The Ryder Cup: The USA team in their own words
All 12 American players and team captain Tom Watson have been speaking to the assembled media at Gleneagles on the eve of the 40th Ryder Cup. Here is what they had to say as they bid to take the trophy back across the pond.
Last Updated: 25/09/14 3:05pm
We have quotes from all 12 American players and team captain Tom Watson on the eve of the 40th Ryder Cup.
Tom Watson
"I made it very clear to them that this trip is a redemption trip. Those players that played on that team, if any players are on this team, it's time to make amends and try to redeem yourselves from what happened in 2012. I think it's a motivation rather than a negative."
Bubba Watson
"(The course) good. You've got some tight holes. You've got some deep rough, but it's a solid golf course. It's in great shape. Greens are running nicely. You know, I think that the rumour is the wind, rumour is there's going to be some heavy winds coming up, so the golf course will be a lot tougher then. With the tight fairways and stuff, it obviously is going to be - ball-striking off the tee is going to have to be pretty good."
"It's golf. That motivates me. I'm not worried about two years ago. I've lost many a golf tournament in my day. I've only won a few in my life. Every time I get to the golf course, I want to beat whoever it is I'm playing, if it's my buddies at home or if it's the members or if it's at a professional golf tournament. That's really what it is about me, just trying to win that little trophy, that's our goal. I'm not worried about what happened a few years ago. If I did that, I'd be a terrible golfer because I lost a lot."
Jordan Spieth
"Feels incredible. I was saying this earlier, I really don't feel like a rookie, partly because last year's experience of playing in The Presidents Cup. That was at least international professional competition. And a lot of these guys are the same guys that were on that team. So having played practise rounds and gotten fitted for the Team USA clothes last year at The Presidents Cup, it was just all eye-opening, getting things ready. All the free stuff you get, just everything that comes with it off the course was such an eye-opening experience.
"Now, having done that, I feel like I've been more focused on my golf this week and tackling the course and tackling the matchups. That part's nice. I think that's going to help me as far as starting off. I know this is a different level. I understand that. I still don't know what to expect on that first tee. That's a pretty incredible setting that they have here, but it's a shot I'm looking forward to hitting."
Hunter Mahan
"It feels great to be back. Tough thing about The Ryder Cup is when you win, you get to cherish it for two years; and when you lose, it takes awhile to get over and you have to wait hopefully two years to come back. It's taken me four. It's good to be back and excited for this week and this opportunity.
"Redemption is a word that some guys have thrown out and it kind of feels like that. We kind of feel like we're better than some of the golf that we've played, and we're capable of doing great things. This is just a great opportunity for us to go out there and play golf and to trust our abilities. Don't try to go out there and do too much. This event can kind of get you so pumped up and so jacked, you want to do so many great things. You just have to trust your abilities. Our abilities are just as good enough to win this, and we know that and we just have to keep believing in that."
Matt Kuchar
"I've had good team experience. I love the team experience. I love match play. I've got a great record, singles matches, non-Ryder Cup. Ryder Cup is not quite as good. But fared well in the team matches, certainly really enjoy it and partnered up with some great guys and played some pretty good golf myself. It's something that we do once a year. It's really amazing to be a part of.
" I think I might have expected more of a links-style golf course than this. It's a little more Americanised with the thickness of the rough, with the maybe softness of the golf course. Certainly a lot of fun. I went out with Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, and there were a lot of birdies made amongst the four of us. I think this certainly will be an exciting match-play course with the amount of birdies that can be made."
Zach Johnson
"(Tom Watson) got a lot of sage advice and wisdom that I think we can certainly dig into and maybe learn from. And then you compound that with the fact that we are playing in a country that he's had some success in, to put it mildly, I think it's terrific. I mean, he's been welcoming of any and every idea we have, and he's obviously given us a lot of nice motivational tidbits. Tom Watson has been nothing but just beautiful to be around.
"The bottom line is, the captain has some pretty substantial responsibilities, but when it comes to the first tee through the 18th green, it really falls on our shoulders and our caddies' shoulders and my teammates' shoulders. I'm not saying that they can't help or potential influence what we are doing out there, because there is some advice and talking we can certainly keep going with.
"At the same time, I really firmly believe that we didn't lose The Ryder Cup because of Davis Love. Does that make sense? That's what I'm trying to get at. We're all pros and we all know what we're trying to do. You know, The European Team beat us."
Jim Furyk
"It's been an honour. When you look at all the players that have represented our country and played for the United States, to have played in nine of them now is something I'm very proud of. There's been a lot of players that have won a lot more than Phil and I have won, and I think that's the one part we're disappointed about, but it will be nice to change that this week.
"I think chemistry is extremely important. I think not only how the players, I think, mix together as 12, but probably more importantly how we play together as a team, how the pairings are put together and how those personalities and how those styles match up with each other, and probably for different formats, as well. I think it's a large part of how we play, and you know, I think Tom will do a wonderful job. But I think that provides the players the best opportunity to compete and do well."
Phil Mickelson
"Well, this has been an exciting event for me over the years. And as I look back over my career, it's the Ryder Cups and the team events that I've been on that I've made that really provide the great memories, the great experiences and the accomplishments that I like to reflect back on. And to be on this team is a great honour and privilege. I'm excited to play here in Scotland where we've been treated so wonderfully and the people here are so nice and where the game has really kind of taken root.
"We really have a great group of guys. We have a lot of fun together. We really have had some fun these first few days together. I think we have some really high-quality players. Now, obviously the European side does, too, and I know they are favoured and I know what great players they are, but we are having a lot of fun together. And hopefully that will bring out our best golf. I don't know if it will, but either way we're having a great time.
"We don't have a strategy, I don't think, as far as such and such player should play early in the rotation or late in the rotation. But we do like to have players that like to play fast or play earlier so they don't get held up and they are able to play more in their rhythm. That's more the strategy or thought process, whether it's been Ryder Cups or Presidents Cups. This week, we just need to be prepared as a team to play at a pace that is a little slower than normal."
Rickie Fowler
"Yeah, it's been fun to get to know some of the guys a bit better on the U.S. Team. I think some of the guys look at maybe some of the younger guys, Patrick and Jordan, for some of the older guys to get to know and getting everyone together. I actually played a lot of Junior Golf with Patrick, so I know him quite well. And Jordan has been out here for a few years, and he's no stranger to the big scene. Team's great. We're having a lot of good fun, enjoying all the time in the team room, and ping-pong and practise rounds together.
"Unfortunately, over the past eight or so Ryder Cups, we've been on the wrong side of the momentum. So with Europe winning quite a bit more than we have, it's been easier for them. I feel like they've come together and they're enjoying the ride of that momentum. I think it's been tough for some of the guys that have been a part of the losing Ryder Cup teams.
"You've got some guys coming in that haven't played as many, some guys that are new to The Ryder Cup team. And you know, they haven't seen the bad side of The Ryder Cup. So it's tough because one team wins, one team loses. We've got a team that's very refreshed and new. We've got a couple guys that have played quite a few. But they are motivated to jump on and get this thing turned around. I know we'd love to take the Cup back home. But Europe's definitely not going to lay down, nor should they. It's going to be a fun week and it's going to be a great match."
Keegan Bradley
"Oh, man, I'm so pumped to be out here. Scotland has been unbelievable. Gleneagles has been unbelievable. It's just The Ryder Cup is just amazing. I challenge all young kids out there to practise as hard as they can so they can get to play on a Ryder Cup Team because it really lives up to the hype. It's awesome.
"Well, Phil and I, this was all his idea a couple years ago before Medinah. He came to me and he said, "We're going to play in The Ryder Cup and we're going to win." I'll never forget in my life when he said that to me. We were coming back from dinner. I was only on Tour - it was my second year on Tour. He said that to me and it like gives me goosebumps even thinking about it. We just match up well. I let him talk. I let him, you know, decide the decisions. He thinks I'm letting him (smiling).
"We just seem to match up. In alternate-shot, I know Phil can get up-and-down from anywhere. So if I hit a bad shot, he can wedge it or chip it and do whatever he does, and it just doesn't matter where I hit it. He's going to get it up-and-down."
Patrick Reed
"This week seems like it's lasted forever. We got here Monday. It's about the same amount of time that it takes in normal events I play, but leading up to The Ryder Cup and everything, it just seems like Monday through today has been such a long, you know, process, just waiting and waiting just to get out there and play and represent your country. So I'm excited, can't wait and can't wait for tomorrow.
"Golf is an individual sport. I go to the golf course on a normal basis, I get out there in the morning, I pop in my headphones just to kind of get myself focused and tunnel visioned onto what I'm trying to do while I'm out there. This week is completely different. This week, we have had so much fun with all the guys. Just a lot of activities we've been doing and all that kind of stuff. When you play a normal PGA TOUR event, it's a lonely sport, but here it's totally different and I feel like the camaraderie that we have as a team is very high, and I feel like the excitement and just the fun aspect that we've had, it's been amazing."
Jimmy Walker
"I've been playing golf a long time. I've been playing professional golf for a long time. I feel like I've done a lot. I've been on a couple of Tours, made some big putts at key times, keeping my card, that type of stuff. I feel like I've been around a long time. I know this is a new event for me, but I've done a lot, so I don't feel like a rookie, no.
"It's not just another week. It's a different week. It's The Ryder Cup and I think as players we all know what that is and what that means. It means you're playing for your country, it means you're playing for your home, it means you're playing for a large group. When we tee it up every week, pretty much you're playing for yourself and your family basically. Here, when you hang out with your team all week and have breakfast with them and play golf with them every day, it's a different feeling. I got a taste of that a couple weeks ago when we all had dinner together in Denver, and that really gave me a sense of what team golf is like. It's been a while."
Webb Simpson
"If you just go off their record, yeah, they are going to be favourites. But I think when you break it down of players, individual players and how everyone's playing and has been playing, I think we're pretty equal.
"Graeme McDowell and I have had some good head-to-head battles: U.S. Open, I beat him by one. Hilton Head he beat me in a playoff. So it's always fun to play against him. Sergio is a friend. I love the way he plays the game, his passion. He's always fun to play against.
"I don't really have a pick. I mean, I lost two matches to Poulter at Medinah, so I would love to play him again, try to get those points back. In this format, in this tournament, doesn't really matter. Everybody wants to win so bad and doesn't really matter who you are playing. It would be fun to look back ten, 15 years to see if I've had some good rivals over the years, but right now, there's only a couple I would really like to play. I do want those points back."
