GB&I Saturday Interviews

Foursome Matches

Jonathan Caldwell-Rory McIlroy after halving match against Colt Knost-Dustin Johnson

Caldwell: “I think we deserved [the halve].

No, I was pretty calm over the putt.  Just your standard 5-foot right-to-left for a half in the Walker Cup.  Rory likes to keep me sharp.

They played very well.”

McIlroy: “I think it was the right result in the end.  They were pretty lucky with their pitch shot.

“We had a bit of a charge towards the end.  We made some good birdies. We somehow made a five up the last and it was good enough.

“We enjoy each others company so we didn’t need to talk to anyone else.  We’ve only been beaten once in the last 3 years, which I think is alright.

“The crowd were absolutely fantastic. We wanted to give them something to cheer about.

Great half. I think we did deserve it though. It keeps us going.”

Danny Willett-Jamie Moul after halving match against Webb Simpson-Jonathan Moore

Willett: “Yes, played really solid; thought we’d done enough but there’s nothing you can do when they hole out from 35 yards.”

Moul: “Eagle on the last; can’t do anything about that. We kept our noses in front most of the round but nothing you can do when they roll in a putt like that.

A little disappointed; we’ll try and make up for it this afternoon.”

John Parry-David Horsey defeat Trip Kuehne-Kyle Stanley, 2 and 1

Question: Great way to close the game out, John (stiffed a wedge at 17 for birdie).

Parry: “Yes, it was good. I hit a wedge as hard as I could and just pushed it a touch but it ended up perfect and it was great for us to get a point up there.

“I was nervous starting out. I think everyone is the same but if you want to play as a pro you have to handle this. It was special with the crowds. It was quite strange having that amount of people so close but I enjoyed it. It looked a bit dodgy for us at one stage during the morning but obviously Rory and Jonny did very well to get a half and we've came out of the morning not too badly.”

Rhys Davies-Lloyd Saltman lose, 4 and 3, to Billy Horschel-Rickie Fowler

 Davies: “We didn't get going at all and the main problem for us was hitting the greens and getting in the wrong place. We didn't hole much and there was a couple of three putts, which didn't help.”

Saltman: “There was no real spark from either of us and as Rhys said, we didn't gIve ourselves many chances on the greens. They holed some putts at crucial times and it was just one of those mornings.”

Singles Matches

Rory McIlroy after losing to Billy Horschel, 1 up

Question: Commiserations, a tough afternoon? 

McIlroy: “I’m obviously very disappointed. It was a scrappy match and I fought hard to get back into it.  I got it back on 16 and held it together on 17. To not get anything out of the match after that, it’s not good for me or the team. I’m just very disappointed.”

Question: There was obviously a huge gallery, and so much pressure and expectation.  Did that factor in the three-putt on 18?

McIlroy: “No, I just struggled a bit with the left-to-right wind, I was fine with the right-to-left wind, so I’ll probably have to work on that.  It was just very scrappy and I’m very disappointed I didn’t get anything out of the game.

“To three-putt the last, it’s just so stupid.”

Question: You conceded Billy’s putt on 17 when it looked like you were closer and he had a few feet left.  Was that a mistake?

McIlroy: “I don’t think so. He was about 3 ½ feet and I was 3 feet so there was nothing in it, so we just picked them up and took it down the last all square.”

Lloyd Saltman loses, 5 and 4, to Rickie Fowler

Question: Thoughts on the day?

Saltman: “I didn't play very well. I struggled a bit with the pace of the greens and left a few short. But I didn't play the way I wanted and on top of that his putter was hot. I'm here for the team and went out and tried my hardest but I wasn't good enough today. Hopefully Colin [Dalgleish] will give me a chance to go out again tomorrow and get some points for the team but we'll see.

“I wasn't happy with the performance today. I did a bit with my coach Colin Brooks in the morning and didn't play that badly in the morning foursomes. This afternoon I started well and made a birdie at the first but I hit a bad shot at the second and it just went down from there and I had a few bogeys in row. There were times I looked like I might win a hole but he would make a long putt and that was it.

“Credit to Rickie, he putted well all day. I can only remember one putt he missed at 11 and that was it. I didn't put enough pressure on him. Then I had a shank at 12. I had to dig for it and get it up in the air and it came out not to pretty. I made a couple of mental mistakes today as well and not being clear of a number in my mind. It's easy to play some courses with a 175 yard stick and fire it in but you can't do that there.

Question: What if Colin leaves you out?

Saltman: “Nothing I can do about it. That's his choice. I'm here for the team and if he doesn't think I'm playing well enough then I'll be out there supporting the boys. I didn't feel I'm really struggling but on this course you've got to get the bounces and the breaks and I didn't get them. I'd love to be out playing in both games tomorrow but I'm not sure what my chances are of that.”

Nigel Edwards beats Kyle Stanley, 1 up

Question: The first nine was so comfortable and then you lost three on the spin. What happened?

Edwards: “Just bad course management really. Thought about going for the green on 12, the par five, and it wasn't the greatest of lies and then took the wrong club and made a pig’s ear of it. Then the next two were not too great either.”

Question: It came good down 18, however.

Edwards: “Absolutely. Coming down 18 Kyle gave me an opportunity and I managed to take my chance and I'm delighted with the win.”

Jamie Moul beats Chris Kirk, 1 up

Question: You left it late but a great result.

Moul: “Yes. After this morning I felt I needed to redeem myself and get back out there and win a point. I'm very happy.”

Question: How comfortable were you with the swing, you seemed to be going through a few moves?

Moul: “It didn't feel great this morning and it wasn't great either this afternoon but my short game and putting were good and that got me through.”

Question: What was the key on the back nine?

Moul: “Probably my pace putting. When I left myself a considerable distance any time I managed to two putt a lot.”

Question: Did you enjoy it?

Moul: “Yes. There were so many fans out there and it was great to get all the support.”

GB&I captain Colin Dalgleish after his squad tie the USA with six points

Dalgleish: “I’m absolutely ecstatic. For a while there it looked as if maybe it was running away from us a little bit, but I knew the guys were playing far too well for that to happen. 

“If you get two or three points behind on the first day it’s a long hard slog back from there. But to end up all square for the day is fantastic.

“It’s worked out in these last three games for us. It’s worked out great, absolutely great.”