Daily Record sports writer Craig Swan is joined by 2014 Ryder Cup winner Stephen Gallacher and Iain Stoddart, manager of Bethpage Black bound Scottish star Bob MacIntyre, to preview the 2025 Ryder Cup.
The trio dissect Europe’s chances across the pond as they face up against a strong USA team featuring the likes of Scottie Sheffler and Xander Schauffele on home turf.
Tune in for inside stories on past Ryder Cup victories and behind the scenes knowledge of Bob MacIntyre’s journey to the team and how they are preparing for a tough defence as holders.
Daily Record Homepage: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/
Daily Record Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheScottishDailyRecord
Daily Record Instagram: https://instagram.com/scottishdailyrecord
Daily Record Sport Instagram: https://instagram.com/dailyrecord_sport
Daily Record TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scottishdailyrecord
Daily Record Sport TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dailyrecord_sport
Daily Record Twitter: https://twitter.com/Daily_Record
Daily Record Newsletters: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/
Join our WhatsApp communities here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages:
DAILY RECORD: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/join-daily-records-whatsapp-community-31116469
RECORD SPORT RANGERS: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/join-record-sports-new-rangers-31111892
RECORD SPORT CELTIC: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/join-record-sports-new-celtic-31111589
You can get all the latest news, sport, showbiz and comment at DailyRecord.co.uk
LIKE | COMMENT | SUBSCRIBE | SHARE
#DailyRecord #RyderCup #Golf
Hello and thank you for joining the Daily Record as we look ahead to the 2025 RDER Cup. The Clash at Beth Page is going to be potentially the best ever. It’s been so highly talked about. Everyone’s excited about it. So, we’re looking forward to it. And we’re joined to look ahead to it by former Ryder Cup winner and junior RDER Cup captain Steven Gallaer, MBE. And we’re also joined by Ian Stoddard, who’s the manager of Bob McIntyre, who will represent Scotland and the European team. Thank you for joining the Daily Record as we take our look ahead to the 2025 RDER Cup. Listen, the RDER Cup gets bigger and bigger every single two years. But the the 45th edition is gearing up to be probably one of the biggest ever, if not the biggest ever. New York Europe going over there attempting to retain their trophy and everyone’s looking forward to the event. It’s going to be something spectacular. So with that in mind, we thought we better get two people who can give you the exact lowdown on what’s going on. Directly to my left, Steven Gallaer, 20 RDER Cup winner, correct? MBE, correct? Not just Luke Donald that’s going to America attempting to be a back-to-back winning captain. We’ll get to this in a minute, but the Junior Rider Cup captain as well. Yeah, really looking forward to that. Um, I leave on Friday. We start our prep on Sunday. uh practice round at Beth Page Monday practice round at NASA opening ceremony and then we’re Tuesday weddings day at NASA country club and the singles on Beth Page on the Thursday in front of 40 to 50,000 people. So fun experience for the kids. Brilliant. And we’re also joined by the one and only Ian Stoddard, the director of bounce management, responsible for so many great Scottish players, manager to Steven Glider Cup victory, manager to Robert McIntyre as well, Rder Cup victory. Ian, how are we? Very good, thank you. Looking forward to this. A bit of trepidation, but we’re all right. You you’ll be you must be excited about going over. Obviously, it’s it’s going to be a fantastic week. Yeah, it’s uh first American Rder Cup. Mhm. First American Rider Cup I’ve done and um but having spent the last couple of years there beginning to get an idea of what to expect, but I don’t we’ll fully know until we get there. But it’s going to be rockus, I think, is fair to say. Yeah, that seems to be. Now, I mean, we’re here at Bathgate Golf Club, Steven. This place is steeped in Rider Cup history. I mean, you’ve got the captain Eric Brown, your uncle Bernard, yourself, three Rider Cup Stalberts, all from the same club. Give us a bit of background. This this this place we’re actually in cuz we’re not just filming this in any old room. No, this is a Rider Cup room in Bathgate Golf Club, as you said, Eric Brown. Uh he was captain in ‘ 69 when Uncle Ben made his debut. Uh which is unbelievable when you think about it. 20,000 population mining town to have those two you know back in the day and uh you know Monco I think Monco played eight captain three vice captain two Eric played in it and he captained it twice as well and and I played in it and I think my inspiration was when you come in the club like I showed you when we were walking in was the two pictures one Eric and one of Monco uh decked in the Rider Cup gear and that’s what we looked at every single time you came in the golf club you know has to be one of the most famous clubs in the world. Surely, especially Scotland to have to have those two come through at that time. Yeah. From the grassroots straight up. There’s only one that was club champion though. Well, we don’t talk about that. The other that’s the other room. Yeah. My dad used to wind me up. Me and Monco aren’t on the board. Um so, but my dad was 1984 club champion Jim Gallaer. So, uh he was the one he he stuff your rider cup rooms. that’s the one you want to uh that’s the one you want to look at. But yeah, what a club and just you know that’s that’s what inspired me to want to play in it. So it’s uh you know I’m sure that other courses that guys have major winners that have won the open you know that’s what they want to go and you want to emulate guys like that and that’s that’s basically what got me into it and I’ve been steeped in it ever since. how much pride Ian because we you know we are the home of golf Scotland is you know the epicenter for it to be involved with Steven and then and then Bob and to carry on that tradition I mean Scotland’s rider cup history we going way back and then through the later years just having you know your Monty’s and your Paul or he’s way further back your Ken Browns you know Bernard all of these guys to be part of it with Stevie and then Bob what’s that feel like it’s brilliant to be honest I mean you’re right we’re only just involved there’s only one guy that hits the shots and anything we do. And that’s Bob and that’s Stevie. Um, but these guys can be very proud of carrying on the tradition. It’s great to have feathers in the cap, Monty, Andy Colart, Paul Lori. I mean, there’s a lot of recent history there. I think Ian’s been a wee bit modest, you know. I mean, I don’t think we just turn up and hit the shot. That’s it. There’s a millions of other things going on behind the scenes that these guys take care of just so that you can go and play and try and get in. Yeah. You know what I mean? the process now is really tough to get in and you know you how many times you’ve been backing forward to America this year probably America has been a lot but I mean that’s the way that the the the qualifying process now is yet it’s the only place you can be to qualify I think particularly for an American Rder Cup I don’t think you can it’s really really hard and I don’t know how equipped you would be if you were winning two or three times in Europe and then trying to go and play in an American rider cup but if you’re over there I think probably this team that’s coming out of Britain without jumping ahead of things. I think the team has as conditioned a team is probably a good word of putting it to that I can remember in recent times that they’re all over there playing week in week out winning. Yeah. Competing, you know what I mean? So, it’s like I don’t think we’ve been as universally conditioned as well as is probably a reasonable word to use in it, I would think. Well, given the fact you started the zone that year, let’s let’s cut straight to the chase that the European team, you’re in and around it. You’re with Bob all the time. Give us a flavor of what you think the strengths to that team is. I won’t I won’t be unfair and ask you about Bob straight away, but just that flavor of the whole team, the strength, the Rories, the the John, what’s it like to be amongst that? And I think I think that just what we said there, it’s the strength and depth now. It isn’t just, you know, you’re not just relying there’s you’re not just relying on the top guys. The top guys are obviously important. Steve will be able to tell you better than that. But it’s like there’s a spine to the team. Yeah. But there’s not really I mean okay Rasmus is coming in but even Raasmus was there last last time around. So there’s ah well it is there’s continuity. We don’t really know if he’s playing either. I know it could be Nicola. Could be the same team. We don’t really know. We’re going to have to do a DNA test on the tea. If I was Keegan Bradley he’s struggling. You could swap him on. Well if he’s not doing too well we’ll just get him the right haircut and put him back out in the Saturday or something. But anyway, no. Um the team’s very um very strong across the board and the strength and depth in the whole team. Um but it is a rider cup in it. So it’s like it’s like a oh firm game, a heart’s hips game. It’s form goes out the window, doesn’t it? It’s yeah how it how it how it turns out on the day. But um as far as sort of being ready and prepared and then obviously Luke’s got one under his belt as well, so he knows what worked the last time, what didn’t. So you’ve got to think they’re as well prepared as well conditioned but you never jump ahead of yourself and say I wouldn’t want to call a favorite to be honest anyone any rider and I think that seems to be the general thing that um it seems to be one of the most equally equally balanced Stephen Ian touched on Luke Donald you had a wonderful captain yourself and Paul McIll attention to detail that kind of thing it’s been mentioned a lot about Luke what’s give us some insight into Paul and then and and and Luke and maybe the differences or similarities um Well, Luke’s just got Paul in to actually help him for this one in America. Um, Luke, I think they’re two different types of people, you know. Um, Paul’s a bit more outgoing. Luke’s quite quiet and quite confident, quietly confident in his own abilities and former number one, world number one, played in plenty of RDER Cups as well. And, you know, he I think he brings a calmness to the team. I think as Ian said, they’re all friends. You know, our biggest attribute is we can gel very well. We’re all pals. Yeah. And you see that and and I think I think that was a big thing with Luke as well with with the way the team unfurled was he’s pretty much got the same team as last time apart from one guy who was there anyway. He was present and they guys have done it. They’ve done it before. They know exactly what he’s done it Stephen. You know they always talk about managers and things like that. You know in football or rugby or whatever and it shows your medals. I mean look at Donald at Madina on Saturday afternoon. Well exactly. He’s been a team that turns everybody talks about Pter. If Luke Donald doesn’t hit that shot in the 17th and him and Sergio don’t win. I think though he’ll be saying that’s out the window. Yeah. But I just he knows exactly he knows exactly what the Ryder Cup means. Yeah. You know when when I look at Luke’s thing he’s he’s changed Raasmus for Nikolai and he’s changed Alex Norin for Nicholas Kart and his backroom team. So it’s pretty much everybody was there the last time here this time. Yeah. you know, and he’s brought in where he’s brought in Raasmus for Nikolai, you know, it’s the same kind of player. They both got the same attributes. Yeah. He’s brought Alex Norin in for Nicholas Kosarts. Norin’s just won a couple of times. Yeah, of course. You know, it’s not much to not much change. Even the Vices are running. Well, that’s the that’s the thing that that’s the thing that you know and that’ll that’ll bring a that’ll bring a big thing about that. And you know, at Wentworth at the weekend there, Alex Noran won and and Raasmus was the only guy that missed the cut. his whole other team apart from Sea who I think he’s just been a father he just so you know and Luke was there as well so they’ll be they’ll be talking about it they’ll be looking at you know they’ll be talking about forsomes Eddie Molinari is massive he’s the big stats guy which is very there’s Edd’s boy that there’s nothing unturned no stone unturned they’ll be looking at forsomes they’ll be looking at the golf course they’ll be looking at the pairings they’ll be looking at the pods they go out in and you know and and the thing is last and and it all boils down to what you say is the flip of the coin. Yeah. It boils down to the first day, the first morning. Yeah. If you can win the first morning, get a bit of momentum, get the blue on the board, quiet as a crowd down. That was Paul McInley’s thing was just to try and get blue on the board as early as you could and then and then and then just let it go from there. And look at Rome, New York. I mean, they’re going to be in your face, but you get them turn the other way, they’ll be in their face. Yeah. They’re turning their own, you know, they’re turning their own. There has been a few American Paul Azinger said that that Paul Ainger has actually come out and said if America don’t win the first morning, it’s gone was what he said. Now whether that whether that’s maybe a bit too much, but the importance of that first. That’s a bit you’re up against you’re behind the black ball early, but you don’t want to be that. But I don’t think it’s not over in the morning, is it? Well, America never America never won a point the first day. Yeah. No, they three half, which is off the chart. So you could pretty much say, well, that was it’s only ours to lose. And that’s the thing, you know, the prep, they’re doing Luke and his team with Eddie, their preparation’s been off the charts. They’re out there now. They’ve played. They’re out for 10 days. They’ve been out for a visit. They know everything. They’re talking to each other, having meetings. The That’s all you can do is that’s all that’s all you can do is make sure the preparations went well. And then you just got to hope that you’ve just got to hope the golfing gods are with you and you and you and you and on on your day you’re better than your opponent. Give us an insight into that Ian because I know I know you can’t go into details because that’s unfair on Luke. I won’t draw them all but the preparation has been so indepth. I mean if there’s any you know is there anything you can share I mean just the even the length of time yeah working on it the whole process but I mean I think if there’s it depends you know it’s amazing what happens in the RER cup. If we come out the wrong side of it, then everything gets under the microscope and then you and if there was one thing that you could say that we’re maybe doing is actually over cooking it as because I mean the the analysis now in the it could be paralysis by analysis. The stats and the forensic under the bonnet stuff that goes on to to pick teams and pick pairs and all the rest of it when in actual fact someone in there has got to be field guts that hasn’t got a measurement. You know what I mean? for that. You know that you come out just looking touching the vice captains there. Um you know Nico Kosarts can feel probably quite unlucky cuz he didn’t really put a foot wrong but I kind of get the Nor thing because well he’s a Scandinavian. They’ve got three Scand three Scandinavians four three in the team. Um and he was announced late which probably meant he was getting given a chance to make it get do you know what I mean? And I I don’t know how it works to be but see if but we need a first reserve. I mean there’s no such thing as a first reserve is there but somebody was second captain’s agreement is there that you can somebody change. So Alec Norley Keegan Bradford the two guys that come in. Well probably yeah well that well I tell you what the night before. I tell you what I guarantee good playoff Luke Donald will be delighted Bradley’s not on the team and Bradley will be delighted Alex Norman’s not on the team. That’s a good point. Yeah. You know what I mean? Cuz they’re the guys on form. You know, Bradley was in that rock and a hard place. You can’t you can’t be captain and and play. So, but but he was you wouldn’t want you wouldn’t want to play him. He’s a tough character. I think I think it was a bit of poker there as well. I don’t think he’s been playing for a long time, right? I think that’s been all just Well, do you know what I mean? I just think that’s been a we bit, you know, played out that oh, is he won’t he? They made that decision a while back. Yeah, really did. And it was going to take something spect. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Cuz he kind of said at the start unless he made the top six, he wasn’t going to pick himself. And then the narrative changed. No. No. We won’t. Listen, we’re going to have some more serious chat. We’re going to talk about Bob with both the lads. Obviously Bob Matt a huge part of it for everybody in Scotland. We’re also going to talk about the American team and what the guys think about that. But listen lads got a bit light-hearted as well. I mean you must have some great great RDER Cup stories. I mean, I’ve got one new touch on Bradley there. Uhhuh. So, we’re sitting at the we’re sitting at the official dinner 2014 Kelvin Grove Art Gallery took over and we’re sitting. It’s amazing. And I’m sitting next to Keegan Bradley Westwood sitting over there. Our wives are uh around there and we just start getting talking and Bradley says, you know, he says, “Madina, I hit him hard. Really hard.” You know, they were talking and and he says so much. So he says, “I’ve got my two suitcases, all my gear, everything, all my gear zipped up untouched in my cupboard in my in my spare room.” And Westwood looked over and says, “I hope you’ve got a big cupboard, by the way, cuz you’ve got two more coming.” And uh and I’m sitting like that going, I don’t And he didn’t really take it very well, right? You know, one of the ones that he went, “Ah, and and I thought, well done, Westy. That’s one in the ribs straight away.” You know Westy’s played in about eight rider 10 rider cups or whatever and you know he could say that and I thought that’s a belter but he didn’t really take it well quite a lot that Steve there’s a good banner I mean see like Ian saying now and I mean will tell us some as well no but like like study says now back in the day there was more of a you know America was America and and and we’re here but now you know they play with each other every week they play against each other every apart from the live guys who before they went to live played against each other every week. They’re all pals. They all live each other. You know, they live near each other. You know, Keegan and Luke are good mates. Yeah. You know, I’m sure there’s other guys on the team that are very friendly with some of the other players. It was a great story from Keegan, wasn’t there, that he he told the story that um Luke Donald was the first proper superstar peer who actually gave him time. Did it on one of the interviews. He said he was the first guy sat down and had lunch when I first came on. I think the first real superstar that treated me as an equal we ended up quite a good story cup as well. We ended up in the American team room after it, you know. Yeah. Having a few beers and all that stuff. Laughing there. No, but that’s what happened. That’s what happened. You know what I mean? It was carnage. There’s just people falling a bit everywhere. But uh then we saw you the next morning. Oh, there was Oh my god, it was rough. You must have seen some stuff in you know the one of the best stories there was just when you you don’t even really realize at the time. It’s in reflection, but when we were in that night after winning England Eagles, when Alex Ferguson was there cuz he’d been helping again, Paul McInley to um you know, just in the prep with they come and did a speech with the guys and all the rest of that. So he was there at the end of the week. So she seen Alec Ferguson there and then when Miguel got his bottle of Rioa from bear in mind all the expenses are on the European tour. So he’s not he’s not really caring about what he’s ordering and you know the top gear at Glen Eagles isn’t 2 pound50 right. So he’s picked this cracking ball of rock I and that was what 2014 I think I’m going to say it was about 700 800 and this guy’s going into the full the full sort of you know he’s got the candles out he’s got the just dripping it into the decanter and I’m going this is going to be unbelievable. I’m sitting very tight to him. So, make sure I’m getting a glass of this. You know what I mean? Do you remember this? And then he’s gone and done it and after all the the theater of it all, we’ve poured it and Miguel’s given it all, you know, the cigar and all this sort of hanging and he’s he’s given it as much theater as the guy’s just done to give it the performance that it needs. You know what I mean? Takes spits out. It’s cked. The whole thing’s corkked. So, I’ll just be keeping that though now, mate. Just in case. Just in case. I’ll let it breathe for an hour. Let’s stick that in the beef burger. But I mean the the the togetherness the togetherness and the stories and all the things that happened. I mean listen, you know, moving back on to Bobby. I mean we saw how he how he felt and the bus and the way back the great images and the singing and the sing songs and how how we know how big it was for him in terms of his career, but just in terms of his sort of his growth to and the difference between Bob going into this now than the Bob that went into the one in Rome. What would how would you He’s spoken about himself recently. So, it’s been out there really and it is it peels a completely different approach. The first one was um you know it was a right battle to get there right all the way to Switzerland and I don’t know if you remember me Yanick Paul and um uh who was the other one it was ridiculous but anyway the three of them were sort of in the mix Adrian sorry well done um and they were sitting there right to the last minute till he was ended up in a room you know the night before um in Switzerland just wanting to be anywhere else but there same as you when you were waiting on your selection um and just sort of want to get out and just be get there know and the type of character you’re actually both quite similar from that side of things you neither Stevie or Bob will go go into a place and sort of go here I am tada it’s in no I know my place as a first time out and all the rest of it you definitely go in as a not know your place cuz that sounds like yeah respect you know that you’re you’re the new guy don’t you go in and do that it’s just been respect for the guys that have been there and done it. Yeah. And this time around definitely I mean you got to remember the record that probably does he’s qualified twice second qualifier here this time around was second qualifier. So it’s like that’s he’s not having to sit there waiting for the phone to ring on the thingy. He’s known weeks ago. So um there’s a definite uh alter probably the thing that he’s now looking at isn’t just how am I going to do with the team. It’s what my strategies for dealing with this crowd thing and all the rest of it and trying to I think I think Bob the difference is is he expects to be there now. Mhm. Like the first one is like you said it’s almost a relief to get in it. Yeah. Where this one listen I was in it nearly in thingy. I deserve to be here. I expect to be here and you know I can’t wait to perform and try and win another RDER Cup. Rosie brought Bob into the Rider he carried him into the rider cup and then by Saturday he sort of growing his own confidence and come Sunday where he he got set free on the US Open champion one you know you see a similarity that way alazabal and sevi though it’s a trait that’s happened through all rider cups where people’s put arm around you know and then you see them six rider cups later yeah that’s true coming back to thank Rosie for what he done I would never have been able to do it and by the way the rider cup’s full of that there’s Rory will be doing it Fitzpatrick maybe last year. You know, you got him to come out your shell a little bit, I think, and win and stuff. You’re not thinking B when Well, that’s a different story. Uh, we’re talking about the present day now. Ian, never look back. Always look forward. My partner carrying you. I I could have done me sevy. Yeah, that that would have been great. But he’s, as you say, he’s into a completely different guy. Yeah. And so that’s not fair. not completely different about a more mature rounded golf. I think that I think that’s totally fair and he’s now got I mean look what he’s got to defend two and a half points out of threes like he’s going in there with a a zero in the loss thing. So that would be his thing. The other thing I think that will happen as well I mean I wouldn’t be surprised and but this comes from no position of oh I’ve got the you know you’ve had a you’ve been tipped the wink. Um, I reckon I could see Raasmus playing Mosi now if they’re put in a same just in exactly the same thing. I could see Bob playing a four ball now for some now I think where he probably wasn’t even considered. Luke Donald certainly alluded to that, didn’t he? Yeah, he did. He went with he alluded to it. I’d be astonished if he doesn’t play one and depending on how that one goes and how the match is going, it could be two. He could, you know, he could end up with a full You just really don’t know. Yeah. Um, but the one thing I think he would uh Yeah, I think for some for him could see that all day long now. We’re kind of half expecting it or Well, yeah, I agree. I’ve been around Beth Page and I’d say Bob’s obviously Eddie Molinari is the boy for this, but Bob’s I’d say Bob’s driving and his accuracy and his length has been much better this year. I mean, he’s went up a different level. You win you win a couple of times in America now. He’s gone back in as eighth in the top 10, eighth in the world, won twice in America, but he’s driving this year. I’ve noticed a huge difference and when I’m watching him that, you know, he’s he’s hitting a lot more fairways. That would be the bit that he was a bit kind of Mickelson. Mhm. great. He’s always been had a great short game, but now he’s actually adding accuracy when you need to. Like that one at Oakmont this year where I thought his driving was phenomenal, you know, and it take and it took something it took something that JJ Spawn to to beat him like that, you know, and you’ve seen the shot Rory hit at um Renaissance. Yeah, that was an extra special shot. So, so now he does that to people, but he’s che Sheffller done it to the bob mind when he when he hold it and said to Roy at K Club, you going to stop doing that to people, do you know? But I just think he’s a different animal. And I’m I’m hoping he he’ll enjoy it better, you know. I’m sure Bob will enjoy it. He’ll be looking He’ll be looking forward to this now rather than I don’t know what to expect. He’ll be he’ll know exactly what to expect. He’ll he’ll be prepared in his own way as if I know as as I know Bob like Eden knows him he’ll know he’ll be treating this as any normal event. Yeah. Yeah. Even though the enormity of the third biggest sporting event in the world most viewed golf he’ll be just going through his him and his caddy Mikey will be going through their usual what do we do normally to for peak performance. Yeah. And he’ll be turning up with that. And I can I could see Bob playing five times. you know, you could see him play four sums and again if you get off to a start in the four sums and you get a win, it’s aw hard to change. You’ve walked to I mean, you’ve obviously been round it and did your wrecky for the obviously for the for the junior team. Um they say it’s a very punishing walk a bit like Rome was. Is it the type of place you can play five? Well, I know anybody can play five with the recovery and the and the with the stuff now, you know, the with technology, you can play five. But I think what normally happens and what’s been happening the last three or four is they’ll try and get everybody playing early. Mhm. Whether it means somebody has to get rested or whatever, but they’ll try and get most of the guys playing the first day or the first three sessions just to give them a feel for it. The course is great. It’s a long long long course. It’s uh it’s you know the stands are up and the par threes are long. It’s a driver’s course. It’s just but see if it was around Bathgate then now it wouldn’t even matter. It’s the drama. It’s the It’s Bath Page Bath Page Bath Page Green around here instead of Beth Page Black. But um I think I think the thing with that is is you know they get America get the choice of how they set it up. But I don’t there’s no going to be anything tricked. It’s a proper golf course on its own. And the European boys will know there the European boys have been there. They played it played it the last couple of days. They’ve already been and played it. They’ve probably probably half the team played in the US Opens. You know, it’s not it’s just it’s the pressure. It’s more than anything. See what you’re saying that that’s right. I mean, when you think about it now, I’m not properly. There’s no there’s not one way they can set that up that’s going to be disadvantaged to us on what they’re playing week in week out. Is there you know how sometimes they can narrow the fairways or they can do that. But what are they going to gain from that? Cuz these guys are Well, I mean, I know I know I know this is playing field. I know this is how much they look into Wedi Molinari but they they thought that you know I don’t know if I’m speaking out of turn but I probably am right enough but Edd’s thing was cuz they were better bunker players he’d found out that the sand was raked with a thin rake and always a perfect lie so he got rakes in with thick with thick h sort of fingers so that the ball sat down a bit in the grooves in the grooves so that it wasn’t as good a lie and and they went in and thought oh this isn’t lying too good whereas what that’s what we use when we play in Europe and stuff. So that’s minute detailing if but if that if that saves you a one guy not getting up and down and a half point or anything here and there you know that’s that’s brilliant. That’s what it’s all about. So America by they’ll have their clever guys with the stats looking at. They’ll be trying to see if there’s any weakness at all that they can pull a fairway in. Make the rough an inch longer, shorter. Yeah. Make the greens a we bit quicker, a wee bit firmer, a we bit softer, you get your initiative is how you start it. And then once the once it starts, you can’t you’re not allowed to alter anything, right? So if you’ve got it there at the start and you know we were thick rough in France, really really thick rough in France cuz we thought we were better drivers than we were and it showed. So they’ll they’ll be tweaking something on Beth Page now and um and it’ll be interesting to see that. But again, our guys will be you’ll notice that you’ll notice that in the practice round if it’s something so when you look at that that’s where we did have an advantage in France cuz the closing holes from a Rider Cup point of view the best probably ever. Yeah. And then because these guys our guys have played the French Open and had been a bit conditioned to that then that was a massive that was one we had in the bank and then like 15 onwards it was like I mean it’s a hell of a finish. Yeah. Yeah. Well, that’s that’s out of there. How you set it up with everything? Yeah. Yeah. You um you Steven spoke about Americans. You obviously mentioned a couple of them again. You’re in and around them during the the season Ian. How do you view the American team? And you’ve got to tell us all your great JJ Spawn story again. No, cuz well to be fair, JJ Spawn told the story at the Scottish home, but you hear this once, do we? I did. Yeah. Well, it was the Americans, they go about it a bit differently to how we do in Europe. We’re far more. It’s been so well documented. Meet you for dinner, go down, they’re far more they probably live with their teams. Mhm. So, they’re not it’s not like they don’t really go out with each other as much. not socializing as much. But yeah, neither do they do the Europeans when they’re playing in America either. Changed. It’s very much like it’s like a job of an assassin. You’re going in doing your job and leaving and h going on the next one. Um but yeah, they’ll be I mean no bones about it, they’ll be fired up and they’ve got they’ve got rabble rousers in there. You know what I mean? Bryce, do you think they’ll play up on that? Ian, I mean obviously your damos and and guys like that are going to really try and whip it up, aren’t they? Big time. He’ll be he’ll be going about whipping them all up. There’s no doubt about it and it will be um you know what to expect, don’t you? Yeah. Well well guys, give us a low down on that then. Give everybody a low down because there’s been so much made about this in the buildup. So much made of it. The European management team as you spoke about with the VR headsets and that kind of thing. A lot of people will be thinking, well, come on. It’s, you know, how bad can it be? What experiences can have you heard about things that have happened? I mean, we all heard about what happened to Monty and Brookline and stuff like that. I mean, do do you think it’s going to be bad? Currently didn’t get a good time of it. Did he some money? I mean, he was he was if you like picked on um and that was you could say was that over a line or was it you know that wasn’t be very pleasant for him would it? So it was like and then that spilled over at the car park as we know and all that sort of thing. So these things do get out you know they can get a we bit out of his handbags at the end of the day. It wasn’t really but I’m sure he wasn’t walking off feeling too pled at. Yeah. Yeah. And the abuse and there was a lot of stuff on the Sunday he got as well. Yeah. A lot in the singles game. Yeah. It’s nothing new. It’s been happening. There’s a flag in here somewhere from old war when Arnold Palmer was a captain. Monco Bernard’s playing where one group said that the caddy looked in the bag and there was a huge ramy. Had to get the captains together and it was proper heated nearly fisty cuffs and it’s been happening since the 70. It’s probably been happening since the 40s and 50s and from outside the rocks. What do you think? Well, I’ve heard I’ve heard a few things where it it’s not the we can play, you know, you can get on the tea and you get the crowd up and all that, right? The noise is no bother. And the if you’ve hit a bad shot and you’re getting a bit of abuse, it’s no bother. It’s when your loved ones are walking at the side of the ropes, your wife, your kids, and they’re getting they’re getting proper targeted abuse cuz that’s what they do. I know a few I know a few people that wife’s maybe not even going Yeah. to this one. And if they go, they’re, you know, they’re not really wanting to go because if they’ve been a couple of times and uh it can get it can get after it can get it can get really really personal and I think that’s the bit I don’t see the jering if you miss a part and they they’re cheering you they’re cheering you miss a part. That’s always going to happen. That’s going to it’s the same in any sport. Yeah. We had done this year at the PGA and you think about it this is really stupid. They had a bar like a a hospitality unit bar on the 15th tea right on a tea. So it’s like I mean it’s one thing having it everywhere else but on a tea when you’re you’re focused on okay have a little stand. This was actually a hospitality facility which has got noise and guys having a couple too many late in the day. It’s late in the round. Yeah. So it’s late in the round. It’s late in the day. Obviously focus and there was um Bob had taken a shot and he this guy was usual mashed potato or whatever he was shouting all the the sort of the nonsense that they can come out with but it was like it was real borderline but I’d been watching it and it was real borderline but it was right on as he hit the shot. He didn’t do it in the shot but it was it was as tight as it really could be. Right. And um Bob hit his shot straight up the middle. So there was no petulence on it. You know, it’s going wide or anything. It was down the middle, but it was still the fact that this had happened, right? And he turned around and he sort of stared this guy out um while the other two were still playing and everything. And this boy, he didn’t know who I was next to me. He’s saying, “Ah, you think that’s bad? Wait till Beth Paige and all this sort of stuff.” And this is what’s happening in a PGA just like um in the whole bit. So they’re That was back what May? I heard I actually heard that a few weeks, you know, the when he was playing Scotty in the BMW as well and nothing to do with Scotty. It’s not his fault or but you know, you’re playing one of America’s darlings and everything and there there was quite a lot of stuff. Yeah. Welcome to Ser McIntyre and all this sort of just like utter I could use stronger language but quite good I was I but so you drafted in by Kean Bradley actually I think well actually think a we bit of that is going to Did you do Bob’s VR headset with with abusive you would have known exactly what to say American put it against team the good thing with that is though is as much as it can work in their in their sort of favor if you quieten them yeah well they say the New York supporters will turn against their That’s what they say. Well, that’s what that’s what we were hoping that you just get the blue in the board early. Yeah. And then they turn, you know, cuz I asked the guy when we went for the site visit. I says, “I take it, you know, is there a ban on alcohol or that till is there a time limit?” And he went, “The minute they walk in the door, they say for you or the fans.” I probably had a couple before then. Uh but no, he said he said cuz I was thinking, “Oh, no.” But um you know what it is it if there’s no if there’s none of the personal stuff and it’s just it’s just you know you know one team’s going to be one you know that’s what it is and and I think the police counts up so the police counts way more even more so that well the president’s coming on Friday Donald Trump so they’ll be so the first off time will be 37 minutes late like the US tennis tennis with I was going to say yeah to the fans could get in fans in there’s no can’t be much room for daylight between well the team off I know the first t 10 7 so we can’t have so the tennis was held up by 40 minutes yeah but because the they the closed the turn there was certain turn styles to get into Arthur Stadium a lot of guys then again for two hours think logically right do you not think logically if they get in early and there’s guys stepping over a line make an example them quickly set the tone so that the word don’t get out on that we heard you But if they let it go, yeah, it could go. Yeah. Again, it’s down to the first day. If if it’s terrible the first day, Luke Donald will come out and hopefully Keegan Bradley comes out as well and they’ll say, “Listen, we can’t condone this.” And then something will happen about it. Yeah. Because it can’t you you you don’t want you don’t want any outside agencies getting in the way of the unbelievable sporting event that it is. Yeah. And these are all pals. They two are best pals. So, one will back each other up. Yeah. They will, you know. So, and and all we want is the golf to be amazing. They want to be a fair match. You want it to be a fair match and you want the golf to be brilliant and everybody go how good. You don’t want to be saying what about that numpties? What about they shouting at them calling somebody’s wife something and that that’ll get called out straight away cuz they’re on it. They’re on it. The legacy of the match is it’s been all about the crowd and it’s just gone completely over a line. That’s a sad indic. It won’t help the branded RDER Cup either. It doesn’t make and it’ll stoke it up because you remember where we’re going next, right? I mean the one thing that Ireland will bring to the R cups alcohol in it. So they were going to be they’re going to be fueled up and ready to go especially for the 100th edition. Yeah, of course. Big event, right? Let’s be positive. It’s going to be fantastic, isn’t it? It’s going to be I mean the golf itself a lot of people have got things to say about the Red, you know, the falsities of some of the friendships and the way it’s all kind of but the golf itself just goes to another level, doesn’t it? We’ve seen some of the things that we’ve seen down the years, the shots, it’s just incredible. Some of the putts have been hold shots. Do we expect more of the same guys? It just going to be brilliant. Well, just the best of the best, aren’t they? What would be your reason for that? Seriously, like the amount I just think the emotion much more hole in there much more whole outs. There’s much more. I just think I just think because I just think because they get they bring emotion that you don’t normally see and they’re so focused. But you’ve been more aggressive. Yeah. But they’re so focused and and if a guy puts it into 4 foot, you’re not going to play to your usual 15t right of that. You’re going to go straight at it. Your guy hits a good T-shot, I’ll go for it. Bang. Knock on a green to 4 foot. You got to put for eagle. It’s just it’s a different dynamic. And um I just think it brings out the bit. Look at the emotion. You You don’t normally see Rory emotion. He’s shushing the crowd and he’s giving it all of this and it just brings out a a different person in you that you sometimes aren’t. you know, because I’ve seen some characters that you would never associate. Justin Rose, Justin Rose is one of the guys, you know, guys doing that. And I think and I think when these guys are at their best and they’re focused when they’re focused more, that’s when you see the good putts, the good holes, the shots, the the hole ones. I think you’ll see everything like that again. It’s always has been. And they’ll set the course up in a way that there’ll be two or three holes that that’ll be the risk and reward holes that you’ll see the the drama. Yeah, there’s always drama. Two or three things to get through before we sign off. It would be rude not to ask you about how much you’re enjoying the seniors tour getting about getting around and about now and how much you’re enjoying it. You seem great. I mean, how much fun is it to run amongst you? That’s what golf’s about. As you started with golf, what a sport. I mean, how can you still how can you still be competing, you know, when you’re 50? And the good thing for me is is getting wheeled out. I mean, how many I know it’s only three rounds now. It’s brilliant. But I mean, when I when I left the this the I was 28 years on tour, 660 odd events, but I’d also been through three sets of pals. So now I’m back with my pals. I’m back with Gary or I’m back with Simon Khn. I’m back with the boys that I first came out on tour with. And well, you may be back. you may be about competing with Tiger Woods on the hill said two weeks ago Tiger Tiger Christmas my ex Walker Cup uh you know I played against him in the Walker Cup 95 and uh Tigers said he’s going to come back and play six or seven events as a senior so you can’t be that I mean I get even for me playing at Sunningdale this year in the senior open and Ernie’s there and Lar Monte you know Podri pal Walker cup pal as well and the standard’s unbelievable I mean you think it’s not just a Well, these guys are still brilliant. Bennard Langanger, 68, played with him in America 3 weeks ago. He still shoots two under par, you know, he’s he’s a he’s a machine and a golfer. And the good thing is it’s three rounds, there’s no cuts. It’s um you know, it’s a bit more it’s a bit more subdued, but the the standard of golf and how hard everybody still works is the bit that got me was, you know, you’ve still got to it’s not just a cakewalk. You’ve got to come out here and you’ve got to earn your earn everything you get. And that’s the bit I like about it. Ian, tell everyone watching and listening how and why Europe are going to win this Ryder Cup. Europe are going to win this Rder Cup because the parts are very strong and the parts are very strong and the sum of all parts gives them a hell of a chance to do that. um from the players to the analysis to the preparation to the continuity to the there’s a lot of things going for them. Um and I can see that’s why the Europe will win the RDER Cup but it ain’t going to be easy obviously and and tell us why not only will Bob have a chance to go back to back but the man left us a magnificent Junior Rder Cup team. How exciting a great chance to do that. We’ll come to you in a minute, Ste. It’s nil nil until next Friday. So, of course, he does. Ste, are you I mean, your team are brilliant in Rome. Yeah, my team they were magic. I mean, I’m I’m just blessed. I’ve got a front row seat watching the next number ones, the next RDER Cup, the next Soim Cup. You know, for me it’s I get, you know, I get them for a couple of days and it’s just trying to make them enjoy theel and go out and do the same thing they got them in the team and just soak it in. I’m just telling him to just listen, soak it in. If history repeats itself, the players that have played in the RDER Cup, Junior Rider Cup’s off the charts. So, it’s going to be one of you guys here, either a boy or girl, you know, uh that’s going to be in a Soulheim or a Rider Cup. So, it’s just about, you know, I’ve got two players from last year that are playing. So, there’s 10 new faces. So hopefully the two guys that were there last year, Lev Grimberg and Chris Kim, can do a good job for me and you know, just tell tell them what it’s all about and I just want to get them playing as a team as quickly as possible and uh you know and just just enjoy it. Just do the same golf that got you in and uh and if they can do that, who knows if they win on the day, brilliant. If they don’t, we’ve done all our best. Tell you what, what is interesting, isn’t it, from a junior Raider Cup now, the logistics of an elite amateur and their preparation and their diaries and their I mean, it’s unbelievable. Yeah. Well, we’ve got a lot of the girls that are playing in Canada just now in the World Junior uh championship as as America have as well. And then and then on the Friday, there’s a few a few girls going to I think it’s Indonesia or Singapore for the for the World Ladies amateur, you know. So, their schedule’s unbelievable. Yeah, they’ve just had a couple play in America and it it’s great. I’ve I’ve enjoyed I’ve been to a few amateur events and I’ve enjoyed watching them and the amateurs now are the amateurs. They’re young pros. They’re ready just to burst out on the scene. You know, you see guys in the Walker Cup. Even Cammy Adam there that played in the Walker Cup. He was like, he was in the second last group at the Belelfrey that Alex Norman, you know, Marco Pen and all these guys that were pushing for rider cups. He was up there. Yeah, you know, back in the day we were amateurs. Yeah. I I remember first going on tour and I’m I’m looking at Sevy, Faldo, Wnom, Sam Torms, all these guys, you know, they don’t phase these kids now because the technology they’ve got, you know, the the courses they’re playing, the way they play, how young they are. They come out on tour now and they see Scottish Eford and he’s just at uni. They see this guy doing it. Oh, I went to his Aberg, you know, I hadn’t even heard Aber really until until somebody mentioned him and then you’re like, “Oh my goodness.” And he wins and he wins in Craw and he comes out and he’s Rder Cup record beat they beat Scottish 9 and seven and you’re like, “Wow.” And that’s what these guys are looking at now and they’re so ready to play. Even the American Walker Cup team, they’re so ready to play now. And that’s the that’s the great thing. That’s great watching them. you I mean the other thing you’re too humble for this but you you know Steviey’s job that he did last time and how forensic that was and how much detail he brought to the the thing definitely carried us over the line by a record margin and everything last year you know what was the first win in how many years it was quite a few I think I don’t know just 11 points our preparation in the the junior rider cup over theirs last time round I’m sure it’ll not be like that this time though they’ve learned a lesson there well the thing I’m just going to do the same thing as you know as Paul McInley said to us I’ll say to the kids in the bigger picture you know we won last week we won last year so did we but in the big picture in both teams were still behind America in the bigger picture so what we’ve got to do is just try and make our mark and leave and leave the the next group of kids and the next group of bobs and that coming through to make their mark to cl back you know we’re still getting beat in the grand since 1927 America’s won it way more times than we’ve won it. Even though we’ve had a great spell the last 20, 30 years. So that’s all our all our thing is last year’s last year that right that was that group of kids that done that. It’s now on to you to leave your mark for the next group of kids coming through. And if that happens and the same things happen in Rome, you will then win. We’ll be stood next to each other next to the first te on Friday morning and Europe will go win. tell us why that’s going to happen because Ian’s outlined his reasons why. You give us your reason. Well, I would first of all I hope I hope we win. We’re preparing to win the kids. Um obviously so will Susie Susie Wally will be saying the same. She hopes that they can win. But I I do I’m not going to say anything about the junior one cuz I I don’t want to jinx anything or that but I think the the big team’s going to win. I just think they got the better players and I think that tight-knit squad with just bringing in one hoy guard for the other was a master not a master stroke I felt for Marco Pen and Matt Wallace and these guys but I just think Harry Hall Harry Hall too yeah I mean he was one to hit the crossbar yeah I mean there’s but there’s always well Alex Norton but I think I think the thing is that continuity they know how to win it they’ve already won it they’re a tight-knit group you’ve seen them singing in the bus and all Uh and and and and that’ll be done. Luke will have done his job, right, lads? It’s let’s win. It’s Luke, he’ll be desperate. He’s won as a player and abroad. The the mark of the captaincy is if he can win away. And he’ll be desperate to put that on his CV is to win as a home and away as a player and a captain. And I think that’s that’s the big thing. So, it’s just there’ll be knuckled down. There’ll be no there’ll be no uh complacency kicking in at all. It’ll be let’s go and do the business. And and I just think as Ian had said, I think strength and depth. We’ve got one rookie, they’ve got four rookies, but you know, everybody need every team needs a rookie. Uh but I just think they’ve got four. We’ve got one. We’ve won the team with a with that almost same group. I think I think that’s why we’ll do it again. Gentlemen, it’s been an absolute pleasure. Steen, Ian, thank you so much. We all wish you the best of luck, both of you, in your various roles when you’re over. Thanks, Swanie. I hope it goes really well and you get the success that you’re looking for. And thank you to everybody for taking the time to watch and listen. You can stay in touch with the daily record all the way through the rider truck to keep up to date with everything that’s happening from Beth Page.
