“Europe has taken over. There’s no doubt about it. It was clinical.” – Paul Azinger
“If I’m the United States, I’m going back to the drawing board…I don’t think they take that part of it seriously enough.” – Brandel Chamblee on Live From on Europeans’ advantage in foursomes play
“The captains have six picks. Unfortunately for Zach Johnson, his six picks went 4-12-4. That didn’t work out.” – Azinger
“I think Tiger Woods might be the next captain for the U.S. Bethpage Black would be a perfect matchup for he and Sergio Garcia.” – Azinger on potential captains for 2025 Ryder Cup
STAMFORD, Conn. – October 1, 2023 – NBC Sports presented exclusive coverage of Day 3 of the 44th Ryder Cup from Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy, on NBC and Peacock, as well as Golf Central Live From The Ryder Cup post-round coverage on NBC, GOLF Channel and Peacock.
Europe defeated the United States by a score of 16 ½ - 11 ½ to win the Ryder Cup, as the Americans remain winless in Europe since 1993.
On Impact of Captaincy
Paul Azinger: “You can only create the best possible environment for your players to be successful. The captains have six picks. Unfortunately for Zach Johnson, his six picks went 4-12-4. That didn’t work out.”
Brad Faxon: “Captain Luke Donald deserves a ton of credit. He could be the MVP.”
Dan Hicks to Azinger: “You heard them chant ‘two more years’ for Luke Donald. Now the speculation begins in earnest. Who are going to be the next two captains? As far as the United States are concerned, there’s a guy named Eldrick available.”
Azinger on potential 2025 Ryder Cup captains: “I think Tiger Woods might be the next captain for the U.S. Bethpage Black would be a perfect matchup for he and Sergio Garcia. You never know two years from now where we’re going to be.”
On European Team
Dan Hicks: “A scene that the Americans have grown frustrated and tired of seeing. The ole’s and the massive celebrations.”
Azinger: “The foursomes were the big difference. The Europeans beat the Americans 7-1 in that format. Europe has taken over, there’s no doubt about it. It was clinical…it seems like home-field advantage is gigantic.”
Azinger: “The Europeans had the big three. (Jon) Rahm, (Rory) McIlroy and (Viktor) Hovland had a record of 9-2-3. That made the difference…Europe really prepared well for this. Their team room was massively different than the Americans. They set up the course really well. They got off to a fast start right from the beginning.”
Azinger on Matt Fitzpatrick: “He’s Europe’s most reliable putter. He’s the most thorough player in the game.”
Faxon on Justin Rose after his birdie make on 16th hole: “It’s unbelievable. Everything is matching up here with his putting, the face and the path. At 43 years old, he hasn’t lost his touch or his moxie.”
John Wood on Jon Rahm’s approach shot from within the penalty area on 10th hole: “This is a match play specialty. You would never try this shot in stroke play…I’d be more afraid if I were the bridge right now.”
Paul Azinger on Rahm’s shot landing on the green: “That’s the shot of the week…they call it a penalty area, but it’s not a penalty when you can hit it like that.”
On American Team
Azinger on most of U.S. team not playing for weeks prior to Ryder Cup: “Only three Americans played in the last five weeks leading up to this. It wasn’t like they played a lot leading into Whistling Straits – they had three weeks off there – but five weeks is a big difference, and they’re in Europe.”
Azinger on Rickie Fowler conceding Tommy Fleetwood’s putt to secure the Ryder Cup for Europe: “I’m wondering why Rickie just gave him that putt…maybe it was closer than it looked, but to win the Ryder Cup…it was two feet eight inches.”
Brandel Chamblee on Live From on why the Americans struggle in Europe: “The answer is in plain view – Europe’s dominance in foursomes…over the last three Ryder Cups on foreign soil, the U.S. has gotten just four points in foursomes while the Europeans have gotten 20…if I’m the United States, I’m going back to the drawing board…I dare say that’s what the United States has to do when it comes to the foursomes. Dissect what the Europeans do. How do they match their players up? How do they set their golf courses up to complement the strengths of the European players? I don’t think the United States takes that part of it seriously enough and gets granular enough to take advantage of the strengths of their team.”
Azinger on Max Homa’s putt to win his match on the 18th hole: “What a clutch putt. Oh my goodness. The weight of the entire team on that putt. He will remember that moment forever.”
Max Homa to Steve Sands following his putt to win his match: “That was an out of body experience. Two nights ago, I wanted that opportunity over after missing against (Justin Rose) and I wanted the chance again. I just told myself, you wanted the chance again and here’s the opportunity.”
Hicks on Max Homa: “There’s your American MVP.”
John Wood on Max Homa’s lie on the 18th hole and taking an unplayable: “This is an impossible lie. He could have whiffed at it.”
Azinger: “Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are playing on guts and heart because they do not have their best game.”
Azinger on Patrick Cantlay defeating Justin Rose: “He wasn’t just playing against Justin Rose, he was playing against about 40,000-50,000 fans. He earned every single bit of that. Justin Rose played him so hard.”
--NBC SPORTS--