FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, September 29th, 2017

NOTABLE QUOTES: THE PRESIDENTS CUP, DAY 2 FOUR-BALL MATCHES – U.S. LEADS INTERNATIONAL 8-2

Golf Channel Notable Quotes
The Presidents Cup
Friday Four-Ball Matches
Friday, Sept. 29, 2017
Liberty National Golf Club
Jersey City, N.J.

**Day 3 Presidents Cup coverage airs Saturday on NBC from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. ET.

**Complete recap news coverage on Golf Channel now until 8 p.m. ET with Golf Central Live From the Presidents Cup.

**The U.S. Team leads Team International 8 to 2

Friday’s Day 2 Four-Ball Matches Results
Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed             halved    Hideki Matsuyama/Adam Hadwin
Rickie Fowler/Justin Thomas              def.      Louis Oosthuizen/Branden Grace       3&2
Phil Mickelson/Kevin Kisner  def.      Jason Day/Marc Leishman                 1up
Kevin Chappell/Charley Hoffman      def.      Charl Schwartzel/Anirban Lahiri        6&5
Dustin Johnson/Brooks Koepka         def.      Adam Scott/Jhonattan Vegas             3&2

On Day 2 Four-Ball Matches at Liberty National Golf Club
Frank Nobilo – “This American team is young, new and very, very strong.”
Nobilo – “Captain Nick Price knows he is in an enormous hole. Right now the biggest thing is to try to get credibility over the next two days.”
Nobilo – “The Americans have not won the second session since 2003. That all changed today.”
Mike Tirico – “The wind has been really keeping the players just off balance throughout this back nine today.”
Jim “Bones” Mackay – “It also is why all of the caddies have gray hair.”

U.S. Presidents Cup Team Captain Steve Stricker speaking with Golf Channel’s Steve Sands following Friday’s matches

Steve Stricker – “It was unbelievable. At one point in time early in the day, it wasn’t looking like it was going to be in our favor at all. Our guys just stepped it up again and they have a knack for doing that. They keep grinding it out and they are great players. To finish like that, to have Phil knock that final putt in is huge for us going into tomorrow.”
Stricker – “I’m still pretty quiet. It has been a blast. It really has. We just get together every night, I say a couple of words and then let the guys have it. Everybody has been opening up and talking. They are hungry. They want to win and our motto is win every session. They did it again today and if we can do it a couple of more times we’ll be in good shape.”

On Patrick Reed/Jordan Spieth halving their match vs. Adam Hadwin and Hideki Matsuyama
Nobilo – “This is a team [Reed and Spieth] that was founded by accident, and they’ve become team leaders.”
Tirico – “These guys are connected. They really are.”
Mackay – “This is a fantastic match. That it came down to this last hole and all of the ebbs and flows today has been fantastic.”

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

Jordan Spieth – “With four holes to go absolutely we would have signed off for half a point. But with the chances on the last couple of holes, we had other sights. It was a good fight by us. Patrick got us going on 15th with just a phenomenal putt that I was able to follow up on the next. We really played poorly on the front nine and we needed something to get going and we provided it on the back.”
Patrick Reed – “A comeback means you’ve got to play more holes and you are trying to get a halve out of it. A runaway is always nice because that means you are playing some really solid golf.”

Adam Hadwin speaking with Steve Sands following their match

Adam Hadwin – “It was incredible. I’m just happy I made contact off that first tee. Made a couple of great putts when I needed to and I think we got a little fortunate coming down the last couple of holes. I’ll take the halve.”
Hadwin – “Jordan hit a couple of good shots on 17 and 18. We couldn’t really apply a ton of pressure to him, so to sneak out with a half is pretty good at this point.”

On Rickie Fowler/Justin Thomas defeating Branden Grace/Louis Oosthuizen 3&2
David Feherty – “Thomas has been absolutely rock solid all day. Fowler hasn’t been too bad either. Justin has just made everything he should have and a bunch that he shouldn’t.”
Gary Koch – “Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler have done something that has yet to be accomplished until today in defeating Grace and Oosthuizen.”
Tirico – “It would be a fitting end to a spectacular season for Justin Thomas should the U.S. win”
Nobilo – “The U.S. team has done very little wrong in the last few holes in this match.”

Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas speaking with Golf Channel’s Steve Sands following their match

Justin Thomas – “We had a great time out there. We meshed really well today. Felt like we both contributed a lot between the 16 holes we played. Man, it’s just a lot of fun playing out here with this guy.”
Rickie Fowler – “We’re great at picking each other up when we know that I needed to step up or JT needs to step up and do something. I got off to a better start than he did and was able to get us going and then he took the reins and brought us home.”

On Kevin Kisner/Phil Mickelson/ defeating Jason Day/Marc Leishman 1up
Tirico – “Mickelson might lead the world in almost eagles made.”
Nobilo – “Leishman has been a rock today.”
Jerry Foltz – “Jason Day has seen parts of this golf course today that Tom Kite never intended anyone seeing.”
Foltz – “This match has not seen many putts holed at all today.”
Tirico (On Mickelson and Kisner’s “Three Amigos” dance – “That might be 15 yards in the NFL for excessive celebration.”

Phil Mickelson and Kevin Kisner speaking with Golf Channel’s Jimmy Roberts following their match

Kevin Kisner – “I think he panicked, I panicked and then it just kind of happened. It was a lot of fun.”
Phil Mickelson – “I’m clearly the worst selfie taker. Who takes a selfie and crops themselves out. I’m the worst Three Amigos dancer, but Jimmy I can putt.”
Mickelson – “It only matters how the match stands at the end of the day after 18. We had to fight hard. They birdied the first four holes on us. We were fighting to stay in it all the way through. This guy made three birdies the first eight holes to keep us in it. It feels incredible to finish this match like this.”
Kisner – “I feel pretty good out there. Phil has been fantastic keeping me in line. We’ve been chatting it up a lot. I figured out our new concept. Whenever I really need him I just dump it in the water and he takes care of the rest.”
Kisner – “It has been fantastic. I love team events. I love being Phil’s partner. I love being out here in front of the crowds and having all of these people cheer for us.”
Mickelson – “Every event I just cherish. Playing with guys like this. This team is a special team. We have some incredible talent. Not only that but we have incredible energy and camaraderie amongst these guys. This is really laying a good foundation for United States teams for years to come.”

On Kevin Chappell/Charley Hoffman defeating Anirban Lahiri/Charl Schwartzel 6&5
Frank Nobilo – “Chappell and Hoffman are doing what any team captain would love. Get your match up really quickly and send a message.”
Koch – “Chappell and Hoffman are steamrolling Schwartzel and Lahiri today,”

Chappell and Hoffman speaking to Golf Channel’s Jimmy Roberts following their match

Hoffman – “I took it pretty well once he [Stricker] said it. But yesterday was hard. Kevin and I we’re biting at the bit to get out and play. It sucks sitting, there’s no question. We’re all capable but we definitely understood what Stricker wanted to do. He has a game plan and a mission. Kevin and I understood that but it gave us a little fire and momentum going into today.”
Chappell – “I have no intentions but playing the rest of the way. Excited to get that first point, really enjoy the day and represent our country well.”
Chappell – “I really tried to embrace it, especially in between holes. The crowds are so great, so pro U.S. It is hard not to be jacked up when you are out here playing.”

On Dustin Johnson/Brooks Koepka defeating Adam Scott/Jhonattan Vegas 3&2
Mark Rolfing – “Jhonattan Vegas has been a pleasant surprise for Captain Price so far this week.”
Roger Maltbie – “He [Adam Scott] has struck me and continues to strike me as a little bit streaky with the putter.  He has stretches where he is quite good and other stretches where nothing seems to go in.”
Maltbie – “Vegas has been carrying the load for the Internationals most of the match today.”
Koch – “Dustin Johnson clutch on the back nine.”

-NBC Sports Group-