Player quotes – Saturday evening

Here’s what the players from both sides had to say after a long day of golf, with some players invloved in three matches. The players came off the course due bad light with Europe up in every match of session 3, which comprises two foursomes matches and four fourball matches.

American pair Stewart Cink & Matt Kuchar

Q. What was it like playing with the same guy, playing against the same guys, all day long?

MATT KUCHAR: It’s crazy to play bits of three matches in one day.  I was grateful to play with Stewart all day because it didn’t feel like three different matches out there.  It’s nice to have the same guy.  I couldn’t have had a better partner.
 
STEWART CINK: It was actually shorter than a typical Ryder Cup Saturday.  But it seemed long because I played pieces of three matches, and they were tight.  So it’s exciting.  It’s a charged atmosphere and both teams are playing really well.

Q. What was behind your good start today?

STEWART CINK:  It seemed like a long time ago. I need to think back to that.

Q. You won the last two session, would you have expected that?

STEWART CINK:  Well, we came over here to win The Ryder Cup.  We didn’t come over here to not win the thing.  Yeah, we expected to go out and play our butts off and compete.  Most teams are competing hard and we holed some crucial putts, and we just have to keep going.

Luke Donald, playing with Lee Westwood, departed the course 4up over Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker after 9 holes. After defeat to Woods and Stricker in the session 2, Peter Hanson was looking for Ryder Cup revenge in session 3 against the form pairing of Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton. Playing with Jimenez, the European duo are 2up through 6 holes.

Q. Was the adrenalin coarsing through your veins?
 
LUKE DONALD: I think as many holes as we played, as it went on, the adrenaline went lower and lower.  I was still pumped up but it’s nice to be partnering Lee.  He’s a calming influence, he’s a great player, and I’m honoured to be his partner.

Q.  What sort of stuff is he saying to you and what sort of stuff are you saying to him out there?

LUKE DONALD:  We both know how to play golf.  We weren’t doing anything different.  But you know, obviously we played solid and got off to a fast start.

Q.  What about Monty’s role?  I’m sure he would rather be playing every single shot.
 LUKE DONALD:  Of course.  He has great passion for The Ryder Cup, and obviously I haven’t seen him too much, with the format on the golf course, it’s crazy right now.  You just don’t know exactly what’s going on.

Q.  What did Monty say before you went out again?

PETER HANSON:  He didn’t seen have time to speak to us.  I just went down to hit some balls and straight out.  You still feel if you lose pretty bad in the beginning, you want revenge, and we got off to a great start birdieing 1,3,4 and 6.  So straight ahead, 2 up, it’s good.

 Q.  How important was that after losing this morning, you want to get momentum straightaway.

 PETER HANSON:  Yeah, you want to help the team get some points and we feel if we can get one point here, and win our singles, that will help the team and we are going to do everything to get 14 1/2.

Q.  How frustrating was it to come off after establishing a lead?

PETER HANSON:  It was not too bad.  It got really dark.  I think we played pretty long and of course, when you have a bit of momentum, birdieing No. 6 to go 2 up, you want to keep going, but also, there’s really no chance; too dark.

Germany’s Martin Kaymer has impressed on his Ryder Cup debut and looked in complete control of his own game and match playing with Ian Poulter against Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler.

Q. Talk about the momentum swing for the Europeans. 
 
MARTIN KAYMER:  All of the matches are up, and we needed it, especially after that early afternoon, we were struggling a little bit to finish it off, so it gives motivation for tomorrow.

 Q.  Talk about the strength of character and form of Lee Westwood.
 
MARTIN KAYMER:  Lee Westwood, he played unbelievably.  He played so solid, especially after his injury, he couldn’t play golf for a while.  And mentally, he’s so strong.  He made important, great shots in the foursomes that we played.  I mean, I don’t know what to say.  For me, he’s No. 1 in the world at the moment.
As I said, momentum was with us this afternoon and we just have to keep it going tomorrow.

Q.  How has Colin Montgomerie been as a captain?  He was looking very tense in the press room.

MARTIN KAYMER:  Of course.  We were leading all of our matches in the foursomes and then we couldn’t finish it off, so of course everybody was a little disappointed.

Q.  What sort of captain is he?

MARTIN KAYMER:  I think he’s a very respectful captain, and he talks very serious to us.  I feel a little bit like a tutor, like a teacher in school.  But I like it.

American duo Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson won in session 2 against the Molinari brothers. They couldn’t carry that momentum over into session 3, however, as they trail Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell 3down after just seven holes.

ZACH JOHNSON:  Certainly we got off to a great start.  You know, finished our first session and second session pretty well I thought.  But, you know, obviously the momentum has shifted a little bit.  So we have got some work to do tomorrow.

Q.  How long was today?

ZACH JOHNSON:  I’m not sure what day it is.  It’s been a very long day.  It’s been a long day.
 

HUNTER MAHAN:  It looks like obviously right now, they have the momentum, so this break couldn’t come at a better time.

Q.  Did it feel good to finally get out there and play?

HUNTER MAHAN:  It did, definitely.  Especially when they altered the format so we can get out there and play, which is the best thing to do and it’s great for The Ryder Cup and great for all of the fans, and good to get out there and start playing.