NBC Notable Quotes
2016 Ryder Cup – Final Day (Sunday Singles Matches)
Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016
Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minn.
**The United States won the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008, defeating Europe (17 - 11).**
Sunday Singles Matches
Match #1 – Patrick Reed (U.S.) def. Rory McIlroy (EUR) 1up
Match #2 – Henrik Stenson (EUR) def. Jordan Spieth (U.S.) 3&2
Match #3 – Thomas Pieters (EUR) def. J.B. Holmes (U.S.) 3&2
Match #4 – Rickie Fowler (U.S.) def. Justin Rose (EUR) 1up
Match #5 – Rafa Cabrera-Bello (EUR) def. Jimmy Walker (U.S.) 3&2
Match #6 – Sergio Garcia (EUR) vs. Phil Mickelson (U.S.) Halved
Match #7 – Ryan Moore (U.S.) def. Lee Westwood (EUR) 1up
Match #8 – Brandt Snedeker (U.S.) def. Andy Sullivan (EUR) 3&1
Match #9 – Dustin Johnson (U.S.) def. Chris Wood (EUR) 1up
Match #10 – Brooks Koepka (U.S.) def. Danny Willett (EUR) 5&4
Match #11 – Martin Kaymer (EUR) def. Matt Kuchar (U.S.) 1up
Match #12 – Zach Johnson (U.S.) def. Matthew Fitzpatrick (EUR) 4&3
On the United States winning their first Ryder Cup since 2008
Johnny Miller – “The home crowd was just crazy. There was a lot of things that made it happen. The way the U.S. finished off matches in the past, several Ryder Cups they haven’t played well on the back nine. U.S. won 10 more holes this week on the back nine, 58-48. Bottom line is you’ve got to hand it to Patrick Reed, the way he led the team all week.”
Gary Koch - “I think it was a different attitude for the United States team. They seemed more relaxed. I saw more smiles. Brandt Snedeker and Zach Johnson before the afternoon four-balls yesterday was a great example – in the crowd – having fun. And that to me, they played that way. They played relaxed. And I think that was a big, big difference.”
On the Rory McIlroy / Patrick Reed match
Roger Maltbie – “I don’t know that I’ve ever witnessed a match that’s had as much emotion as this match.”
Miller – “These might be the loudest roars ever in professional golf.”
On the Ryder Cup crowd
Koch – “There’s been a small number of fans here that have not conducted themselves the way fans at golf events should conduct themselves…When you start to get this many spectators at an event, you get fans here that are just sports fans. They’re not necessarily golf fans. In other sports, some of what we’ve heard is acceptable. Certainly not here.”
Patrick Reed speaking with NBC Sports’ Steve Sands following his 1up win over Rory McIlroy
Patrick Reed – “We play golf with these guys every single week… It’s a big Ryder Cup family and we want everyone to play well. We want to beat them at their best and they want to beat us at our best. I knew today was going to be tough going against a guy like Rory especially with how he was playing earlier this week… It was definitely something fun to be a part of and I’m pretty sure fun to watch.”
Phil Mickelson speaking with Sands following the United States victory
Phil Mickelson – “I’ve been a part of 10 successful Presidents Cups and eight losing Ryder Cups. And it’s very easy to see what the difference is… I’ve known that these guys have had this level of performance in them for some time. And it’s just amazing to watch.”
United States captain Davis Love III speaking with NBC Sports Jimmy Roberts on the win
Davis Love III – “I’m just proud of these guys. They had a lot of pressure on them for the last two years. And every time we picked a guy there was more and more pressure on the team and more and more questions… It was a great team effort. I’ve never seen a team come together like a family like this… And unbelievable golf. The Europeans played just some stunning golf. I told Rory McIlroy I think that’s the best month of golf I’ve ever seen. I’m just really proud of them. They hung in there all week.”
Zach Johnson speaking with Roberts following the United States victory
Zach Johnson “I felt terrible when I woke up this morning. I’m on cloud nine right now and I feel terrific. This was a team effort all the way through. Regardless of what the scoreboard said, we kept fighting. This team was a team. There was no ‘I’, it was all we… I’m so happy for Davis. I’m so happy for our vice captains. I think the grace and humility that Bubba showed just to want to be a part of this even though he didn’t make the team as a player speaks volumes... I hope this is just the beginning.”
Bubba Watson speaking with Roberts following the United States victory
Bubba Watson – “The two greatest things that I’ve ever wanted to accomplish in golf were to be a Hall-of-Famer and be a Ryder Cup captain. I believe Ryder Cup captain is another form of Hall-of-Fame. I told the guys last night, this is the greatest thing I’ve ever done in golf… Finally I found [that] my place on the team is to help. A couple guys called me and said ‘Bubba, I need you by my side, shoulder-to-shoulder.’ And the last couple days, that’s what I did. And it was a dream come true for me. I’m so happy for this team. They took me with open arms and let me be a part of it. This is absolutely amazing. The greatest thing that I’ve ever done in my career and been a part of.”
Ryan Moore speaking with Sands after clinching the Ryder Cup for the United States
Ryan Moore – “This is unbelievable right now to actually get the point that clinched it for us.”
Tiger Woods speaking with Sands following the Unites States victory
Tiger Woods – “Whether I was playing or not, I was part of a team. And our team won… I’m just trying to do my role. And my role is just to help the team however possible. And I hope I’ve done that.”
European captain Darren Clarke speaking with Roberts following the loss
Darren Clarke – “At the end of the day, the American guys played better than we did. They holed the putts when they had to and we lipped out. But that’s happened the other way around for quite some time. Obviously we’re bitterly disappointed, but credit to Davis and his team for the performance.”
Rory McIlroy speaking with Roberts on his match with Reed following the loss
Rory McIlroy – “It was all played in the right spirit which was great. I think that’s the most important thing. Yes we mocked each other a little bit, but at the same time it was all in good fun. No problems with Patrick Reed at all. He’s been immense this week.”
McIlroy – “I knew what I needed to do right from the get-go. We’re two of the leaders of our teams in terms of what we did this week and the emotion we show out there… For the first eight holes I was doing it pretty well, and [I] just sort of ran out of steam. It’s been a long week and Patrick played great today as he has all week. I just didn’t have enough at the end to try and stop him.”
-NBC Sports Group-