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Ryder Cup Voices

"I'll always talk about it, I'll never refuse. I think that I feel blessed, I feel lucky that it happened to me

Fri Sept 17 2004 - 01:00

"I'll always talk about it, I'll never refuse. I think that I feel blessed, I feel lucky that it happened to me. I'll always probably be remembered for it. I'm happy to share it with anybody because it wasn't just me who got a massive kick out of it was everyone who supported the European team, everyone who supported golf in general." - Paul McGinley on that putt at the Belfry in 2002.

"It's probably the first time since the last Ryder Cup that I got to dress up three days in a row. It's like going to church for three straight days but it's fun. The wives have had a good time putting on their gowns and their dresses and they look good; so it's fun for the guys to check them all out." - David Toms on the team uniform.

"There's a lot of anticipation, a lot of anxiety that's built up with that. Everybody handles it in different ways and you just have to do what's best for you. I try and think of what has worked in the past and then let that come out." - Fred Funk on making his Ryder Cup debut at the tender age of 48.

"I played football for 10 years. I had two older brothers that roughed me up pretty good in a nice way, roughed me up pretty well. I'm Italian (could he have played for Europe then), I'm emotional, I'm going to have some fire out there for sure." - Chris di Marco on his football background and his brothers who helped him prepare for the rough and tumble of professional golf.

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"They both like wine. They both smoke cigars.they get on well with each other." - Bernard Langer on why he paired Miguel Angel Jimenez with Darren Clarke.

"I can't think of any other message that we could send any louder than to put the two of you guys out first." - Hal Sutton on telling Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods of his decision to pair them for the opening fourballs match.

"It would be huge for the European team and everyone here to see we can cope with their top two. It is dramatic, isn't it but it always seems to happen to me." - Colin Montgomerie on the impact of the opening match in the fourballs.

"I think that the people are realising that we are 12 good guys. Just because we come from across the ocean, from a different country doesn't mean we are aliens or terrible or whatever." - Bernhard Langer on the European players' interaction with the crowd at Oakland Hills.