Rose, Fleetwood, Hojgaard and Aberg discuss the Ryder Cup crowd and what to expect from Bethpage 👀

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Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Rasmus Hojgaard and Ludvig Aberg look ahead to the Ryder Cup at Bethpage.

#golf #rydercup #justinrose

0:00 – Justin Rose
9:24 – Tommy Fleetwood
12:17: Ludvig Aberg
16:55 – Rasmus Hojgaard

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Uh I think in practice we wore you know the 87 shirt and then um obviously yeah the 2012 shirts that sort of deep purple which obviously I had the privilege of wearing at Madina which was obviously an amazing week. Um it was a pretty tough week as well for for two two full days pretty much until the very end of Saturday as we all know and then clearly Sunday turned it around. But um yeah Chicago crowd was was an intense um arena to play in. Um very difficult I think. um you know you began to understand how important momentum is really with you know with any with any match you know that has a home and an away crowd you know so I think that really activates uh the the sort of the intensity and and and the environment out there so you know you don’t want to compare anything to New York but I think Chicago was also a yeah a big crowd I mean I think the the scale of the Ryder Cup seems to have really kind of kicked on massively in the last decade so I feel like each occasion is getting more and more intense. So, which is a lot of fun obviously and I think this one we don’t really know. It’s obviously going to ramp up. You know, we were here for two days. It was very quiet. Had the course to ourselves. Um yesterday playing with fans in was a was a good step up in gear. Obviously today with the opening ceremony being moved forward, it’s going to be another feeling of okay, we’re getting closer to the start line here and obviously it’s all going to start to feel very real and the intensity of it is going to grow and grow as the week goes on. So, don’t know how to compare it to to to Madina just yet other than Madina was intense. Hey, Justin, back here. Justin, sorry, where am I at? Oh, yeah. Sorry, mate. We’ve heard a bit about you guys wearing the VR headsets during practice. I’m wondering if you can tell us a little bit about your experience of them. Do you think it was beneficial and what was the worst sledge you got? Um, yeah, listen, um, I think the VR headsets have been a thing, but for me personally, uh, it was a great idea, and I wouldn’t say I’ve spent more than five minutes using them, if I’m honest. Um, I think it was really, really interesting to put them on and get the feeling of what it was going to look like. Um, obviously with the 18th and the wraparound and the first and the stands and, you know, how the how a full Beth Page could look and feel. Um, and I, you know, I had more fun showing my family, you know, my some people who weren’t going to be here, my son, my daughter, my mom, you know, like this is what the first tea is going to feel like. So, uh, that that was really cool from that point of view. I, you know, obviously it’s it’s it’s VR. Um, and yeah, there was the overlaying of just the US chance and things like that. So, worth doing for sure, but um, you know, a soft uh a soft serving of it, let’s put it that way. In on seven. Yeah. How are you? Hey, can you talk about Luke Donald’s leadership qualities and does one emerge as a leader or are you born with that as a leader yourself? So, what was the second half of the question? Excuse me. Does one emerge as a leader or do you think a leader is born with those qualities? Yeah, I think that’s a great great question. I think Luke um you know, he’s always been um more on the introverted side throughout his career and very much focused on his own game and um you know, quiet and go about his business. And I think Luke has really emerged as a leader over the last couple of years. And I think he’s really invested in himself as a leader. And I think he’s invest I think he’s grown tremendously as a as a as a as a human, right? I think um he’s probably learned so much through this process. And you know, I’m I’m I’m blown away by the work ethic that he’s given this captaincy cycle. Um both of them, you know, he came into it in Rome maybe six months behind where he would have been otherwise. um made up for it amazingly. I think his communication style has been incredibly consistent and on point and um and I think takes takes a lot of the fuss out of it from a players point of view. So yeah, listen it comes down to execution from a players point of view always and but just good clear captaincy I think kind of sets the tone and paths paves the way for the players to kind of go ahead and and focus on what’s important which is obviously on the golf course from Friday morning. So, there’s probably a million decisions Luke’s had to make to give us no decisions. Um, and I think that that’s ultimately what the job of being a captain is. But, yeah, I give Luke tons of credit for for how much he’s invested in himself. Let’s give both of you at 12 there. Hi, Justin. Um, yeah. Uh, you’re you’re a big Chelsea fan. What’s it been like having Frank Ozola around the place? Was was he one of your heroes? What your memories of watching him? And what’s he what’s he been like? um what’s his role kind of around around the team? Yeah, I mean obviously you know Chelsea legend clearly I’m a Chelsea fan. Um I didn’t know he was coming this week so it was a huge surprise and literally one of the first people I bumped into. I was coming around the corner of the hotel to the to the lifts and bumped into him you know just saying out there you know I meet a lot of really cool people in my life through the game of golf but I was like whoa wow hey Jim Franco like you know it’s like I was star struck which is amazing. uh you know football hits different especially back at home and um you know obviously the career he’s had clearly do you know I mean listen I’ve become more of an engaged football fan in the last decade I would say I have a 16-year-old son who’s mad about his football so it’s really been more of a thing that we connect with now so I’d say my history of football and really like knowing greatest hits and highlights I’ I’d be not quite there but I mean I think his energy what he can provide I mean I think he’s here just to sort of in a sense not you know like best to call it fly on the wall, but I think if there’s a moment that he observes and can kind of chime in and can can understand the pressure or can understand momentum or, you know, locker room mentality, then obviously there’s probably going to be something this week where he can relate relay a really powerful message. So hopefully he has that opportunity because I’d love to hear it. Hi, the same again. Um Luke seems to have planned and have detailed plans for everything this week. Is there an official policy how to deal with or handle President Trump when he comes on Friday if he’s on the course? Are you told are you going to ignore him, say hello to him? What how are you going to handle it? Um yeah, obviously he’s going to bring a lot of um you know, rightly so, a lot of attention and um patriotism to the to the event and uh um by all accounts, he’s going to be in I don’t know what I’m allowed to say, but I don’t think he’s necessarily going to be on the on the tea box with us or roaming the course. So, um, from that point of view, I think there’ll just be a lot of noise around it, but I’m not sure there’ll be that continued distraction of it. But again, I I could be wrong just based upon what I’ve heard how they’re going to handle his movements around around the property. But listen, it’s uh it’s great for golf that, you know, he’s engaged in the game and obviously he brings a lot of eyeballs with him. So, um, yeah, but fanwise, I’m sure Friday afternoon will be will be certainly very intense and entertaining because we all know Donald Trump likes a winner and he was there when Chelsea won the trophy in July on that. Yeah. If would you welcome him on the stage if you retain the trophy? You going to invite him along if you do win on on Sunday? 100%. Love the opportunity. Yeah. To sort of, you know, have that opportunity. Listen, I’m not sure he’s going to want to be on the on the stage, you know, congratulating the uh the team that sort of wins in his backyard, but um listen, of course, he’s a president in the ultimate respect and uh that’d be that’d be a good opportunity. John, go ahead. Justin over here. Sorry, I’m not not following today. Sorry. Hi, John. Hi. Uh Rory seems to be the self-appointed chief chirper. Are you happy with him in that role? And how well do you think he does it? chief chirper. Um, yeah, I think Rory’s very comfortable with himself. I think he has thick skin. I think that he can handle the blowback of if he says something that he believes and it’s not taken in the the right way. I think he’s happy to to see it how how how he sees it and call it how he sees it. And I think that he has the freedom on the golf course to to just roll with to roll with that. you know, I don’t think it sort of layers there’s what he says I don’t think layers into his golf game and that’s an amazing talent that he has. I think uh you know he always plays incredibly freely and I think that that’s probably the line where Rory can tiptoe better than most. Yeah. Over here with Doug Rory’s got one more cup than you you’ve got him by age still. I’m just curious. That’s the wrong relationship there. Yeah. what uh what what kind of um leadership role uh do you take amongst the players? Yeah. So, you know, obviously um elder statesman as I’ve been called, but um you know, I don’t try to see myself that way really because I’m still enthusiastic about my game and I still want to be a contributing member of the team in the greatest way possible, which is earning points and not just here for wisdom and things like that. But, you know, I celebrate the differences in our team and I think that’s obviously what Europe team Europe is all about. Come from different places, different cultures, different backgrounds. And I think celebrating that’s important. So, me putting my spin on it, I don’t want to sort of like cloud anybody’s judgment out there, but I also want to be an open enough book that if someone is feeling like they have a question, then I’m yeah, please come and ask me. I’m happy to share my my experience on that. But, um, I think that there’s not really a need for me to be able to or to have to put my arm around anybody. And I think the fact that we are 11 out of 12 returning players is an amazing thing, especially coming to an away rider cup. Whoever gets to play with Rory this week, um like what a privilege, what a what an amazing thing to be able to do and to stand next to him on the golf course and play alongside him. He’s um one of if not the greatest player of our generation. Um and uh yeah, like the energy that I think he that he has that he brings or team that he brings to the RDER Cup, I I think is is amazing. I think it’s great and um you know, if if I’m one or one of them that gets the chance to play against him, I I will love that opportunity and I’ll be there to uh you know, whatever energy he decides to bring, I’ll you know, I’ll be there to uh support him and be a good uh be a good part of him. Over to 14. Hey Tommy, how much did what happened at Whistling Straits uh play into your preparation and motivation for Rome? And do you believe the US might have a little chip in their shoulders because of what happened in Rome? Yeah, I think absolutely when you’ve lost a Radic Cup um like for us 100% at Whistling Straits, I mean we took a I mean there’s no other way of putting it. We took a hammer in. Uh we didn’t I I f I think all of us that were on that team didn’t feel like we did ourselves justice in the way that we played um and never really uh never really gave ourselves a chance. We were behind from the get-go there and um and we lost that one. But I remember on the plane home uh so that was you know the day after we were all as a as a team we were all looking you know we’re all thinking what are we going to do now? You know there’s two years to go. First of all, we all want to start working to get the chance to have a to have a go at it again. Um, and sort of avenge ourselves in that way. Uh, but then, you know, looking at the process of what can we do more? What can uh team Europe do or add that can give us a better chance in Rome? And I I think when you’ve lost one, yeah, of course, you have a chip on your shoulder. Like, you have that you have that feeling of hurt. Um, I think one of the most motivating things you can have is watching the other team celebrate when you know you’ve you’ve lost. and no matter how great of a time like some of my best memories in the game were from Whistling Straits like you know we got hammered on the golf course but um as a as a team and how close you become and and the moments that we that we drew on that week are still some of my best memories in the game um but also that hurt and and watching those guys celebrate when you know you know you didn’t feel like you didn’t do yourselves justice I think is one of the most motivating things you can have and um it came to Rome uh you know and a and a sort of I guess it was a very new look of a team um and a and a and a home crowd home advantage and uh we took that so like actually you know winning that one was was really really satisfying and of course uh you know the the American team will have similar sort of feelings they’ll have been hurt from last time and and they’ll come here and want to win and be at home and want to win in front of their home crowd so and that and that’s just as it should be. And do you take any sense of pride in being probably the last guy whose golf made Scotty cry? Uh it’s not something I think about. You know, it’s uh obviously that day it was it was somewhat of a freak result and and something that we didn’t quite expect, but uh it was a cool experience that me and Victor had and um it’s uh it was it was a cool thing to do. Yeah. Up to 12. Yeah. Hi Ludvik. I was going to ask a similar thing that that Saturday morning when you’ve already achieved a lot in your career. How does that Saturday that nine and seven win rank in what you’ve achieved so far and what’s your biggest memory of that morning? Uh yeah, I think the biggest thing that I’d take away from those couple days and maybe especially that morning was just the the val the validation for myself and and you know that I’m able to do that because obviously before I played in Rome, I hadn’t even met those guys. I haven’t I’ve never shaken those their hands and I’d never have a conversation with them. So, for me to get there and to bring out a result like that was was a big deal for me personally to know that I’m able to beat those guys at times. I’m able to compete and and um play good golf against them. So, that’s the biggest thing that I take away. Um and I had a really good partner that day, which always helps. So, uh, but it was a it was a cool experience and probably something that I I won’t forget. Okay. Just to follow up on that, what makes you and Victor why did it work so well? Is it as well as the golf is something? And are you available to play with him again this week? Uh, yeah. I mean, we’re we’re good friends. Uh, we speak the same language. We we have we come from a very similar background. Obviously, he grew up in Norway and Sweden are are very close in terms of the cultural uh environment and uh and yeah, we we get along. He’s a he’s a funny guy to have funny conversations with. Um it can go in any direction that you don’t really expect and um it’s uh you know we had a good time in Rome and we’ve played multiple practice rounds since and uh our caddies get along great too. So it’s a it’s a good uh good friend to have on tour and and uh in the team room here. Just on one more what’s the wackiest thing he come he comes out with this week. Can you think of an example? Um, well, yeah, he he’s always into sort of the the the UFO deals and and all those things. So, it’s quite interesting. I’m not quite down that road just yet. You know, if I hang out with him long enough, I might be, but um, you know, again, you never really know where it’s going to go, which is quite interesting. Up to Martin Ludvig. Luke Donald’s talked about needing a different plan from Rome to win an away rider cup. From a player’s perspective, do you sense that is the case? Uh, yeah, I think so. I think you would be naive to think it would it’s going to be the same. Um, I think the challenge obviously there’s challenges with playing at home, but you know, the bigger challenges are going to be away. Um, I think for me, I was fortunate enough to have a really good experience in Rome and that being my first one. Um, but I think this one’s going to be a little bit different. Um, obviously the the whole environment, the whole situation calls for different preparation. I think Luke has done a tremendous job, Luke and his whole team of um, making us aware of that and making us excited about what’s to come and um, yeah, it’s just a we have an opportunity to do something really special and I think we’re all we have 12 guys who are really excited about that. Over to Mike Five, please. Ludvig, uh, yesterday you guys got out there for the first time in front of the fans, in front of the crowd. so much has been made about them. I’m just curious what that experience was like for the first time and if you heard any of the chirping that you guys are anticipating over the next couple days when the tournament starts. Uh yeah, it was great. It was awesome. It was uh it’s such a cool iconic place, right, Beth Page? And um it’s it’s that passion that the Ryder Cup brings out that you don’t ne necessarily see in a normal tournament. So that’s why we all love it. That’s why we all think it’s the best tournament in the world. And um you know, we’re all looking forward to a a good couple of weeks or a couple of days and good challenging couple of days, but it’s a it’s a cool environment to play golf in and I feel very very fortunate to uh to be walking those fairways. Did you did you feel any of that? I should say, did you hear any chirps? Did you kind of get a sense of the crowd trying to get on your skin already? Yeah, you know, there’s always going to be a little bit of chirping going on. I think that’s a part of it’s a part of sports. It’s a part of athletics and um that’s what makes it fun. That’s what brings out these tournaments and that’s what we all love it. Um so yeah, you’re going to be hearing a lot of things which is uh which is a part of it. Raasmus, um you have Thomas here and and he’s been part of you growing up and becoming a a great player. What does it mean for you to have Thomas here this week as well? Uh it’s very it’s very special. Um I’ve got a great rel relationship with with Thomas. He’s been uh he’s been around us for for some years now. So, uh yeah, it’s a it’s a good support to have uh close to me this week. Five. Just uh you guys had the first opportunity to be out there on the course with fans in attendance. So much has been made about the crowd coming into this. I’m just curious what that experience was like with them there uh yesterday. And did you guys hear some of that chirping? Did it did you kind of start to feel the energy that’s expected to be here when the when the event starts later this week? I think yesterday was uh was a very good day. I uh I thought the crowds were great. Um got good support. Um so yeah, it’s been uh so far it’s been great. We know what that there’s going to be some situations out there, but I think we’re all um very much prepared for it, but uh it was definitely definitely a very good start. Over to Mike Six. Have you been trying to pick the brain of some of the obviously 11 of these guys were there last time, but maybe some of the older veterans on the team to try and figure out what your first RDER Cup is really going to represent? Yeah, it’s spoken to Thomas quite a bit. Uh but yeah, there’s some very experienced guys in the team. So, I think just being around him gives you a sense of calmness and uh yeah, it’s um it’s again Nick played it the last time. Um so, yeah, there’s been some good some good stuff in there that I can try and and use in my in my advantage. Adam, did you uh use the virtual reality goggles? And if so, what do you how do you how did they help you prepare for this week? Yeah, I tried them on. I thought it was it was a fun idea. Um, yeah, it was it gave us a picture of how the whole first te looked like, which I thought was was quite fun. So, yeah, it was a fun little gimmick from from the team. And and when did playing in a Ryder Cup become a dream of yours? Uh, back in 2012 when uh that was that was the first Ryder Cup I really watched on the TV. Um, so yeah, that was when my RDER Cup dream started. Can you give one quick example of what you learned from being at the RDER Cup in 23 being part of the team? Well, I think um just to see how everything runs, how how the days are built, how you know how the team room um functions. So it’s it’s as a whole it was nice to see how all the days you know just goes by how how they all prepare together and and what what um you know what’s going to happen during during the tournament days as well. Paul and 11 Rasmus wondering when you think the most nervous you’ve ever been on the golf course. Say it again. When’s the most nervous you’ve ever been on the golf course? It was probably at Belfrey this year, I think, uh, when I was trying to qualify for the for the team. So, yeah, that that was probably when I was the most nervous. Are you doing anything or kind of any mental preparations about how you might feel first te as matches are going and kind of how you want to try to handle that? I think I’m going to feel some sense of what I did at the ble there, uh, trying to qualify there. So, I’m pretty sure the first tea is going to be my most nervous moment. But again, uh I try to look at it in a way that I only get to try, you know, the first Ryder Cup t-shirt once in my life. So, trying to embrace that in a way. It sounds like a cliche, but uh that’s going to be my approach and then see how it goes. Over 12. Yeah. Hi, Rasmos. Given that you were involved in Rome two years ago, is there anything this year that has surprised you? Not really. I um it’s obviously it’s pretty much the same team. They only had to change one um initial in on the on on the name. So uh no, I think I think everyone is still very much uh on the same page. I think I um I kind of fell into the group in a very smooth way. So so far nothing has really surprised me. I think just one followup. Do you know who John Franco Zola is? You’re a big football fan. I I do know who he is. Yeah. And which is your football team, by the way, in England, you say? Um I know Thomas is laughing here, but it’s Man United. Oh, I’m sorry.