Ryder Cup Voices

"I think it probably is a point of pride. If you take a look at the guys who have done well, Paul McGinley, Philip Walton, Eamonn Darcy holing out at Muirfield Village, Christy O'Connor; it just seems to keep coming down to the Irish guys. It's a great little piece of history to be part of and proud of."- Darren Clarke on Ireland's contribution to the Ryder Cup.

"It's the longest plane in the world is what I've heard, 16 feet longer than the American-built Boeing. The Europeans are longer I guess."
- Paul Casey on the Virgin Airbus plane on which the European team travelled to America.

"Well, the last time I played tennis I sprained my ankle. And the last time I went jogging I broke my arm. I'm a sportsman and I love to play all sports, but unlike David Duval and some of the guys who go skiing and all that, while I'd like to do it I just don't trust myself."
- David Howell on his hobbies.

"The fact that the Europeans have come over here and played our tour full time, the Darren Clarkes, the Lee Westwoods and the Thomas Bjorns, you've got Sergio (Garcia) and Jesper (Parnevik); you really become friends with them. My wife hangs out with their wives and we're friends and go to dinner. It has become less heated than it was in the Seve (Ballesteros)-Ray Floyd days, where there was a lot of clashing."
- Jim Furyk on the changing face of the Ryder Cup rivalry.

"That's what we are taxed with this time is to try and put everybody's talent, coral it and channel it into the right spot to come out with the outcome we want. I've been working on this for two years, so we're going to find out if I have figured out the right mix."
- American Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton on the pressures of leading the favourites into this week's contest.

"Personally I think it was a little bit over the top. You know, it's not a war. We're not shooting bullets, we're not trying to kill each other. We're actually just competing in a great contest. We're friends. We have many friendships among the players and their families and we will continue to be friends."
- European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer on the excesses of the contests at Kiawah and Brookline and the different attitude that prevails now.

"I think the Europeans do seem to get on better just because of the way the European Tour is set up. Usually there's one hotel where all the players stay. They meet up at night and go out to dinner. Through that they seem to have better friendships."
- Luke Donald on the fact that the European Tour seems to foster a family atmosphere.

"Well, we are both in the same mood. We like the same ones . . . Cubans of course."
- Miguel Angel Jimenez on whether he or Darren Clarke smokes a superior brand of cigar.

"I just want to play well and win points for my team; that's all I want to do. If I can do that, I think it would be great."
- Tiger Woods simplifying his role this week.

"I don't feel in any sense that I'm the leader going out on this team. I think Monty is very much going to be that sort of person. I don't think I have reached that sort of stage yet. Give me another 10 years."
- Padraig Harrington on his position as the top-ranked European in the world.

"No, I haven't played alternate shot. And my history in team competition . . . I don't think there's any. A couple of barbecue tournaments maybe."
- Chad Campbell on his lack of experience in foursomes golf.

"Yeah, I think that I'm hoping that our fans are extremely rowdy, that they cheer all of the good shots they see."
- Jim Furyk on the possibility of the crowds being of a rowdy, partisan nature.