FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, September 29th, 2023
NOTES AND QUOTES – THE 44TH RYDER CUP ON USA NETWORK (DAY 1)
“Europe came in properly prepared. They have an advantage in the preparation and that was shown this morning.” – Paul McGinley on Live From the Ryder Cup
“They’re trying to solve problems with the thinking that created the problems.” – Brandel Chamblee on the United States on Live From
“Instant trouble for the United States. They got taken to the woodshed this morning.” – Paul Azinger on Europe sweeping United States 4-0 in morning session
“Nine of the American players have not played since the FedExCup. Would any of those nine players go into a major championship without playing the four weeks before?” – Paul McGinley on Live From
Day 2 Coverage on Saturday Begins at 1:30 a.m. ET on USA Network, Continues at 3 a.m. ET on NBC and Peacock
STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 29, 2023 – NBC Sports presented exclusive coverage of Day 1 of the 44th Ryder Cup from Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy, on USA Network, as well as Live From The Ryder Cup post-round coverage on GOLF Channel and Peacock.
Tomorrow’s coverage begins at 1:30 a.m. ET on USA Network, followed by coverage on NBC and Peacock at 3 a.m. ET.
Europe leads the United States 6.5-1.5 after Day 1 foursomes and four-ball matches.
On Day 1
Paul Azinger: “What a day for Europe…Europe has completely outplayed the Americans. They’ve made tons of birdies…(team captain) Luke Donald has done a great job. Their team room was designed to give them confidence and he’s done it.”
Paul McGinley on Live From the Ryder Cup on GOLF Channel and Peacock: “Europe were on fire. They were drawing inspiration out of the crowd…Europe came in properly prepared. They have an advantage in the preparation and that was shown this morning. They were on the competitive edge…and to be honest, it looked like 4-0 early on and nothing else after 4-5 holes.”
Brandel Chamblee on Live From on the United States team: “The United States look like every single time they come to a Ryder Cup – but in particular, on foreign soil – that they’re trying to start from fresh, but they’re trying to solve the problems with the thinking that created the problems. In 2018 in France, they had a very tight golf course with thick rough. They picked wild players, guys that couldn’t find fairways. They’ve done the same thing this week…they come in off form, with players that couldn’t find fairways, they looked a little tight, and the score certainly shows that.”
McGinley on Live From: “Rather than looking at the context of, ‘this was a terrible performance,’ you want your top players to step up in the heat of battle away from home. You’re going into the cauldron. This is about character and it’s about performing under a huge amount of stress and being prepared. Nine of the American players have not played since the FedExCup. Would any of those nine players go into a major championship without playing the four weeks before?”
On the afternoon four-ball matches
McGinley on Live From on Patrick Cantlay not playing in four-ball: “One of the highest-ranked players on the American team not even playing in the afternoon session down 4-0? How can you go into that session without playing him?”
Azinger on Jon Rahm’s eagles on No. 16 and No. 18: “It’s just magical to watch these guys inspired by each other, inspired by the spirt of Seve (Ballesteros)…what a glorious moment. How about that finish for Rahm.”
Azinger on Jordan Spieth following Justin Thomas’ missed putt on 16th hole: “Spieth has really not been in this match for at least 45 minutes…he has been out of sorts, and Justin Thomas has had to do it all on his own.”
Curt Byrum on Justin Thomas: “He is the emotional leader of this team.”
Azinger on Justin Thomas’ birdie on 15th hole to tie the hole: “Justin Thomas is a winner. He has been struggling this year, but he knows how to make important putts. What a gut-check…that was probably one of the hardest, most exhausting rounds of golf he’s played in some time.”
Azinger on Matthew Fitzpatrick: “He is a one-man wrecking crew. He is the most purposeful golfer in the world.”
Dan Hicks after Justin Thomas’ birdie on 6th hole: “And after almost six-and-a-half hours of golf, the U.S. finally leads in a match.”
On the morning foursomes matches
Azinger: “Instant trouble for the United States. They got taken to the woodshed this morning. This has to be a patient team with a three-day attitude.”
Azinger: “(Zach Johnson’s) message coming in was ‘less is more.’ They wanted to out-prepare the Europeans this week. But when it comes to their locker room and that sort of thing, not a lot of inspirational stuff going on…the American team room is not inspiring, but the European team room is the just the opposite, with baby pictures through the years until they’re champions… (the Americans) are in a dangerous position now…this Friday afternoon session through the years is where Europe has dominated. If that happens, then it might just be a one-day tournament.”
Jim Gallagher Jr.: “You’ve got to keep fighting and you’ve got to be ready. The guys that are currently sitting and playing this afternoon have to be ready. That’s the key to this whole situation. You have to put this in the past. Last week, the Americans were up 4-0 in the Solheim Cup and the Europeans came back, so there’s a lot of golf to be played.”
Justin Leonard: “It’s a wonderful start for the Europeans. They just seem to look a bit more comfortable. The U.S. haven’t hit a lot of great iron shots…they never got any momentum, they didn’t really play that well as a group.”
Terry Gannon: “Everything has been a struggle to this point for the U.S…every time the Americans think they have a door open, the door closes.”
Leonard: “It slams shut. These Europeans are playing so well.”
Gannon on Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton: “The U.S. has struggled for sure, but these two have played brilliantly.”
Justin Leonard: “Whatever Luke Donald is doing, it’s working. I would stick with my game plan. I don’t think he needs to change anything up. He’s probably thought for months about what he wants to do.”
–NBC SPORTS–
