The U.S. Ryder Cup Team took a commanding 6 - 2 lead into the second day of matches at the 43rd Ryder Cup. The Americans further added to their total by dominating the Saturday morning Foursomes matches by winning three of the available four points in the morning to extend their lead to 9 - 3 ahead of Team Europe. In the Saturday afternoon Four-Balls, the Europeans made a critical rally to earn half the points available to sit 11 - 5 ahead of the Sunday Singles matches. After each session, members of both the U.S. and European Ryder Cup Teams met with the media to discuss the Americans’ momentum and the Europeans' hopes for a historic comeback on Sunday.
Saturday Morning Foursomes
Collin Morikawa: We thrive off the fans. It's very nice to have that kind of home-field, like DJ said, home-field advantage, and it's just when you make a birdie, it just keeps you going. Shoot, maybe through that back nine, beginning of the back nine, we should have just riled them up, because we were a little flat for a little bit. Maybe we'll do that next time.
Dustin Johnson: Obviously the conditions have been pretty difficult, but I just feel like I've just played solid. Not trying to do anything too crazy. Just keep the ball in play, especially in Foursomes where we're out there and pars are good scores, especially on a lot of these holes.
Justin Thomas: I haven't really paid attention to the score. I just know that we have been trying to go out and win points, and I think that's everyone's job on our team, at least how they look at it, when they step up on that first tee, they are playing to go get a point. And I think everybody has that mentality, and we have been fortunate to do that each session. I was glad I could do my part because I have yet to get a full point, and Jordan and I grinded out to get one today.
Xander Schauffele: We weren't as sharp or clean as yesterday. Speaking for myself, Pat was pretty much on all day. I put him in some spots to be able to manage, but I think we trust each other. No weird faces. No apologies. We know we're trying our hardest on each shot. We have each other's back. We spoke early in the round, we need to make a long putt and get some momentum going our way. And we knew we were going to make a charge, and if they weren't able to hold us off, they weren't able to hold us off.
Patrick Cantlay: I think we gained a lot of momentum on seven because we weren't making any birdies or doing anything great, and Xander making that really long putt on seven got us going. And we didn't want to lose that momentum we had. Both of us didn't hit great tee shots. Xander didn't hit a great tee shot. I didn't hit a great recovery. He was down there in the cabbage and hit an amazing shot to eight or ten feet, whatever it was. And I told myself, these are the putts you cannot miss because this is a pure momentum putt. I buried it and went to the next hole and buried it again. It was like, now we are off to the races, and you could feel the energy completely flip.
Jordan Spieth: We are playing really good golf as a team. Everybody is pretty confident in each other. And I think we said it from the get-go, we have all known each other for a long time. Other than a couple of us, we have known each other since high school or even grade school. We are having a blast off the course and that's feeding into the lightness in our rounds, as well.
Sergio Garcia: I just love it. I love being next to my partner. I love hugging him. I love pushing him. I love cheering for him and I love him cheering for me and things like that. Really, it drives me on those moments when I need to do something extraordinary to get going and I've been fortunate to do it for many years and I'm so proud to be a part of Team Europe.
Sergio Garcia: Obviously Jon and I, we did what we had to and what we could, and unfortunately it just looks like the American guys are just playing a little bit better than us, and it's a shame. But you know, we are not giving up. We're going to fight until the end as hard as we can. Hopefully we have a good afternoon this afternoon and see what happens.
Jon Rahm: It means a lot. You know, it's a long race, and even though we're 3 down early, at any point in the match, you want to be down with three holes early because you have 15 to make up. We got going and starting on six we kind of woke up and that's when we started playing some good golf. Besides a couple mistakes here and there, in the windy conditions and the cold, we played unbelievable and took advantage of the moments we had and a couple breaks our way, and that's why we won.
Paul Casey: Dustin and Collin are great players, and again they played great golf. Opening up with three birdies. But very proud of how we fought. I think Tyrrell was probably a little bit disappointed. Look, I hit a couple of poor shots. I think Tyrrell felt like he hit a couple of poor shots. But what a fight. Tyrrell is such a gritty little player and he's a key part of our team, and I would team up any time with that guy. You know, there was one stage we didn't think we would get them as far as we did, and then I guess we had a chance to take them all the way and make it a great battle. But yeah, you tip your cap to Collin and Dustin. There's a reason why they are as good as they are, and they are clearly very, very difficult to beat.
Bernd Wiesberger: I hit a couple really good shots, and I think we connected well and same with Paul yesterday. Seems like the momentum is not there, but it will switch for us. You know, got to dig in deep there. The boys need a big afternoon. Be out there cheering them on. You know, just believe that it's going to change in our favor, and if I can go out on Sunday, and go deep.
Saturday Afternoon Four-Balls
Bryson DeChambeau: Our games compliment each other. I make birdies when he didn't and he makes birdies when I don't. In best-ball that's the key, and we gave ourselves a lot of chances today, a couple of opportunities that we missed. But again, we won the match, and we fought hard.
Bryson DeChambeau: Captain has told us that it's about a flat, level playing field and you have to go out and get every point you can get and fight for every point you can get and every shot you can hit. There are obviously a lot of players on the other side, and we have to make sure we are hitting and executing the right shots at the right time to make sure we give ourselves the best chance to win. We have the best players in the world and they have got a lot of the best players in the world too but I would say from the standpoint of average ranking, I think we're pretty solid and we just have to play our game tomorrow.
Scottie Scheffler: I must say it's more fun when I'm on his team than when I'm playing against him. It's great. It's really fun to watch. The guy is really talented, and couldn't imagine a better partner.
Justin Thomas: Everyone is playing great golf. Man, it was fun to watch this afternoon. I was nervous just watching them. But all of us have the faith in Stricker to send the lineup out however he wishes, and honestly I'm just going to do whatever Xander does because he's pretty good at golf.
Daniel Berger: The energy is amazing out here. It's a great group of golf, and we're excited to get out tomorrow and put our best foot forward and see what happens.
Collin Morikawa: There's a little nerves, but I loved every part of it. You've got to embrace it. You've got to enjoy it, and I've got 11 other great teammates and they just make the week a lot easier, and I'm very thankful for them.
Collin Morikawa: Obviously there's a lot of energy, there's a lot of passion that goes into what I want to do and how I hit every shot, but once you step over the ball, you have to step into a different zone and you have to change everything from walking up to the tee, walking up to the fairway.
Tyrrell Hatton: It's a blur for me today to be honest. I didn't have any good stuff unfortunately this morning and I was struggling during a lot of that front nine. Obviously Shane kept us in it. I played a little bit better on the back nine, and you know, a massive putt on the last for Shane to hole and a massive point for Team Europe.
Shane Lowry: I got here Monday, got to see the course on Tuesday and the conditions and I was very happy with what I saw. Myself and Rory didn't get the job done yesterday. We came up against a strong Tony and Harris, and when I seen the draw this afternoon, I was thinking it's my chance to get one back. I'm happy and with myself and Tyrrell, I had great fun out there today.
Shane Lowry: I felt like it was a great opportunity to do something. When you're in a great frame of mind, that's the stuff you think about when you're over putts like that. It was great fun. I would enjoy it. But obviously we look like we're probably going to halve the session or not as many points as we would like.
But we're still not out of it. It's a long day tomorrow, 12 matches. If any 12 of us were going out against any of them in the match play, we would fancy our chances. We just have to believe. It's all about believing.
I read a quote last night, I was looking at stuff on my phone, and for some reason it popped up, and it was like if you've got a one percent chance, you have to have 100 percent faith. And I just think that we really need to live by that tonight and tomorrow and go out and give it our best.
Sergio Garcia: I mean, this afternoon he was unbelievable. I was the No. 1 spectator watching a great guy do great thing after great thing after great thing. It was awesome to be a part of. I was so happy. I was just trying to keep him up and make sure he kept heading in the right direction. You know, it was great to see. But we have a big task tomorrow, and hopefully let's see if we can make history.
Sergio Garcia: Everybody knows one thing: We are going on out there until the end. We are not going to give up, that's for sure, and you know, I love these guys. They are freaking amazing. Every time I think of them, I want to cry. They are unbelievable. I will give my all to them, and I know they will do the same thing for me. We are going to try our hardest. We know it's going to be difficult, but we're going to do our best.
Jon Rahm: I've been making every putt that I need to, and then some. When you do things like that, it gives you a lot of confidence, right? It gets to a point where I started freeing myself up a little bit and now just knowing that, you know, just feeling good, so putting it on the green, I'll have a good chance.
Jon Rahm: Golf is a very complicated and ironic and sarcastic game sometimes, and teams can be capable of some great things, like the U.S. has done so far the last two days. It could be our chance, and I know everybody on the team is going to give it their all and give that a run.
Rory McIlroy: Disappointing not to contribute a point for the team yet. So hopefully just go out tomorrow and try my best to get a point, and hopefully we can rally and at last give them something to maybe sweat about tomorrow in the middle of the afternoon.
