PGA TOUR COUNTDOWN™
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PGA TOUR COUNTDOWN™
Inside the President's Cup: Triumphs, Challenges, and Unforgettable Moments
Are you ready to uncover the triumphs and challenges of the President's Cup? In this episode, we promise an inside look at the intense competition and the pivotal moments that shaped the outcome. Listen as we dissect the strategic decisions and the incredible sportsmanship displayed by players like Scotty Scheffler. Hear from international team Captain Mike Weir, who shares heartfelt praise for his team's camaraderie and fight, alongside insights from Ernie Els on the evolving dynamics of global golf and the rising stars to watch.
Learn how the victorious United States team, including Keegan Bradley and Xander Schauffele, led the charge in key matches and the meticulous preparation that contributed to their success. Jim Furyk and other team members discuss the importance of early vetting and the strategies behind their winning pairings. We'll also highlight the joyous moments of camaraderie and the deep bonds formed during this high-stakes competition, with personal reflections from rookies Sean and Russell on their unique experiences and the welcoming nature of their teammates.
As we celebrate the highs and lows of the President's Cup, we’ll also bring you a glimpse into what's next on the golf calendar, including the Corn Ferry Tour finals and the Sanderson Farms Championship. Reflect on memorable interviews and lighter moments that underscore the spirit of the game. This episode is a must-listen for golf enthusiasts eager to relive the excitement and gain deeper insights into the world of competitive golf. Join us for an engaging recap and stay tuned for more thrilling golf discussions!
This is PGA TOUR COUNTDOWN, and welcome in everybody. Frank Bassett joining you for this edition of PGA TOUR COUNTDOWN. Frank Bassett joining you for this edition of PGA Tour Countdown, the last countdown for the month of September and we are in the throes and out of the throes of the President's Cup. Interesting competition, I think. In my opinion, got a little chippy out there. Boys slapping each other with towels, A whole locker room towel snap, but using social media to do it. Just play golf. You know what, fellas. If you don't like what's going on, let your golf clubs and let your game do the talking and stay the hell off of social media. I just don't get it. But anyway, that's my opinion. A lot of people love social media and love the interaction when people start jabbing back and forth.
Speaker 1:I enjoyed the golf. I enjoyed the camaraderie that we saw in the team room. I think the Team USA and the international team both had great internal camaraderie. A lot of family involved. Mike Weir incredible, incredible job. Matches were close. Mike Weir and the international team is on the precipice of breaking through, I think, in what he's put together this time. Jim Furyk, on the other hand, did a fantastic job. His team, they played, they brought it home for us. So congratulations to Team USA and this year's President's Cup as we move on out of the President's Cup and move forward into October but we're wrapping up September right now. So let's do this You'll be able to go into this show and kind of fast forward and play around with some of the things, but we're going to play in their entirety the international team interviews as well as the Team USA interviews. So, that being said, let's get this party started.
Speaker 2:This international team.
Speaker 3:Well, mark, I'd say, just sitting here as a competitor, it's tough. We all feel. You know it's tough to take. It just happened right and it's a little bit raw. And I'll start there. But I just love these guys, I love their fight.
Speaker 3:What I saw out there today, all week, you know from the get-go, is they battled right to the end and that's all you can ask from the captain is what I asked them to do and they, they responded and and did that and it was just a special week, you know, special bonding with all of us guys, all the families. That that's what makes the week really special. So those are some of my key thoughts. I guess that as I as I get started here and yeah, there was, it was just thoughts I guess that as I as I get started here and yeah, there was, it was just the high. I guess the other thing is just super high level of play. I think on both teams it was a really high level golf Lots of birdies, lots of big momentum swings and really exciting golf. As a golf fan to watch which I'm a golf fan it was a really great golf to watch.
Speaker 2:Appreciate that, Captain, Raise your hand if you have a question and we'll get you a microphone. We'll start with Shane Ryan.
Speaker 4:Mike, bear with me here. I want to read you the stat that I found pretty interesting. In Charlotte at the President's Cup, similar score, it was one different. When you look at the margin of holes won for the entire event, through all five sessions, the Americans were plus 26. If you look at the Ryder Cup last year, when the Europeans won by a pretty lopsided margin, it was plus 25 for them this year, plus one for the Americans, essentially even through five sessions. I'm just curious what you make of that. It's kind of a weird stat I just sort of picked out.
Speaker 3:Well, that's a great stat to share, thank you. But it just goes to confirm what we all believe, that how close it was. You know those matches on 18 Thursday. If we could have got a point or half a point in some of those yesterday afternoon, obviously the last 45 minutes kind of swung the other way in a couple matches. You know they could have gone either way. Jim's made mention of it as well, but I didn't realize. You know, like you said, just one point there, right, one hole, one hole, essentially, yeah. So the margin is so close. That's what makes it tough, because we know how close it was. We know a couple things go our way and it could have at least started the day quite a bit different today and, who knows, we wouldn't have been such a deficit.
Speaker 7:Go ahead, Rex have at least started the day quite a bit different today and and who knows, we wouldn't have been such a deficit.
Speaker 8:Go ahead, rex. Thanks, adam, you've been through so many of these. Did this time feel different and if so, how so? Um, like I said earlier in the week, I I had a great feeling for this team coming in and you know, I felt like there's been an evolution under this shield the last two cups, four or five years of that and buy-in from all the international players. It's something that they aspire to play for and I felt we just we had a great trip up here. The personalities were great. I think you saw that under the heat of competition this week from some of these guys maybe some unexpected personalities out on the golf course. Some expected as well, but, haha, some expected as well. But you know, the result, unfortunately, is the same. I mean with a deep dive. I think there are positives always to see and hopefully this competition inspires all of us sitting up here to play really hard, go on with our careers the next two years, win big events and come back better prepared and ready to win in Chicago.
Speaker 2:All right, I think it's Nick with the microphone.
Speaker 9:This question is for Tom. I noticed after your match today you made a point to find Xander Shoffley and Jim Furyk. I was curious to know what you might have said to them. If you could share.
Speaker 10:Yeah, it was just about my comments yesterday. I just told him like hey, I didn't mean it to go in such a negative way. If it did, I just said I'm sorry. You know, it was just I felt like what, what I heard yesterday some comments that I've heard was at that time just coming off the green, just it came. It came to me so personally and just I felt like it was right to share. But you know, definitely, um, I didn't really at that time just didn't think it'd be so negative and I really didn't mean to.
Speaker 10:You know, because when I play with Patrick and Xander like Obviously we've battled A few times and they've always been such great competitors you know, they've never I've always felt like there was such a good you know sportsmanship between us. It was just outside the ropes and I Felt like that was a little misunderstanding on my part which I should explain better. So I just went, I went to him, I I said I didn't mean it that way. I apologize if it came out wrongly. It was just you know this and this happened. But if it affected you guys so negatively, I really do apologize. I didn't mean to do it in that way and because this event is all about, you know, doing things you don't, you would never do, and creating energy and doing all these things. I do certain things on the greens when I make putts and I expect them to do the same thing. It's all part of the game, so it was just about that.
Speaker 9:Did you have that in the back of your mind that you were going to do that at some point today?
Speaker 10:Oh, absolutely, it came so negatively, which I'd never meant to do. So I just wanted to find the right time and, you know, share my thoughts, because I don't want, you know, my team to feel uncomfortable, I don't want their team to feel a certain way about us and it's just, it's all, it's all fun, it's all part of the game and you know, I just I felt like you know it was right for me to go up and share the way what the meaning was coming from that comment yes, sir go ahead For Camilo.
Speaker 2:Good afternoon, Camilo.
Speaker 12:Can you explain to me what is the greatest strength of this team and if, at any point, it has been told to take the seat of captain?
Speaker 13:Do you want English or Spanish? Spanish, spanish.
Speaker 13:I think that the Fortaleza is being formed with the work that Berni started in 2019. All this identity and forming a team very is united with a mission and a vision. It's been an honor to be an assistant for the last two seasons. I hope to continue to be involved with this team for many years and that we continue to work together so that the international golf is stronger and we can get back up to the top. Is there a plan for the next two editions? There is a process, but we have a plan for the next two editions and we'll see what we can do.
Speaker 15:Adam go ahead Question for Mac Mac obviously dream come true to make this team and represent the internationals on home soil. Just wondering as a rookie this week how would you sum up everything that happened over the last?
Speaker 16:six, seven days or so.
Speaker 17:Yeah, being with this group was the highlight of my career and it was amazing to go to battle with these guys.
Speaker 17:Um, got to play a few matches with cory, um, so that was obviously pretty special. And yeah, I mean, like mike said, we're all competitors and the the result stinks, um, but man, the memories that we made Friday, the feelings that we had on the golf course, that day will be something I think about for a long time and when I look forward to Chicago and being on many more teams, I will look at a day like that where I know what these teams are capable of doing. And, yeah, the results don't do justice for how close these matches were. You know, if we play the last couple holes better in a few matches, you know this thing could swing the other way. But yeah, the week as a whole being a rookie got to play with or be around some of the best players in the world and I mean mean, it was magical, um, I knew it would be and it lived up to um, all the hype and more okay, just time for two or three more.
Speaker 18:We'll go first, right um, similar question, so I'll ask cory instead of mac. But when you go away from this event and there's a couple weeks have passed and the loss is behind you, can you look back at Friday in particular and just sort of focus on that memory and how fun that day is and that pairing was, and also the same for Taylor, given how well you and Adam Scott paired on Friday as well?
Speaker 19:for Taylor, given how well you and Adam Scott paired on Friday as well. Yeah, obviously Friday was a big day for the team and getting to play with Mac we go way back in our friendship and our golf careers and being able to share that moment with him, but share dominating day with, with the entire team, was definitely really special and you know, I think that's a big positive we can all take away from the week. It, you know, showed that we're great competitors and you know we're really good players and can compete with the Americans. So definitely you know a positive day, but you know a positive day. But you know, as of right now, it definitely kind of stinks not to have gotten the better of them.
Speaker 2:Tracy, if you could get that mic to Bob in front, and then we'll take one from Dylan while you're doing that.
Speaker 20:Yeah for Hideki. You obviously had two intense matches with Scotty Scheffler last night and today, and they were felt pivotal as you guys were trying to make a comeback. What was that like? Playing the world number one?
Speaker 21:I was not able to play well yesterday, but I lost because I couldn't play well. I'm going to switch to a different team and beat Scotty Awesome.
Speaker 22:Yesterday's match. You know, sanjay basically carried me all day, so you know I really wanted to play good today. That was my focus for today, so really happy with the win today.
Speaker 2:OK, we'll go to Bob and then Ryan.
Speaker 6:Mike, you know foursomes hasn't traditionally been a great format for the international team over the years, but yet you have that great result on Friday. Just wondering, you know in the aftermath now, anything you wish you could have done to carry that momentum over into yesterday. You know it just doesn't work that way.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean definitely. I mean, as you said, to get the result. Thursday. It was an interesting week, you know. Um, we've really been good in four ball and we just had a tough day thursday and some really close matches we've all talked about here. But um, the four sums was was dynamite, obviously, and, uh, something that we had struggled with. So we wanted to carry that momentum into Saturday. That's why we went with the groups, we went with and carried that momentum. Of course, when you lose a cup, as captain you look back and say was that a good idea or not? You know you've got 12 great players here and you're trying to make the best decisions over the course of four days out there and look, I'll second guess it. You know what we didn't win. So I think in my career, anytime I haven't fallen short, I've taken a hard look. So that'll be something I'll do when I have time to process it.
Speaker 2:Go to Ryan and then Ben.
Speaker 7:This is for Mike and the assistant captains. The last significant tweak to the format was in 2015. I'm curious is there still an internal push to make some changes, potentially reduce the number of available points, or is there sort of a general acceptance that this is the way it's going to be going forward?
Speaker 3:I mean, maybe I'll start. I haven't been pushing for anything. I don't know down there boys, but I guess not that I'm aware of that we've been pushing. I don't know what the guys have to say If they've had any conversations different than what I've heard.
Speaker 2:Ben go ahead.
Speaker 5:I think we brought it down from 34 points, you know, and our first prize was 28, you know. So we had to settle somewhere. So we settled at 30. But the way the guys are playing in the foursomes and the team pairing or what do you call that the team stuff? You know we'reomes and the team pairing what do you call that the team stuff? You know we're doing well there. You know we only won four and a half in the singles today. Foursomes we swept, you know, the one day and that first day was so close and the third session we sucked a little bit that morning, probably partly because of our mistake, as Mike says, we look back on that, but that first day was tough. There were three matches on 18 and a lot of flipping going on. So I don't know, we'll talk to the guys. I think 30 is fine. I don't know how the guys feel. We've just got to play a little better, get a little sharper.
Speaker 2:You're abandoned, Doug.
Speaker 12:Ernie, I only ask you this because you're the oldest guy in the room, really In the whole room Sitting with a black hat on, except for Willie.
Speaker 5:Easy now.
Speaker 12:You were there in 98, that great moment and great celebration. Americans returned the favor to tie in South Africa very tight in 05. From there, what have you seen of what's gone on? Because if you look at like 98 through 05, it feels like a different cup than it has been lately. What have you seen of what's gone on? Because if you look at like 98 through 05, it feels like a different cup than it has been lately. What have you seen?
Speaker 5:Yeah, you know we were in a really golden period there for a while. You know not sure why. I mean we had a lot of people in the top 10, top 15, top 20 in the world for a long period of time in the 90s and early 2000s. It could be the way people play now. It's tough to pick up world ranking points.
Speaker 5:On the US tour, it's very competitive. Just to stay on tour, you're doing very well, it's so. On the US tour, it's very competitive, you know. Just to stay on tour, you're doing very well. You know it's just. It's so competitive. On the PGA Tour US PGA Tour the money's very good, so people want to play in the US. It's tough to play in Europe.
Speaker 5:In my day we played a lot of Europe, picked up a lot of ranking points. I remember going to Dubai and you play well in Dubai, you're good to go, you're top 10 for the rest of the year basically, and some of the other tournaments. But that's kind of gone away a little bit now and a lot of our players were lost to live. So we're in a process. You know these guys might not rank very high in world ranking but they're coming. You know there's a lot of good, great talent here. So we got to give this a little bit of time. When they start winning tournaments on the USPGA Tour, the real confidence is going to come through, you know. So give it a bit of time.
Speaker 5:It was a different animal back in the day, but this thing's coming. I promise you, even the US team. How many players were in the top 20 this week? Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. You know a lot of the guys live here, you know. We just got to give it some time. I think the next year or so these guys start winning tournaments, the whole thing will change again.
Speaker 2:Okay, we have time for two more. We'll go Ben then, Adam.
Speaker 23:Adam, I'll come to you off the back of that because after 19 you will use sanjay. A few others springboarded into victories on tour soon after. I think in 22 tom you might have won right after like, is there something to that that this group can sort of take it forward and perhaps do win events in the near future and Sort of take it?
Speaker 8:forward and perhaps do win events in the near future and, you know, push your career that way. Yeah, I've seen it many, many times, going back even to 03 for me with that experience. But I see it with a lot of guys like you just mentioned. They use this experience of these tight matches coming up the 18th, the pressure of playing last match on the course. All the teams are watching, all the focus is on you. The next time you put yourself in that position in a big event, you can lean on this experience. So I've seen it many times. I even think of Scotty Scheffler at Whistling Straits to then where he is now, and these can do a lot for your confidence and give you a lot of experience. So, like I said earlier, I hope these guys are inspired off the back of this and push to make the next team and rack up victories along the way. One last one.
Speaker 2:Adam.
Speaker 14:Adam, the wound is fresh, but this week, what does it do for your desire to be on the team next time? Do you feel like there's a 12th one in you?
Speaker 24:Yeah, sure he's in already. Yeah, we wrote his name down.
Speaker 8:We wrote his name down. You know, I think I can play for another couple years. Let's go. I've come this far. I've come this far. If I can play in a couple more years and contribute a point, then I'd love to be on a winning President's Cup team. Yeah. I'm not like I said before. I believe there's something happening with this team internally under this shield. I'd love to push along and give it one more shot, if I can, and make it three more three.
Speaker 8:So Tom will play on 20 of these. He's got two before I even played one. So you know I have a lot of fun with these guys. I told them at the start of the week it's them who is motivating me and inspiring me to make this team. The standard of golf is so high and it's getting harder for me to keep up, but it's them that I look to to see what the standard is, that I need to compete and be on this team, so hopefully I can keep it up for another couple years.
Speaker 14:Jeff, one for you. Did you design Medina to give the international team an advantage?
Speaker 25:Absolutely Thanks, jeff. Absolutely Thanks, geoff. We just tried to make the best golf course we could out of Madonna, and we might have a few inside reads on some of the putts and stuff, maybe. No, just try to make it as good as we could.
Speaker 2:Alright. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for all your support this week and thank you to the international team.
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Speaker 26:You bring the whole one in. You bring the whole one in. All good there you go.
Speaker 27:There's a cooler of them.
Speaker 25:There's a cooler of them.
Speaker 22:All right.
Speaker 25:I think we're good All right. All good, all right, everyone. We will go ahead and get started. We'd like to welcome Captain Jim Furyk and the victorious United States President's Cup team here at Royal Montreal. Jim, we'll just start with you with just a few opening comments on what the week has been like here and getting to spend time with these guys and your assistants, and if you could just summarize the final day here at Royal Montreal.
Speaker 29:I mean the whole week's been so much fun. I've always enjoyed team events. I had the opportunity to play in a number of them the camaraderie, the teamwork, bus rides, team room. I mean obviously the competition is amazing, but I just love hanging with the guys and being part of a big group and having a common bond and trying to come together to do something special.
Speaker 29:I guess, first and foremost, our support staff from the PGA Tour, led by Matt Horton Amazing. We had nine folks from the tour that were just, you know, giving us all their time for the months and months and months leading up to this. They did a great job. I know every one of us would, you know, want to really thank our wives and significant others for all the support. And it's a nervous week, man, and so to have them by your side really means a lot.
Speaker 29:Our caddies were flat, amazing this week. I mean so much fun and really, for me, I mean my four assistants really stepped up. Stuart had a little experience as an assistant captain last year. The other three guys this is their first time in that position and they were absolutely amazing the help, the information on the golf course when they had advice, I think just the communication with the players was incredible. I was blessed and, honestly, these 12, I'm so proud to be their captain and they were a captain's dream. I mean these guys get along so well but, as you know, they can flat play. They kicked a lot of ass out there and when it got tough, anytime the internationals put some pressure on us they played their asses off for us and I'm just so proud to be a part of it.
Speaker 25:Thank you, jim. We'll go right into questions. If you have a question, just raise your hand. We'll get a microphone over to you. We're just going to start with Paul over here, yeah.
Speaker 30:Keegan just wanted to know what this week has been like you for as a whole finally getting back on one of these teams and then being the person that was able to secure the final point or the clinching point yeah, um, I told the boys last night it's been a decade.
Speaker 16:It's taken me a decade to get back into that room with these guys and, um, I really took for granted how special these weeks were. I watched a lot of these things on tv and was really sad to not be here. And you know, we talked about taking care of business today and we all went out there and did it. I was just lucky enough to be in that spot in the day, but really a meaningful moment in my life. The last time I played in one of these I was the clinching point for the Europeans in the Ryder Cup. So you know, fast forward 10 years later and I got to do that today. Really something that I'll remember the rest of my life.
Speaker 25:All right, next we'll go to Doug Ferguson. Yeah right, there is perfect. And then over to Doug Yep.
Speaker 18:For Xander.
Speaker 16:I'm just wondering how much you relish, sorry go ahead and drink as long as you want.
Speaker 18:How much you relish being in that leadoff spot this morning.
Speaker 26:It was an honor. I was having dinner last night and Cap came up to me and asked if I'd be cool with going out first and he looked down this row of guys and it could be any one of us that's gonna lead the charge, and you know I took it as a special opportunity to do something great, and you know I wanted to get some bread up on the board early for the boys to look at and was able to do that today.
Speaker 25:All right, next we'll go back to Doug. That was great. Go ahead, Shane.
Speaker 4:Keegan, obviously your position is Ryder Cup captain. You're kind of probably have an eye on certain things. You had one player who finished sixth overall in strokes gained, made a big putt on 18 on Thursday and then today took out statistically the best player on the international team in singles. So question is, what did Keegan Bradley show you as a potential Ryder?
Speaker 25:Cup player.
Speaker 16:You know I learned a lot from Jim and Tabitha this week. It was the best job.
Speaker 29:I've ever seen done as captain and the captain's wife.
Speaker 16:I learned a lot from them. I would love to join these guys and play next year. I don't know how that would ever be possible, but seeing what Jim did, seeing how nervous I was today to play but I'm going to push that down the road. Like I've said, if I make the team on points I'll consider playing, but outside of that I won't do that because this is really important to me next year. I don't care about my personal gains of playing in the tournament. I only care about winning the Ryder Cup. I think the best way to do that is to let these boys play and let them do what they do. We'll see. I don't see it happening, but we'll see.
Speaker 4:Someone probably asked you this already, but just being captain of a Ryder Cup, let you open your bag.
Speaker 16:Open my bag? Oh, not yet. We we got, hopefully. Yeah, We've got a year to go here and these boys know how important this Ryder Cup is. In a year I think it's arguably one of the most important Ryder Cups that the United States has ever had. So we're going to go in there ready to play and we're going to go there to win the Ryder Cup. I'm going to take a lot of lessons that I learned from Jim Tabitha, all the vice captains, and apply that to next year's team.
Speaker 25:Alright, next we're gonna go to Nick Dylan and then Sean.
Speaker 9:This question is for Xander. Hi, I noticed that Tom came after his match today, found you on the 18th green and he said some words. Could you share what he, what he, what he? He shared with you, what he talked about?
Speaker 26:Oh, I mean it was in private. You know, if he wants to reveal what he said, that's up to him. He just, you know, had a few words with Cap and I and you know it was honestly in private. So if you'd like to ask him about what was said, that you know it's on him to say, because he's the one that came up to us. But I don't feel like it's on me or anyone up here to disclose what he said.
Speaker 25:All right, Dylan, go ahead.
Speaker 20:For Scotty. Scotty, when you won your match last night, you were pretty fired up. You're about as fired up a couple times this week as we ever really see you.
Speaker 31:I was just curious why that is you know I think these weeks are a lot of fun. You know it's pretty rare that we get to play with these guys on on my team. You know, usually we're every week of the year playing by ourselves, and so it's a lot of fun. You know this is one of the great joys of my career is coming out here in these team events and playing, and, um, I had some great partners this week.
Speaker 31:You know russell and I played great together and colin and I won a nice match there um saturday morning and you know it was just one of those matches where I felt like I was letting my partner down early in the match and you know he picked me up there on six, gave me a nice little pep talk and we were able to play some great golf. I was just proud to earn a point for the team and it felt like an important one at the time. Just to get a point late on Saturday, I think Russell and I were just both really excited. I think we're both guys that usually keep a pretty even keel attitude on the golf course most weeks. I think Russell is one of the most underrated players on our tour and so it was fun to go out there and earn a point with him and See.
Speaker 25:Boo boo.
Speaker 20:What did you learn about Russ this week and what's he like? How would you describe him?
Speaker 31:You know, russ is a tough guy. He's a tough competitor and it's not easy playing as a rookie on these teams and he stepped up in a big way. I'm really proud to have him as my partner and really proud to have him as a part of this team. He was one of the guys that we were looking at the picks towards the time the playoffs were starting. He was a guy that we all wanted on the team. He was one of our locks to be picked and he proved why this week, and he's a really talented player. I'm excited for him to be a future part of these teams as well.
Speaker 25:All right, we're going to go to Sean Doug and then Adam.
Speaker 27:Xander, patrick or Colin Jim gave a lot of credit to you guys as kind of player leaders for setting the stage on Friday night and keeping everyone calm after the sweep. Can you give some insight into what was said, the message that was delivered after being swept on Friday? That helped you play well Saturday?
Speaker 26:Pat's looking at me already. Pat's, I think Colin and I we probably, you know, error on the side of leading by example. Colin's very stoic, very calm. So is Pat. I like to needle everybody in the room. You know I didn't grow up playing team sports, so it's important, I think, for a team to be cohesive and to get along and to laugh, at least in my eyes, and you saw what PC did. You know pretty much about this time right now, maybe a little less light outside. So PC leads by example and you know he was able to sort of spark a very important thing for us coming into today, which was make that putt on the last hole, cap. He talked to each and every one of us every night and he always believes in us. It gave us a lot of confidence going into today.
Speaker 27:Jim, you talked about the buy-in from your players. How much more flexibility did that give you in setting pairings than maybe in years past that there was buy-in, that they would do what was needed to play with who they needed to.
Speaker 29:I think we just tried to vet it early. Again, these teams come together. I keep saying it so fast. I mean, you know, by the time the team was chosen, we had 21 days to get ready. So trying to get pairings together and get ready to come in here is difficult. So I think we tried to get ahead of that. You know, when the picks were made, kind of, the pairings were already kind of in place.
Speaker 29:I vetted that with a lot of the players, with our assistants, with our statistical team. You know I tried to get that in place a little earlier than I did, say, back in 2018. And that way, if things didn't work or didn't gel not from a personality standpoint, but maybe just seeing the golf course we had some options. But these guys, like I said, they were so easy to work with and the best 12 guys that I could have ever imagined Could have paired them up a million different ways. I think that was the hardest part, to be honest with you, that they got along so well, the personalities gelled so well, so many good players on this team 12 of them that there was probably a million different ways we could have mixed and matched them, and that was probably the most difficult thing. I haven't always had that in the past, to be honest with you, so that was probably the. My biggest concern was are we doing the right thing? Are we playing the right guys? Because I could have done it a number of different ways.
Speaker 30:Alright, we're gonna go to Todd real quick and then over to die. So hit the, not Russell, so hit the Russell wanted Want to ask you guys as first-timers to give some insight into kind of the camaraderie of this team and the vibe of it, and also, was it more lighthearted at times than you guys would have expected, walking into a team room at a big team event you?
Speaker 22:guys would have expected. Walking into a team room at a big team event. Yeah, I think, as rookies, a thing that was touched on earlier in the week is just, we're always competing against each other and this is our first time competing with each other and it's a totally different feeling. You always want to beat these guys that we play with and this was one of the weeks where you're trying to hold them up and beat the other guys with your teammates, but I will say that the team did such a good job of welcoming me I think Russ could say the same thing but just hyping us up, making us feel like we've been doing this forever. I think it's safe to say we've made some brothers for life and, um, regardless of the golf, really it's just off the course I felt so welcomed and, um, you know, such a part of a team and as a golf, it gets lonely. It gets lonely and, uh, I understand why, um, these team events are held on such a such a pedestal. There's nothing else like it.
Speaker 22:It exceeded my expectations. I had really high hopes. All you kind of hear about the biggest events in golf the Ryder and the President's Cup. I know the Ryder Cup is a different beast as well, but these team events are. Just now that I've played one, I can say they're just the best. Um, all our ass, take it from here, but it, I mean it's a week I'm never going to forget and and I wouldn't say I expected the lightheartedness I I know some of these guys are are jokesters, even though they don't really show it, um, on the outside, so I wasn't obvious up here, but uh, I loved it, man, it was. It's such a great group of guys and great group of personalities. Um, yeah, it was just, it was just the best why?
Speaker 26:why is that? There's our mongolian careful.
Speaker 30:that was freddie' thing, dude Russell anything else from a comical standpoint, anything else from your point of view, from all the fun that you guys have had?
Speaker 15:I don't have too much to add. Pretty much the same to what Sean said. Too much to add, you know. Pretty much the same to what Sean said. I had kids in my ear all week and it was nice to have kids just hanging with me on the course. He's had a lot of funny jokes, but the team room was the aspect that was amazing. I feel already like I'm a lot closer to these guys, even though I've been playing golf against them for a while. It's just cool because these guys are a big reason of why I've gotten better at this game. I've tried to figure out okay, what does Pat do well with his putting stroke? What does Colin do well with his driver? What does Scotty do well with his irons? Whatever these guys do well, I try to see what they're doing and try to get better. It's cool to team up with them. I've been extremely excited and definitely like Sasek, see them at expectations, dream come true week for me.
Speaker 25:We're going to go to Doug Ferguson.
Speaker 12:Russell, I wanted to follow up a little bit on that. All the way in the back, sorry. You've been on tour for 12 years as a really good player. I'm just curious how often you watched the Cups and pictured yourself in the uniform, wondered how you could contribute.
Speaker 15:Yeah, I mean I never knew if I'd make a team. I definitely have worked really hard the last five or six years towards pretty much every part of my game, tried to put a big step forward to everything I'm doing in hopes that I can make a team, and so that whole time I never knew if it would happen. But to finally get the call is pretty cool and I wish I would have made a bunch before this year. But for some reason it just seems even more special that I made one this late, because I haven't really taken it for granted at all. It's been awesome that I may have won this late, because I haven't really taken it for granted at all. It's been awesome.
Speaker 12:And Jim, I ran this by Ernie as well, since you were on that 98 team in Melbourne that got shellacked and then you guys beat him even worse. Next time go to South Africa for the tie and 05 comes down to the last putt. What have you seen since then, starting here in Montreal in 07, that has made it so. So one sided that. It was during that, that four year stretch. I know there's been some some close matches Korea and Melbourne, what have you? But what's the change from then to to what it's been lately?
Speaker 29:I don't know if I could Doug, if I could put my finger on it. I mean I go back. I mean I go back to just this week and Thursday, that 5-0, that was five tight matches. We just happened to win all of them.
Speaker 29:Friday was not that same tale of the tape. I mean we had three pretty lopsided losses, a couple tight ones, but really the matches come down to just some special moments and for one reason or another these guys usually play loose in the President's Cup. They let it fly and we've been able to win some crucial points, make some crucial putts. Pat's last night was a. I mean we're walking up the fairway. We can go in there with a two-, three or four-point lead. We end up with a four-point lead. I mean those little moments make massive differences in the score and each and every one of these guys made a big difference in that score somewhere along the way.
Speaker 29:And drug matches day 18 and just kept fighting and clawing. I mean the back nine really was a big deal for us this week and I talked about a little in the team room, trying not to put pressure on the last holes but really wanted these guys to own it and enjoy it and kind of thrive in that pressure. And uh, and really you know, I've been asked you every one of you in this room asked me for the last year how much pressure I felt trying to keep this streak alive and keep this team going. And I kept denying it that I didn't feel any pressure and I didn't want them to feel that pressure. I wanted them to apply the pressure to the other team and I really felt like down the stretch, these guys kept the pressure on the other team and and, uh, came out with points all right, we're gonna go to Adam Shupak next.
Speaker 14:Jim. That was kind of my question, jim, because now that you've won, the next captain is going to face that same pressure. What was the hardest part of it for you? Jim, you won't say it right now? What?
Speaker 29:was your question Actually. I don't know. I know it's funny, but I'm lost in the joke. To be honest with you, I'm curious what he? Said Hold on. What did you say again, Because I'm lost now. Well, hey, Cap just remember.
Speaker 26:What did he ask you about a week ago? I can't remember either. It's weird.
Speaker 29:Oh yeah, he's talking about our fun exchange in Napa. So for the record, yeah, for the record, I was never angry with Adam. I did say that, without a doubt, but we got a chuckle out of it. Adam and I were always good. We've texted a lot since, but yeah, I was a little surprised. You're rooting for the other team. You have to stand there now.
Speaker 14:Look at all these guys, it's kind of fun, said your opponent the other team to win.
Speaker 29:What did you say?
Speaker 14:But it wouldn't be the worst. I wouldn't hate it if the other team won Wrong, wrong.
Speaker 29:My favorite part was after the.
Speaker 14:My favorite part. Next question is for you kids.
Speaker 29:My favorite part of it was when, after the first presser, when we came in we did our pairings and we walked out. I actually gave you a little fist bump and two of my assistants told you to go after yourself that was my favorite.
Speaker 14:That was my favorite. They wanted to do that a long time. Kiz, I'm pretty sure Homa pooped one and I was right, but have you paid off your bet?
Speaker 17:Yeah, we saw how you should ask him.
Speaker 25:Alright, we're gonna go. We're gonna go over to Steve here in the back. You might get him to do it again here, professor.
Speaker 6:You don't want it.
Speaker 28:I have a question for Xander Year 2022 and this year international team had four Korean players and they won six points each tournament and you played a lot of important matches against them. What do you think they have that makes it tough to play against or to be able to pull through and make such good results?
Speaker 26:They bring the fire to that team. I know we're in Canada and there was a few Canadians on that team and they were getting rooted on by their crowds. But you know, siwoo, tom Ben Sungjae, you know Sungjae is probably the tamest of them all but we look at him as an assassin in his own right. He hits it so dang straight. And then Tom and Siwoo together I mean those boys, this course might be, you know, I don't know 7,000 yards, but those boys cover about 9,000 yards in a round of golf, at least the ones that I played against them they hit unbelievable shots, pc, and I saw it. They were very hard PC, and I had to bring out some of our best stuff to beat them.
Speaker 26:Last night it came out to the last hole and you know it's really good for golf. It's as a competitor, you know I respect it. You know it's as a competitor, you know I respect it. You know it's not how I go about my business, but I respect it because that's that's how they play. And if I was running around and getting fired up, you know I might make bogey in the next hole. But those boys are running around and burning every freaking hole on us and it is uh. You know I have a lot of respect for for everyone on that team, but the koreans definitely bring the heat no right guys, we only have time for a few more, so we're going to start over here with Bob, and then James and Daniel.
Speaker 6:I have a question for Scotty. When Adam Scott was in here earlier, he noted or mentioned how he thought that these events are really good for people's personal careers. He thought that it might be a boost to some of their guys having been in this environment 18th hole, the pressure of watching their teammates and all any specifically referenced you in 2021 at Whistling Straits, and I just wondered what you thought about that, if there is some truth to that, if, if you use that experience and it propelled you into the run you've been on, or is that just coincidence? Or or how much it might have really helped you.
Speaker 31:No, I I think there's definitely an aspect to that I think, looking back at that Ryder Cup, one of the coolest things was just getting the vote of the guys to want me to be a part of that team.
Speaker 31:That that really meant a lot to me, you know. I think of the guys that you know Captain Jim picked this week and you know we were very confident in our captain's picks and I definitely look back on that moment in my career as something that kind of propelled me. These are the events, I think, where you feel the most pressure, because not only do you want to perform for yourself, but you want to perform for your teammates, your partner that day and your country, and so I think this is where the lights are the brightest and these are the events we look forward to the most. And performing like some of these guys performed this week under the biggest lights, I think, is great for their careers especially. You know, I think of you know, like Russell, you know, coming out here and performing the way he did this week is really special and I think that there's definitely an aspect to that.
Speaker 25:All right, we're going to, and I think that there's definitely an aspect of that.
Speaker 20:We're gonna go over here to James Max. I was wondering how long after you hooked that shot did you first think about Kevin paying on his bed?
Speaker 24:I mean like Half a second, second and a half. I look back and he was scampering down nine fairway trying to run away from me. I think he left me a good four minutes before that. Uh, I don't blame him, but uh, yeah, I mean it was uh obviously on my mind the whole week. Uh, it was I. I basically had three, three check marks this week, and one was to win the President's Cup with these boys, two was to have a great time and three to get kids to take a shirt off. So I went three for three All right last two here, gabby and Daniel.
Speaker 25:To finish, thank you.
Speaker 3:Anyone can answer this. What are the party plans for the evening? Kids, kids.
Speaker 21:Kids no, no, no, no plans for the evening. Kiss, kiss, kiss, no no.
Speaker 12:Tony, tony, tony, tony, be now, what are you?
Speaker 16:being now In the wise words of Travis Kelsey you gotta fight for your right to party.
Speaker 27:Only time will tell.
Speaker 25:Should end. Should end on that. Go ahead, Daniel.
Speaker 11:Question for Jim. Just there I was wondering, because a lot of these matches were much more tight than the final score would suggest. How much do you think that the fact that you guys had a lot more PGA Tour victories, and much more major titles too, could have made the difference when these matches were tight, especially this weekend?
Speaker 29:Well, again, I give the other team a lot of credit for the fight, but I'd go to battle with these 12 guys anytime Very tough, strong-minded, unflappable, don't get frazzled. I mean, the fans out there brought it pretty good. I mean they, you know they gave us some crap. There's no doubt these guys kind of used it to their advantage and I said very strong-willed and closed out matches and I think that's what you're looking for. I knew coming to you know to a foreign land and coming to an away game, you know the Montreal fans, the Canadian fans, are good sports fans and so I knew they would bring it and I knew these guys could handle that.
Speaker 25:All right, gentlemen. Thank you for the time. Congratulations once again. Thank you.
Speaker 1:So there you go. You've heard from both teams. The President's Cup is over and we are moving forward. Corn Ferry Tour finals are this week coming up, first week in October. I should say this is the September version of Golf Talk America, of PGA Tour Countdown. Wow, it's all running together. Also, Sanderson Farms is coming up. We'll be covering that also live from Jackson Mississippi for the PGA Tour. Hope you enjoyed the interviews. Interesting comments, A lot of fun. Boys did drink a few beers while they were talking. Kisner was passing them out, the beer meister. Anyway, for the PGA Tour Countdown team, for the Golf Talk America Network team, for our friends at PrizePix, I'm Frank Bassett telling you go get PrizePix. It's a cool product, Check it out. Download the app today, See ya, Thank you.