Walker Cup

Friday press conferences | The 49th Walker Cup

The R&A

01 Sep 23

3 mins

Four more players faced the media on the eve of the Walker Cup between Great Britain & Ireland and the United States.

John Gough and Mark Power spoke alongside GB&I captain Stuart Wilson, while USA skipper Mike McCoy was flanked by Ben James and Austin Greaser. Here are the best quotes from Friday’s press conferences.

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

Stuart Wilson – Great Britain and Ireland captain

“The team has done a fantastic job this week of preparing. It's been a long week. I don't think there's many weeks like this in the golfing calendar when there's so much preparation, but we had our two practice rounds early in the week and then we had a little break over to Kingsbarns, which was a bit more of a social kind of relaxed day, and then rounding them up Thursday and Friday here for the official practice days. “Preparations have gone well, and the guys are all playing well, which is great to see. Playing well and practising creates a nice situation but a difficult situation, as well. It’s given us a little bit of a headache as to pairings, and obviously we've got to leave two players out each of the first three sessions, so the guys have made my job difficult by deciding who to leave out.

John Gough – WAGR® #14

“We have great team spirit. We get on like we're all brothers. “Like Stuart said, it must be so difficult to pick because we almost can throw the balls up and play with each other. We know each other that well. We trust each other that well. I think that's what it is; it's trust. We’re just looking forward to going and competing and getting some points on the board. “I think it’s going to be pretty nice to rely on the home crowd. I think they're going to have a massive factor in it. When we were out on the golf course by ourselves, it felt electric. I'm looking forward to playing in front of all the people.”

Mark Power – 3-1-0 record in 2021 Walker Cup at Seminole

"I will say I love team golf, so I think that's going to definitely help for me. I feel like I excel a lot in team golf. "Individually I'm obviously a competitor, but there's something about team golf that just lifts me to a different level. I found that the last time around at Seminole I felt like it just elevated my game to another level. "Trying to find a way to bring that every single week would be nice, but this will be my last amateur event, so trying to take a lot from this week and hopefully finish on a high before turning pro. But all focus will be on this week the next couple days."

USA Team Friday Press Conference | Walker Cup

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Austin Greaser – WAGR® #10, 2021 US Amateur runner-up

“To me, it feels like I have the rest of my life to play professional golf, and I had this one opportunity to be a part of a Walker Cup team. Not only that, but to do it at St Andrews right on almost the birthday of the event. “It was just something I just didn't really want to pass up, and I'm already happy even before it's started that I made this decision. It's just been an unbelievable week. “I'm from a small kind of town in Ohio, and I'm not sure my dreams ever got to playing a Walker Cup at St Andrews, such an historic place. I've had one other chance to represent the USA last year at the World Amateur Team Championships. So far I've had some pretty cool experiences in golf. I've gotten to tee it up at the Masters, got to tee it up at the US Open. But none has felt as cool or greater than playing for your country.”

Ben James – WAGR® #7

“I'm excited. We've been here for a while. We've all been working really hard, trying to dissect the golf course. I'm super thrilled to tee it up and be here - the whole experience at the Old Course, the 100th year anniversary. It's pretty special, so I'm thrilled and pumped to get it going. “I've done my prep work, so I've done all I can, and I know my game is good enough, and I'm just ready for whatever they have to throw out. I know all our team is ready to go for battle, and that's what we're going to do.”

Mike McCoy – United States captain

“I feel great. The team looks good. Everybody is healthy. We've had a nice week of preparation. The weather has been fantastic, and the golf course is terrific. “I'm most interested in the first six holes. I think we've got to get off to a good start. There's some gettable opportunities there. I'm kind of focused on the start and getting out of the blocks. “It's a great honour to play for your country and hearing the National Anthem and seeing the Star Spangled Banner go up, it puts a little lump in your throat. You can't help but be moved by that.”

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