The 12th Man

You’ve been close in other years to earning a Captain’s Pick, but this year you had yourself in the best position you’ve ever been in going into the selections. Were you expecting that call?
“Not until I did what I did at the Tour Championship. If I don’t get into a playoff there, then I don’t think I necessarily get picked. And I’d completely understand that. But, I did have a great week there. If you’re talking about picking the guy that’s hot going into it, then I think I proved that week that I was that person. I credit Davis [Love III, Ryder Cup team captain] a lot for making that decision. To pick me over Bubba [Watson], that was tough — I’ll bet he got criticized quite a bit for that. But we’d been talking a lot over the last month-and-a-half leading up to it, and he said, ‘With other guys, we’ve found reasons to take their name off the board and throw it in the trash, but yours is staying up there as a solid option for us.’ So, in Atlanta, I proved that I was still playing great at the end of the season, and I guess that was it.”

Where were you when you got the call?
“It was Sunday night after the Tour Championship in Atlanta. I was in the parking lot of East Lake [Golf Club], loading up my car, and to be honest, I actually missed the call. (laughs) My phone was in my pocket and I was getting my clubs in the car, and helping get the kids loaded up and all that, thinking about getting to the airport and flying back to Vegas, and I just totally missed it. But, I called him right back and he said, ‘Hey, do you think you want to come to Minnesota?’ And I was like, ‘Uh … yeah, I sure do.’ (laughs) It was a great call to get.”

It sounds like you and Davis have a good relationship.
“I couldn’t be happier with who I got to play for. I’ve played with and against Davis a lot over the years and know him pretty well. But to get to play for his team at the Ryder Cup, that means a lot. I’d obviously love to get the opportunity to play a Ryder Cup again, but if it doesn’t happen, I’ll be happy with the experience I had for the rest of my life.”

For most of your career, you’ve preferred to stay out of the spotlight — from initially not taking any equipment sponsorships, to not really seeking out press or attention. How did you handle the spotlight of the Ryder Cup?
“You’re right, I’m kind of an under-the-radar guy; I’m not really out there trying to get a lot of attention. To be one of 12 guys on the course that everybody is cheering for was very, very different. It was great, I loved it, but yeah, it was definitely a big adjustment. It made me want to play well, even more than normal. There’s a lot of pressure; it’s like the pressure and excitement of being tied for the lead on the last hole of a major — but having that feeling on every single golf shot that you hit all week. It’s just physically and mentally draining. Every shot means so much. You don’t want to let down your partner, your teammates, your captain, your country — there’s just so many other things that you’re playing for than usual. It’s something you can’t really prepare for.

“I never really thought it would be more pressure than a major, but it really is. There’s nothing like it. I can’t imagine being more nervous than I was on that first tee every day. I literally don’t think it’s physically possible.”

You seemed to handle it well.
“I think I handled it OK; if I did it again, I’d know what to expect and I’d handle it even better. But, man, I was definitely a nervous wreck for a lot of it. (laughs) It probably didn’t look like it, but I definitely was.”

How different was it being teammates with guys that you’re usually competing against?
“It was great. We don’t normally sit in a room and hang out together and tell each other what we like about each other’s games, or encourage each other. I don’t sit in the clubhouse and tell Brandt Snedeker what an amazing putter he is; he obviously is, and he knows that. But for those weeks, we do tell each other those things, and it’s nice to hear. You’re handling so much pressure that week, that having your peers encourage you and say those things is cool to hear.”

Was there anything specific that another player said that sticks out?
“Yeah, I mean, there was a lot. J.B. Holmes, who I was partners with, said a lot of great, encouraging things to me. Brandt Snedeker, after I finished off the last match for the clinching point, gave me a big hug and said, ‘That’s why we picked you. That’s why you’re on this team. You’re such a tough competitor and you play well when it matters.’ And that’s cool. Like I said, we don’t normally say those things to each other. So, to hear that from guys who most weeks are rivals, and guys who are great players, is encouraging.”

What do you guys do when you’re away from the course during Ryder Cup week?
“That’s the thing, you just don’t have much downtime. Those weeks are very, very busy. You’re at the course until dark every single day. There’s a little bit of hanging out, and downtime; we’d eat meals together every night, and there was a ping-pong table and that kind of stuff. But you have functions and practice Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, the thing starts Friday and you’re playing 36 holes, then you get back and it’s 10 o’clock at night. In those moments when we were just hanging out, at dinner or whatever, it was fun — we’d make fun of each other, or talk about shots this guy or that guy hit. But, yeah, I was actually kind of surprised how little downtime there is. It really is a whirlwind. The most exhausting week of golf I’ve ever had, for sure.”

Was there any one moment where it hit you that you were playing in the Ryder Cup?
“I’d like to say yes, but no, there really wasn’t. I didn’t have one of those moments, at least not while I was there. Once I got home and had a couple of days to decompress, it was like, ‘Wow, what just happened? How did I get to do that?’ But really, while I was there — again, you’re just so constantly busy running from one thing to the next, that there isn’t really time to let it sink in. I’d say maybe just the Monday afternoon when I got there, I went to my room, and they had the whole clothes rack with everything laid out for the week, labeled by day, and your bag, and just all the stuff that you get, which was really cool … I just got to sit there for a couple of hours and enjoy that moment for a little bit. That was probably the only time I had the entire week to even think about it.”

You’re going to have to find an excuse to wear those clothes again.
“Oh, I’ll be wearing them around, don’t worry.”

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