Notes and quotes from the Ryder Cup
Faldo exercise: Fencing with media – Ryder Cup
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Nick Faldo, a rare and unusually reluctant - some say rude -- interview one-on-one, is generally good theater, fencing with the media at large. As he was in two particular episodes Wednesday in a pre-Ryder Cup mass interview.Came a question on Sergio Garcia, who seems to catch fire for the Ryder Cup, and how he's changed over the years.
Question: Can you go through the maturation you've seen of him through the years?
Faldo: Maturation?
Q: Now becoming more of a leader in the room?
Faldo: Maturation? Can I spell that, please. Maturation. That threw me, What's the question.
Q: Has he matured?
Faldo: “We talked about this yesterday. Were you around? No? OK. Patience is the No. 1 words. He's discovered that word. When he's more patient, he plays better. Simple as that.”
Q: A TV camerman and photographer picked out you holding a piece of paper with some pairings on it. Are you concerned about that?
Faldo: “I just had the lunch list. It had sandwich requests for the guys, just making sure who wants tuna, what wants beef, who wants the ham. So that's all it was - sandwich list.”
Q: We've seen them -
Faldo: “You've seen the? You've seen the pairings? I can't hear you?”
Q: When you said it was your sandwich list, we've seen the photographs, we've seen the initials.
Faldo: “Well, you don't know what order they are in. I've got 12 names…”
Q: Well, 11, actually
Faldo: “Eleven on here?”
Q: On the ones we've seen.
Faldo: “Put my name down, then.”
NOTES - The Ryder Cup trophy stands 17 inches high, measures nine inches across the handles and weighs four pounds … The golfing figure atop the trophy is that of Abe Mitchell, British golf pro who was a friend and instructor of Samuel Ryder, the British seed merchant who founded the competition … The largest margin of victory for the United States was 15 points, in 1967; the highest European win margin was nine points, in 2004 and matched in 2006 … The United States has won all points in a foursomes (alternate shot) series four times, most recently in 1981; Europe has never won all points in alternate shot … Europe and the U.S. have each won two series in better-ball (four-ball).
THE ROOKIES SPEAK
England's Justin Rose, Ryder Cup rookie, on what he's anticipating from the matches and the Americans: “I'm expecting an amazing atmosphere and I'm expecting them to throw everything but the kitchen sink.”
Steve Stricker, 41, U.S. rookie: “This was right at the top of my list. Trying to be here and finally making it here has been a huge goal, and I finally achieved it.”
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