:: September 08
12 September, Getting Ready For The Ryder Cup
As the Ryder Cup rapidly approaches my excitement level gets higher and higher! There has been a lot going on this week with logistics for the event and ticket allocations etc. It makes you realise what a big event the Ryder Cup is and for the organisers how hard it is to pull everything together for 24 players!
I have been practicing out at Lake Nona this week with Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson. Mainly we've been working on the shortgame and creating a few games to simulate a matchplay format. It has been fun practicing together. It is interesting to be in an environment where we encourage one another as we're so used to being individuals and competing against one another. This is the unique thing about t
eam golf and I really enjoy it. The 3 of us will fly together on Monday in time to meet up with the team that fly in from London.I think there will be a team photo before all joining for dinner that night. Kate has also been enjoying the preparations as it has given her the chance to shop for a new dress for the gala dinner. In fact she could be more excited than me!
All in all I think Europe has a great team and I'm looking forward to the team room banter and cameraderie that European teams have been famous for! Justin
21 September, Ryder Cup
I am delighted I won my singles against Phil Mickelson but heartbroken that we have lost the Ryder Cup. I may have won three points out of four on my debut and I am very proud of myself for having done that but this week is not about individuals it is about the team. That is why I am disappointed. The score of 16½ -11½ did not reflect the play. It was much closer than that. This week was a lifetime experience for me. I got three points from my four matches and I really feel now that I can take what I have learned from here this week and use it in my career to make me a better player. I had a lot of nice compliments about my golf today but that is the only thing I can take out of the day. I am bitterly disappointed because it is a team game and we are judged by whether we take back the Ryder Cup or not. Next week I will begin to reflect on how can I use this to my benefit as a pro golfer. Tonight we will be drowning our sorrows, letting our hair down and de-stressing. Good fun with the boys.
The key holes in my match with Phil Mickelson were just after the turn. Holes 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 has been a really hurtful stretch of holes for the European team. I said to my caddie “this is our stretch of holes. Let's make this stretch our stretch.” I played awesome golf over this stretch. I hit a great 3-wood to ten feet on 10, hit it right at the flag at 11, right at the flag at 12. On 13 I was in a divot and played a great shot over the water on to the green. Then I flagged it at 14, flagged it at 15, and hit a great putt at 16 to close out the match. I didn't want to give Phil too any chances. I'm really pleased I made that putt at 16 because he was due a putt. I really enjoyed playing with Phil. I find him a gentleman out there. The Ryder Cup is a big thing for him but he is not out there to win at all costs.
As soon as I saw Poults yesterday I had to explain to him about my “fat git” remark. I said to him “Poults, I've sold you up the river, mate.” I called you “the fat git from Milton Keynes.” He took it well. I meant it to illustrate how far we had come, how far Ian has come, how much hard work has been done in the interim and to have some perspective and enjoy the moment. It was said in jest and with great affection. I feel he deserves it because he can give plenty of banter, so it's nice to give him a bit too.
I have a week of pure rest in Orlando now. I am going to play a little tennis. Actually I am dodging a sore wrist so I need to be careful. Then at the weekend I have some TaylorMade commitments. I will be back in Europe for the Alfred Dunhill Links at St Andrews in Scotland and I will play Sergio's tournament, the Valencia Masters, before the Volvo Masters. Justin
