this in a few of the interviews before this week. I don’t feel like playing away is getting any easier. If anything it’s probably getting a little tougher.

Q. A little bit of the same topic. The Americans obviously play for America. If you’re Team Europe there’s a lot of countries there. What’s kind of the rallying point that brings you all together?

RORY McILROY: We play for each other. I think that’s the best thing that you can do. You play for the guys that are beside you. You play for everyone that’s helping our team try to win this week. You’re obviously playing for your country and your continent and I guess your Tour in some way, as well.

But most of all, we play for each other.

Q. The Ryder Cup could have maybe been played last year but that would have likely meant no fans. I know this is an away game for you this week, but what does it mean to have the fans here and what role do they play in this event?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I just think it makes it a greater spectacle. There were talks of having the Ryder Cup last year with limited fans or no fans, and my argument was it wouldn’t be a Ryder Cup at all. That’s not — I don’t think either team — it probably would have been to the European team’s benefit to not have that, but it’s not a Ryder Cup then.

So it’s great to have fans back. It’s funny, when the Ryder Cup was canceled last year, I still didn’t imagine that we’d be doing this and everyone would still be in masks. Things went on for far too long. But happy we’re here and happy to be playing.

Q. Typically you’re one of the top-ranked Europeans on this thing. Have you ever felt a leadership burden when you come to the Ryder Cup or do you defer to some of the guys like Poulter and Sergio and Westwood who have been here even more often than you, and is it something that you will maybe have to take on as an elder statesman as the Ryder Cup goes on?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I think I’ve already tried to evolve into that role. This being my sixth Ryder Cup, 2014 I felt like was the year that I embraced the role of being a leader, and then going on from then.

But yeah, I think that’s one of the great things about the European team. It’s not as if we’re just looking to one guy. There’s a collection of very experienced players there that some of the younger guys and the rookies can look at.

And then you look at our vice captains, as well, and you look at all the pivotal roles they’ve played in Ryder Cups over the years. We have no shortage of leaders on our team.

Q. Just curious what your impression of what Poults and Sergio and Lee have done, the longevity, the success, and what’s your level of respect for what they’ve meant to this team over the years?

RORY McILROY: It’s amazing. You look at someone like Lee Westwood, for example, partnered Nick Faldo in ’97 when it was Faldo’s Ryder Cup. It was his 11th.

Fast forward however many years it is and now Lee is playing his 11th Ryder Cup.

I think that’s one of the cool things about it is it does come full circle. We have this thing this week where we’ve all been given a player number, so there’s been 164 players that have played for the European Ryder Cup team, or GB&I way back in the day.

So that’s a pretty small group of players. I’m No. 144; I think Lee is No. 118. But then you just look at all the players before you, and you look at Bernd Wiesberger who’s making his debut this year who’s No. 164.

It’s a small collection of people that have played for Europe in the Ryder Cup. I think that’s what brings us very close together, and that’s been one of our sort of big focus points this week is just being here is very special and being part of a European team. Very few people can call themselves a European Ryder Cup player.

Q. Was that Paddy’s idea, the numbering?

RORY McILROY: Yeah. He played a video for us last night to put it into context. 570 people have been into space. I think over 5,000 people have climbed Everest. 225 have won a men’s major. When you sort of break it down like that it’s a pretty small group and it’s pretty cool.

Q. You had your debut in the Ryder Cup when you were only 20 years old. Viktor Hovland is now 24. What’s your advice to such a young player like Viktor before this big competition?

RORY McILROY: I mean, I think the thing that I’d say to any rookie is the reason you’re on this team is because of the golf that got you here. I mean, for Viktor I’d just tell him to be himself. He’s one of the best players in the world. He’s already been a wonderful teammate, and the energy and enthusiasm that he brings into our team.

For Viktor, I’d just get out on the golf course, be himself, play his game, and that’s more than good enough to win points for the European team.

Q. In your opinion is the PGA TOUR Player of the Year on Team Europe or Team USA?

RORY McILROY: I don’t care. I just care I’m on the winning team this week.

Q. You made the point that Europe plays for each other; do you think the American team struggles with that?

RORY McILROY: No. I mean, I was just sort of from my perspective being part of a team for now six of these things, I’m just speaking from a personal perspective and what I’ve seen from the European team.

Q. I may be wrong but I think you’ve developed a bit of an interest in boxing, and I think you’ve met Anthony. I just wondered if you’ve had any communication with him because obviously a very big night for him Saturday and whether you’ve had any exchanges with him in the buildup to your big weekend and his big weekend.

RORY McILROY: No, because the last time I saw him he was doing his camp in Miami and then he went up to New York and didn’t have a great night.

But no, it’s a big night for him. Pretty big test. Usyk looks like a really good fighter. Hopefully, unless I’m rested on Saturday afternoon I’ll hopefully be on the golf course so I won’t be able to watch it, but wishing him the best and all the luck.

I think how he conducts himself and how he represents himself in the sport of boxing is — talking about leadership and talking about doing the right thing, he’s the epitome of that.

Q. The last time we saw you playing Ryder Cup in America was probably as animated as we’ve ever seen you on the golf course. Do you think you need to tap into that same level of energy? And the fact that it’s almost exclusively an American crowd, will that help with that cause?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I certainly will try to not be as animated and I’ll try to conserve some energy. It’s a long week. Whether I play all five again, we’ll see, but it’s a lot of golf. It’s a lot of energy just playing, then trying to beat who you’re playing against. If you try to beat the crowd, as well, it seems like a bit of an impossible task.

I will try my best for this team and I’ll try to play the best golf I possibly can, but I sort of learned quite a few things from 2016 about conserving energy.

I felt like I sort of hit a wall on the back nine against Patrick that day, and I want to make sure that that doesn’t happen again.

Q. Was that the most animated you’ve been do you think, the most pumped up?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I think the most animated I’ve been in my career has been at Ryder Cups. It just brings something out of you that you don’t get playing individually. There’s something more there when you’re playing as part of a team, and everything you do doesn’t just affect yourself but affects the other 11 players, the captain, the vice captains, all the support team.

There’s a lot of emotion that comes out, but you still have to try to control that, as well.

Q. Just in the context of what you were saying about the Ryder Cup getting bigger and getting harder to win away, if Europe were to get over the line, what would that mean in the context of your career? How big of an achievement would that be?

RORY McILROY: It would be massive. I think winning any Ryder Cup is huge and it’s a monumental achievement for all that are involved, but I think over the years winning a Ryder Cup on the road has just become more meaningful for some reason. We experienced it in 2012, which from a European perspective is probably one of the best days in the Ryder Cup that we’ve ever had in history. I’d certainly love to have that feeling again.

Yeah, I think it would be a huge achievement, especially you look at obviously this tournament isn’t played on paper, it’s played on grass, but on paper you would — you look at the World Rankings and everything, we’re coming in here as underdogs with a lot of things stacked against us, so I think that would make it even more of an achievement.

Q. Just being here at the end of the PGA TOUR season, I was just wondering your confidence level with your own game right now and just if there’s anything specifically that you’re focused on.

RORY McILROY: I feel good. Played well the last few weeks. Led the season in birdies made on the PGA TOUR, birdie percentage, so usually that works out pretty well in match play. Yeah, I’m feeling good.

Q. Should we expect to see you wearing hats this week?

RORY McILROY: They made some for me, so that’s a start. So I’ve got some that fit. Maybe. I don’t know. It’s sort of become my thing in the Ryder Cup to not wear a hat, but I don’t know. We’ll see.

THE MODERATOR: Rory, thank you for finding us and have a terrific day.

Transcript by ASAP Sports

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Padraig Harrington, the Captain at the helm of the European Team for the Ryder Cup 2021

Team Europe Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington pictured with the Ryder Cup

Padraig Harrington is a professional Irish golfer who plays in the PGA Tour and the European Tour. Harrington has a long golf career, carrying three major championship victories on his back, his playing record speaks for itself. Harrington collects a total of 15 European Tour victories. The Irish golfer showed manners since the begining, raising his first trophy little more than six months after turning professional, in 1996 at the Peugeot Spanish Open with a six shot lead.

According to the European Tour official reports, Harrington became the first European to win back-to-back Major Championships by adding the 2008 US PGA Championship to the 2008 Open Championship crown he won a month earlier, having successfully defended the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale, and climbing up to T3 in the OWGR. He had also previously won the 2007 Open Championship in Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland, finsihing with a total of 7-under par and ranked T6 in the OWGR.

European Captain Padraig Harrington is in a mission for the Ryder Cup 2021.
In 1999, Harrington accomplished his ultimate goal as a player when he qualified for the European Ryder Cup at the “Battle of Brookline.” The Irish golfer participated in other five occasions (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010).
This year, in 2021, Padraig Harrington is tasting the was selected to develop one of the hardest tasks within the golf world, and that is to put the Captain hat on and to lead the entire European Team to glory during the 2021 Ryder Cup.
His responsibilities started to be on the spotlight when it was time for him to announce the Captain’s picks for this year.

Harrington felt the preassure throughout the process of picking his players, which he narrowed down to three after the first announcement. Finally he published the twelve players and that handful of doubts disappear and all the focus moved into a clear goal and the purpose behind the Europe Team and the Ryder Cup. It is time to get familiar with the course and plan on the best way to execute the strategy that will make Europe touch the sky once again.

The power of the Europe team bound behind the Ryder Cup.
Sergio Garcia, the Spanish golfer who is also one of the last three Captain’s pick, shared a long part of his golf career period with his now Captain Padraig Harrington. However, they are not friendship goals by all means, the competitiveness and strong personalities marked the difference and did not play in the favor of them getting along. On the positive side, they both appreciate each other’s game and work regardless, and Captain Harrington is convinced that the Ryder Cup is bigger than that and the team bound will improve their relationship.

The power of the Europe team bound behind the Ryder Cup.
Sergio Garcia, the Spanish golfer who is also one of the last three Captain’s pick, shared a long part of his golf career period with his now Captain Padraig Harrington. However, they are not friendship goals by all means, the competitiveness and strong personalities marked the difference and did not play in the favor of them getting along. On the positive side, they both appreciate each other’s game and work regardless, and Captain Harrington is convinced that the Ryder Cup is bigger than that and the team bound will improve their relationship.

“It was a tough decision” as he explained in several interviews but he followed his professional criteria and closed a solid team ready to take all chances to bring the trophy home. Harrington believes that it a very strong balanced team where every individual player has the right and the will to play every single match, although that is not possible.

Check out the list of the players committed to the European Team

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Knowledge PGA Tour Team UK Top Tours

Justin Rose is named the 2021 recipient of the Payne Stewart Award

Justin Rose named recipient of the 2021 Payne Stewart Award

Justin Rose, the englishman golfer who is a 11-time PGA winner, as well as the 2013 U.S. Open winner and 2016 Olympic gold medalist in Rio, was named the 2021 recipient of the Payne Stewart Award, which is presented annually by the PGA Tour to the golfer who best exemplifies character, charity and sportsmanship.

Stewart, a three-time major champion, perished in a 1999 plane crash as the reigning U.S. Open champion. A year after that fatal date, the PGA created this award to honor his name and character.
Rose, turned professional in ’98, a year before Payne died, and was able to have a few brief interactions with Payne long before Rose held a trophy in his honor. The 2021 recipient definitely remembers the kind words that Steward had with him at The Open Championship in ’98, when Rose was just hitting balls on the range and Payne stopped by to compliment his swing: “Oh, that’s how it’s done.”

The Payne Stewart Award is specially meaninful because it goes beyond the golfing skills, but instead this prize recognizes the characteristics that define a great role model for the rest of the world, without any descriminations.
Some of the most recognizable players have won this Award in the past as well, such as Ernie Els (2015), Gary Player (2006), Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer both in (2000).
It is a chance for the recipient to bring the world matters back to the spotlight and to create awarness through their actions or foundations. Justin Rose and his wife founded The Kate & Justin Rose Foundation in Florida, which helps members of the community with lack of sources and money to fulfill their plates and to enrich their minds, raising more than $3 million and providing “500,000 hunger-free weekends” and 300,000 books.

“Justin Rose embodies everything the Payne Stewart Award represents,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said. “Like Payne, he has been one of the premier players of his generation while using his platform to better the lives of those around him.”

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European Ryder Cup Qualification Process frozen until 2021

Padraig Harrington: Captain of the European Team. (Picture: Getty)

The European Tour today confirmed that the qualification process for Team Europe for The 43rdRyder Cup at Whistling Straits has been frozen until the beginning of the new year, after the biennial contest was postponed until 2021.

The Tour’s Tournament Committee voted unanimously to ratify the changes which will see qualifying resume on January 1, 2021, ahead of golf’s greatest team contest which will now be staged from September 24-26, 2021.

Ryder Cup Qualification frozen

All points earned to date on both the European and World Points lists, which started at the 2019 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and which were paused after the 2020 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in March this year, will continue to count.

In addition, one or more points multipliers may be introduced during the course of the 2021 European Tour season to ensure that strong performance closer to the match in September 2021 is given added importance. These will be agreed once the 2021 European Tour schedule has been announced and communicated to the Membership prior to January 1.

As in 2020, Qualification points will not be available anywhere in the world during 2021 from a tournament played opposite a Rolex Series event, further enhancing the status of the premier series of events on the European Tour.

Overall, there will be no modification to the qualifying criteria ratified by the Tournament Committee last year: i.e. The first four qualifiers for Team Europe will come from the European Points list, the next five from the World Points list and Captain Pádraig Harrington will have three wildcard picks.

The change to the qualifying process maintains the normal length of the qualification period plus a further two months, as January and February in both 2020 and 2021 are included. The end date of the qualification period will be confirmed when the 2021 Race to Dubai schedule is announced.

“I feel that players should not feel under pressure to play”

European Captain Pádraig Harrington said: “I think the proposals that have been outlined today are fair to all players involved in the qualification process, whether they have already amassed points or will be looking to do so from next January onwards.

“The 2020 season has already been heavily disrupted, and may continue to be further impacted, by a number of COVID-19 related issues in terms of travel restrictions, quarantine regulations and individual personal concerns. I feel that players should not feel under pressure to play and therefore the points tables should not apply from now until the end of the year from a schedule that could change further.

“However, while that is the case, notable performances will still very much count in my considerations for picks as I maintain a keen interest in the form of all possible Ryder Cup team members in tournaments on both sides of the Atlantic.”

(Text: European Tour)