The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Sweet music to McIlroy
Sergio Garcia has been on five winning Ryder Cup teams so has a fair idea what it takes to win the thing.
“You don’t win Ryder Cups with your mouth,” he said, when asked to consider comments such as TV analyst Johnny Miller claim this was the worst European team in recent Ryder Cup history.
“That and Davis (Love) saying they have maybe the greatest team ever assembled, they are pretty much motivating factors,” said the Spaniard before the first practice session at Hazeltine.
“Everyone has an opinion and good for them. But we know what we have and that’s the most important thing for us.
“We know you don’t win Ryder Cups with your mouth, you win them out on the golf course. And we’ll see that this weekend.”
With seven matches under his belt, Garcia has a role as one of the senior men on an inexperienced European team this year, and is ready to take on a role which he has not embraced in the past.
Since his debut in 1999, Garcia has played virtually every foursomes and fourball session and partnered a rookie just once – Nicolas Colsaerts in 2012.
With six debutants on Darren Clarke’s team, he realises he may have to shoulder more of a load, and is fine with it.
“The most important thing is to make your teammate feel as comfortable as possible, and usually that makes them relax and play better,” he said. “It seems like it’s easier for us to achieve than maybe in the other team. I look at the European team and I can’t see a player I wouldn’t be comfortable or happy playing with. That kind of says it all.”
Even though he is based mostly on the PGA Tour, Garcia believes the European Tour culture makes the team bond.
“It’s a lot closer between the players on the European Tour, we build more relationships,” he said. “The PGA Tour is a great tour but I would say it’s a little less personal than Europe, and it makes it a little easier for us to get along.”
All the camaraderie in the world will not count if Europe’s players aren’t aggressive and confident, according to the Spaniard.
“Even though we’ve won three in a row, the most important thing is knowing this is not a done deal,” he said. “We’re on a good run, but it’s going to be tough and we’ve been telling all the rookies, they’re going to have to play hard.
“This is a strong US team. We have to stay very aggressive and be as confident as we can be.” The themes of Ryder Cup team rooms usually remain secret until the cup’s won, but most European captains bring their own inspiration.
At Gleneagles two years ago Paul McGinley brought in Alex Ferguson to address his team, while at Medinah in 2012 the memory of Seve Ballesteros was writ large over Jose Maria Olazabal’s captaincy.
Colin Montgomerie had Gareth Edwards, the prince of scrum halves, and Tom Jones in for a Welsh flavour at Celtic Manor in 2010.
For Darren Clarke, the inspiration seems to be the words of the All-Ireland team song, Ireland’s Call, and its image of the island standing shoulder to shoulder despite the border that divides it.
Paul O’Connell, the former Ireland rugby union captain, arrived at Hazeltine yesterday to play the celebrity match but also to give a team talk to Europe.
Andy Sullivan, one of the European rookies, revealed the theme within the team room.
“It’s absolutely fantastic image,” said the Warwickshire man. “There’s a picture of Giant’s Causeway near to where Darren lives at Portrush and it’s basically rocks shoulder to shoulder.
“That’s his motto for the week. We have a picture of all the players lined up shoulder to shoulder. It’s quite motivating to look at yourself and see the players you’re standing next to.”
For Sullivan, this week is already a dream come true. “I’ve known for a few weeks I’m on the team and it was exciting, but when I put the team gear on to get on the plane on Monday morning, I had to pinch myself to see if it was actually real,” he said.
“I’m going to be nervous, I wouldn’t be human if I wasn’t, but I think it’s just amazing I have the opportunity to showcase myself on one of the biggest stages in the world.”