FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, September 30th, 2017

NOTABLE QUOTES: THE PRESIDENTS CUP, SATURDAY FOURSOMES MATCHES – U.S. LEADS INTERNATIONAL 11.5 – 2.5

NBC Sports Notable Quotes
The Presidents Cup
Saturday Foursomes Matches
Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017
Liberty National Golf Club
Jersey City, N.J.

**Day 3 Presidents Cup coverage continues on NBC with the afternoon four-ball matches until 6 p.m. ET.

**The U.S. Team leads Team International 11.5-2.5. 

Saturday’s Day 3 Foursomes Matches Results (U.S. earns 3.5 points, International earns half a point)

Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed                def.      Jason Day/Marc Leishman                  4&3

Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar              def.      Adam Hadwin/Adam Scott                4&3

Kevin Kisner/Phil Mickelson              def.      Jhonattan Vegas/Emiliano Grillo        2&1

Rickie Fowler/Justin Thomas              halved Louis Oosthuizen/Branden Grace

On Day 3 Foursomes Matches at Liberty National Golf Club

David Feherty – “There is no question that American golf is in good shape right now after suffering for a few years.”

Feherty – “This is a very strong American team. I would say look out Paris [2018 Ryder Cup location]. The worm has turned.”

Tom Abbott – “The Statue of Liberty is looming large this week across the Presidents Cup. A sign potentially that the U.S. is just too strong for the Internationals.”

Feherty – “They [Internationals] really have run into an American buzz saw this year that’s for sure. As strong as all of the International players are, this American team is pretty special.”

Curt Byrum – “Nothing is going their way. The whole International team. Some of it has been poor golf, some of it has been bad breaks. Frustrating for them.”

Mike Tirico – “This American team has a ton of talent and a ton of confidence. When those two things are together, I don’t care you are, it’s hard to top.”

Feherty – “The Internationals really needed to get their big names to get off to a decent start. That is what we haven’t seen here. They are behind the eight ball big time.”

U.S. Assistant Captain Fred Couples speaking with NBC’s Steve Sands

Fred Couples – “I have to tell you I have been walking around here for four days including practice rounds. I have not seen USA miss many shots. It’s almost like a little freaky that I’m glad I’m 58 and not 38.”

Couples – “We all think we’re captains – Furyk, Tiger, myself and Davis – for Stricker.”

Couples – “The Internationals are busting their butts. It is very difficult when you are behind and you keep playing. It is like a baseball game being down 8-2. It is hard to keep fighting back. Our guys are playing well and hammering the floor.” 

On Patrick Reed/Jordan Spieth defeating Jason Day/Marc Leishman 4&3

Jim Bones” Mackay – “If Spieth plays this afternoon and he has some 90 yard shots, Greller might want to start tending some flags because Spieth is all over them.” 

Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed speaking with NBC’s Jimmy Roberts following their match

Patrick Reed – “I definitely play more aggressive because with his short game and his putting, it is kind of go at everything.”

Jordan Spieth – “I had a couple of good numbers. Patrick put me in beautiful places on 13 and 15. Both times I had a shot that played 90 yards, which is a stock lob wedge. One that I hit on the driving range thousands of times. That is a shot that is hard for me to mess up. I got it in to the right locations both times below the hole. When Patrick is over those putts 10 feet and in, it is pretty much automatic.”

Spieth – “Patrick told me if I made it (the approach shot on 15) he would belly flop in the lake. I thought just to keep the lake safe I might just miss it. It looked good in the air, went just past the hole and when it feeds down it becomes a pretty straight putt. You still have to cap it off and he made a great putt to finish the match.” 

On Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar defeating Adam Hadwin/Adam Scott 4&3

Matt Kuchar and Dustin Johnson speaking with NBC’s Steve Sands following their match

Dustin Johnson – “We have played a lot of practice rounds together and we’re good buddies. We really enjoy playing this alternate shot together. It is a fun format, especially on a day like today. It is tough out there. I thought we played really solid. You are going to put your partner in really bad spots but you’ve just to go with it and keep on going.”

Kuchar – “Everybody is hungry and everybody is itching to play. We changed around the format where you’ve got to sit more guys. There are so many guys itching to play and wanting to go out. We are all just chomping at the bit to keep earning points for the team.”

On Kevin Kisner/Phil Mickelson/ defeating Jhonattan Vegas/Emiliano Grillo 2&1

Jerry Foltz – “This young man [Kisner] is tough as nails.”

Feherty – “He’s [Kisner] got the nerves for this kind of event.”

Foltz – “Vegas has been pretty exceptional off the tee with the driver. Anything less than driver and he’s struggled a bit.”

Kevin Kisner and Phil Mickelson speaking with NBC’s Steve Sands following their match

Kevin Kisner – “I couldn’t have a better setting to have Phil on my team to knock the nerves off. We’re a great pair. We love the drama, we love having fun. We never get too down out there so we’re a great pairing.”

Phil Mickelson – “I don’t feel like that it is the case. It is his first event. He has this excitement and energy. He drives it like a stallion and he putts it even better than that. So for me, it lifts me up. It brings out the best in me, and that is why he has been such a good partner for me. It is the other way around is having a guy like Kis here, bringing me along and pulling the best golf out of me.

On Justin Thomas/Rickie Fowler halving their match with Louis Oosthuizen/Branden Grace

Byrum – “This has been a really good back and forth match today.”

Byrum – “He has chipped the ball and pitched the ball so well this week.”

Tirico – “This partnership continues to be strong for the International side.”

-NBC Sports Group-