“Brooks and Bryson wanted to play together, that’s how much it came together.” – U.S captain Steve Stricker on Koepka, DeChambeau and team unity
“What a glorious day and glorious weekend for American golf. This is a new generation and a new time.” – Paul Azinger on the U.S. winning the Ryder Cup
“The more and more I play in this event, the more I realize that this is the best event in golf.” – Rory McIlroy to Jimmy Roberts on significance of the Ryder Cup
STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 26, 2021 – NBC Sports concluded its exclusive coverage of the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits Golf Club in Kohler, Wis., on NBC, as the United States defeated Europe by a score of 19-9 to win the Ryder Cup and set the record for the most points in the 28-point format. Live From The Ryder Cup provided post-round coverage on GOLF Channel. Following are notes and quotes from today’s coverage.
On U.S. Team
U.S. captain Steve Stricker to Steve Sands after the U.S. clinched the Ryder Cup: “These guys all came together….it says a lot about this group of guys…they had a mission this week, you could tell. Brooks and Bryson wanted to play together, that’s how much it came together. That shows a lot about this whole team…this is a new era for U.S.A golf. They’re young, they come with a lot of passion, a lot of energy, and a lot of game.”
Paul Azinger on the U.S. winning the Ryder Cup: “What a glorious day and glorious weekend for American golf. Down and out for so long in this competition. All the pressure was on them this week, the strongest American team ever on-paper. This is a new generation and a new time…full and total domination…there’s no shortcuts to success. You can’t hope for it, you can’t wish for it. You have to prepare, you have to outprepare, that’s what Stricker wanted to do.”
Azinger on Stricker: “If the PGA of America is serious about winning Ryder Cups, they might want to consider giving Steve Stricker another shot at this.”
Azinger on Dustin Johnson, who went 5-0-0: “He didn’t come in here playing red hot by any means, but he leaves here the most confident guy. He handled everything that they threw at him.”
Azinger on Bryson DeChambeau: “That guy is as American as apple pie. He has brought such an energy to this sport. He got the crowd amped up the second he came through that tunnel and walked onto that tee and he hasn’t let up since. Drove the green 350 yards away on that first hole and made eagle. Unreal.”
Brandel Chamblee: “Golf is an individual sport, but what defines pretty much every human being that’s ever walked this planet is how you work with others. This team was animated from the get-go by a deep sense of purpose. Perhaps it was to prove that this era of players could excel at this event. They hung together and finally played to their prodigious talents.”
Justin Leonard: “The skill and talent of this American team could spell trouble for the Europeans for years to come.”
Dan Hicks on Collin Morikawa: “So many feel that he is the future of American golf. In fact, he’s here now. But at 24 years old, the ceiling is so high.”
On European Team
Rory McIlroy’s emotional post-round interview with Jimmy Roberts following his 3-and-2 singles match win: “I’m extremely disappointed that I haven’t contributed more for the team. I’m glad I got a point on the board…the more and more I play in this event, the more I realize that this is the best event in golf.”
Dan Hicks on Rory McIlroy’s interview with Jimmy Roberts: “If you ever had any idea that these guys don’t care, or that Rory McIlroy with all of his talent just kind of turns it on and off when he wants to, you hear what this Ryder Cup means to Europe and means to the United States.”
--NBC SPORTS--