LIVE | Press Conference | U.S. Team | Sep 25 | 2025 Ryder Cup

Watch the U.S. Team’s press conference as they prepare for the 2025 Ryder Cup. Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English, Sam Burns and Ben Griffin take the stage on Wednesday afternoon to share their thoughts ahead of the 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

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The 2025 Ryder Cup is the 45th edition and runs between September 25 – September 28. Luke Donald is the European Team Captain and Keegan Bradley is the U.S. Team Captain. The European Team are the reigning champion after winning 16 ½ – 11 ½ at Marco Simone in 2023. Every two years, 24 of the best players from Europe and the United States go head-to-head in match play competition. Drama, tension, incredible golf, camaraderie and sportsmanship are served in equal measure, captivating an audience of millions around the world. It’s an event that transcends sport, yet remains true to the spirit of its founder, Samuel Ryder.

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mentioned your numbers were pretty dubious, he thought on YouTube if you hadn’t uh seen that comment, if you had any comment on that. Uh yeah, no, I responded jokingly to it u just a little bit ago. I think it was a couple days ago. And um I think it’s I think it’s great. I think any anytime that uh people can throw throw stuff at me like that, I I I enjoy it. I appreciate it. And I think it’s good for ultimately the game of golf because it uh starts to spur conversation on and um ultimately on YouTube you have to be verified to be able to subscribe and whatnot. So don’t think it’s really that honest or true, but it is what it is. I mean uh anytime you can anytime you can you can say something like that and create more buzz for the game of golf, it’s it’s great. Up to Kevin on 12. Bryson Ner. Uh you’ve talked a little bit about how much fun you’ve had team room and how much you’ve enjoyed it. Yeah. I’m curious what was it like to not be a part of the team two years ago. Yeah, it sucked. Um I wanted to be there. Didn’t play well enough in the majors. Knew knew what uh I was up against when I when I went to live and um you know that’s a that’s a whole another conversation. But I still wanted to make the team and wasn’t able to. And seeing the guys lose really put a fire in my my stomach and uh wanted to make the team this time around. And uh now we’re here and we’re a day away from starting probably if not the most exciting golf event uh in golf right here. Mike three. Bryson. Obviously a lot of chatter about your connection to the fans. Given your popularity, do you consider it more of a responsibility or an opportunity to fire up the crowds this week? I feel like it’s an amazing opportunity. New York fans are incredible. I’ve been up here a few times playing and as rowdy and ruckus as they get, they still love the game of golf. Having Keegan be from around here, St. John’s and um what he’s done to fire up this state, the city um and our team uh ultimately is is in inspiring for us uh as a team to go out and represent in the best way possible. And um I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to hopefully get them riled up and you know excited for what’s to come. How much better equipped are you to do that now than say four years ago? Man, I I I’ve it’s it’s a great question actually. Um four years years ago, I wouldn’t have been as open or um ready, I guess you could say, for for this moment. And you’ll never be fully ready for what’s to come tomorrow or the next few days. But the experience certainly does help. and hopefully I can use that to the best of my ability and hit some great shots when it matters most. Thanks, Mike 14. Yeah. Hi, Bryson. Can you just articulate to us what it means to you to be back in the RDER Cup team and representing America? Mr. Adam, how do you think the presence of Donald Trump here this weekend is going to help inspire you to victory? I hope he’ll inspire us to victory. Um, you know, I I I think he’ll be a a great force for us to get a lot of people on our side and um I I think it’ll be interesting and exciting to see how uh the crowd and everybody reacts. It’s going to be an electric environment. Um and that was the first question again. What it means to you to be back representing the rug, how important it is for you. Yeah, I I think you know when I u missed the Olympics because of of COVID and I got COVID and wasn’t able to represent my country, that was a pretty big shot to the heart. Um playing in team events my whole entire life, playing in um the Walker Cup, World Amitter, uh numerous other team events. It’s all I wanted to do uh growing up and and then being on the RDER Cup for a winning team and a losing team, experiencing both the highs and the lows and then missing in Rome. Uh this has put something in my stomach that’s uh kind of made it a uh a mission project for me. Um, I I I just I want to I want to be a part of this team and be be the most helpful person I can for this team in whatever way possible that is. Um, the words really aren’t there right now to explain how passionate I am about this USA team and how how good I think we are and how positive we are and how encouraging we are, inspiring we are and what this captain has done to bring us together, to band us together like possibly no other captain’s done in the history. So, over to Alex Miselli, nine. Yeah. Hey, Bryson. So, how different is the team accepted you this time around than when you were at Whistling Straits? I felt like it was pretty good in 2021 as well. Uh, Alex, I don’t know if it was, and maybe people were saying other things, but um, no matter the case, this this goound, I mean, the amount of calls I got when I was on the team and from from players was was amazing. and the support, all the uh the vice captains and every player texting me, calling me and welcoming me on welcoming me on the on the team was um quite emotional for me and it made me more passionate about this team and excited to be a part of um what we’re trying to trying to accomplish this week, what we what we can accomplish this week, what we will. And and to follow up, is it different being on this team because of the because of the fact that you it wasn’t as easy to get on this team as it was four years ago? What do you mean by that? Well, I mean, obviously, you only got eight chances to get on this team. And when you were playing on the PJ tour, you could play as many events as you wanted to get points. So, I mean, it’s a big difference between trying to get on that team four years ago and what what it’s been like to try to get on this team. Yeah. You know, every tournament I play, I try to do my best. So whether it was the majors or other tournaments like yeah I was still trying to make the team in whatever way possible. Um playing those majors were very important obviously we all know that and making this team was a passion project of mine. It was uh A1 um was the thing I wanted to do most uh represent my country and uh playing as well as I did in the majors obviously uh gave me that opportunity to do so. And um yeah, I guess you could say I focused quite a bit on the majors. I have been for the past few years, but I just feel like my game’s in a way better spot. Um and one that can help help this USA team uh hopefully to another level of top to 19, please. Hi Bryson. Um just wondering, you talk a lot about your passion um for being part of the team. What kind of a team member do you see yourself as? Are you a leader who is willing to really help the rookies and maybe partner the rookies or is it a case of being part of a blockbusting pairing? Um I I view myself as support like I’m there to help in whatever way possible. Um whether it’s emotionally or um leadership, you know, it’s it’s more of just getting people excited and ready to go and pumping people up and hopefully giving people some energy, really good energy out there. Um, I’m one that can get, you know, down on myself, but over the course of my career, I’ve learned to curb that and learn how to use that and turn it into a positive momentum. And, um, helping people realize what we’re here for, what we’re doing, why why we’re playing this week is is a top priority for me and being support. And in terms of the core setup, how energized are you seeing presumably is a something that really suits your eye. Yeah. Um, when I played in 2019, I didn’t hit it as far and the golf course was a was a beast. Rough was a lot longer. Um, this week I’m hitting it quite a bit further and, uh, rough isn’t as penalizing. So, it’s going to be fun to see how this golf course presents itself. Uh, for us in these types of conditions, uh, it’s a little softer, but being match play and, um, that’s going to provide a unique unique challenge for for all of us. And hopefully I can do some fun stuff this week. finish up with Sean over here on 10. Bryson, you and Rory have had some pretty great matches on the course in majors. There’s also been plenty of viral quotes kind of about him talking about you and you occasionally talking about him. Does it feel like there’s a rivalry there? Well, look, I think rivalries are good for the game of golf and um albeit I have the ultimate respect for Rory as a player. Um, it’s going to be fun to to go up against him this week, you know, whether it’s against him directly or uh through other players. Um, I think it’s going to be a a fun challenge this week. Um, would I love to go up against him? Yeah, it’d be a lot of fun. Uh, is it going to happen? It’s not likely. I mean, maybe once. You never know. I don’t know if there’s planning behind the scenes or whatnot, but um no, look, he’s a fierce competitor, a great competitor, but one that I’d love the opportunity to to play against this week. Thanks for your time, Bryson. We appreciate it. Thanks. I figured that. I figured that. Harris English is with us now at the 2025 RDER Cup. Harris, welcome to your second RDER Cup. We’ll go ahead and get started with questions right here on mic 6. Thank you. Um, I just wanted to ask you about Keegan as captain. if there’s an example maybe you could share that would kind of illustrate how he’s been, his personality, and what his leadership style has been like. I mean, what you see with him on the golf course is what you see as captain. He’s got so much fire, so much passion. Um, I mean, every day he thinks about the RDER Cup and and he’s instilling that on us and and he’s been incredible at some of the team speeches. He’s a big video guy, which which I am as well. um very inspirational. Um it’s been incredible. It’s incredible to see him kind of as a leader and and it’s he he’s been unbelievable at it. And Harris, how you doing? How do you think your calm demeanor will impact the team when you’re, you know, especially with guys like Bryson who love getting the fans excited and revved up? Yeah, I I love that from them. Everybody’s kind of their own individual. Um, talked about that with some of the guys on the team. Like I I’m pretty calm on the course and and even killed, but I I I love guys to get fired up because that brings that side of me out. Um, I mean, you you see it occasionally in some tournaments on the PGA tour, but but this is a whole different deal where um you’re playing for bigger than yourself and I’ve I’ve got to show some of that fire and and bring that energy. That’s that’s what I’m focused on this week here. Cameron, I know you weren’t on the team in Rome in 2023, but what about the RDER Cup week have you missed the most about now that you’ve kind of gotten back in the team room and everything over the last few days? just being around the guys. Um, I mean, even playing practice rounds out there, um, hitting different shots around the greens, just everybody’s much more open into sharing their insight on kind of how they hit different shots and and their approach to to prep for a tournament. So, I feel like for me being being around a lot of these guys that I I look up to, um, yeah, we play week in week out against each other, but it’s it’s nice to pick up some little tidbits of of how they prepare and how they hit different shots and and everybody is very open into the helping the team as a whole to to get better and and learning on this golf course. And what did you learn most about the RDER Cup that four years ago that you can take into your preparation this week or that has helped you be ready for what’s to come? Yeah, just kind of knowing um how this week’s going to go. I mean, these these first few days, they’re they’re long. We’ve got a lot going on with the the gayla and the opening ceremony. I mean, it’s it’s so much different than just a normal week. And um we each have our own routines, but you kind of get out of that routine and and and embrace it. Um I I love being around the team. I love all the activities that we’re doing of kind of these these bonding activities that I I think will will last uh for a lifetime. over to nine. You start. Hey, Harris. Uh I I think it’s pretty obvious that the golf course is playing a fair bit easier than it has certainly previous majors uh andor PGA Tour events here with the lower rough and now the softer conditions. Ask you to speculate a little bit here, but if you guys were playing stroke play, what what kind of number do you think numbers might be out there? For a four round tournament, I’d probably say 18 to 20 under. I mean, it’s it can still bite you out there. Um especially that back nine. Um if you miss a couple drives, you’re you’re having some kind of mid irons into the greens and and you can start missing in some pretty bad places. But um yeah, this is not the normal Beth Page Black that we’re used to. You’re going to see a lot more birdies out there than you normally would in the PGA or the US Open. But uh I think that’s great and that’s uh that’s what we’re ready for. And then just quick unrelated followup, there’s there’s been a lot of chatter about um how good Bryson has been in the team room this week. Could you maybe give a specific example that might illuminate that? Yeah, I mean he he’s uh he’s been awesome. Um I’m not really big into the Instagram or the Tik Tok or Snapchat. So when we’re at the opening ceremony kind of standing around getting ready to go, he was kind of taking me through all the stuff he does. And that’s kind of a different world that I’m not I’m not used to seeing. I I do Twitter and I follow a lot of Georgia football stuff, Jaguars stuff. So, I’m I’m I’m not in the world he’s in. But, it was kind of cool to get that insight of what he does and and and his plan of growing the game as much as possible and and trying to relate to kids and and bringing kids to the game of golf, which I think is really cool. Dylan. Yeah. Yeah, I was going to ask you what’s something specific that you’ve learned about another one of your teammates. I think that might be number one on the list, but does anyone else come to mind this week? I’ve just grown closer to that I Yeah. Yeah. Any any any fun facts you might have learned? Uh I mean, I’ve I’ve been spending a lot of time with Russell this week. It’s It’s nice to get back playing a lot of golf with him. We’ve grown up together. I’ve played with him since I was probably 10 years old and obviously the same year at the University of Georgia. We’re roommates for two years and um just kind of talking a lot about what we’ve been through through our lives and and finally we’re 36 years old. We’re we’re both playing on the RDER Cup team at at Beth Page. Like if you would have told us that when we were 14 years old playing in South Eastern Junior Golf Tour events, like we wouldn’t have believed it. And uh it’s it’s been really cool to share that experience with him and and kind of lean on on each other. I mean this is his first RDER Cup. I know he’s played um the last President’s Cup, but um not that I need to help him out a whole lot, but just kind of give him some some insight on what I learned at Whistling Straits, and um it’s just been really cool for me to share that experience with them. Yeah. Yeah. Is that emotional to think about the I mean, you know, we hear so much now about how young the game is getting and how ready guys are out of college to kind of think of, you know, two guys that have had great tour careers now being on the same team at the same time, you know, now that you guys are in your 30s. Um, yeah, just a lot of gratitude. I mean, that’s that’s kind of what Keegan has preached a little bit to us and and kind of what I’ve been thinking about this whole year is is I mean, ultimately, this might be my last RDER Cup, and I’m I’m okay with that. Um, you never know what’s going to happen in two years or or where this game takes you. So, I’m uh trying to stay as present as possible and and soak it all in and and enjoy the moment and then uh when the gun goes off on on Friday to to give it everything I have. over here to Mike 14. Harris, uh there’s been kind of a a narrative whether fair or unfair that the European team is more close, they care more. Is that something you guys have kind of talked about in your team room? Um we haven’t really talked about what they’re doing at all. We’re we’re focused really on what we do and and Keegan has hit on a few points and and getting us ready to go. um we don’t really pay attention to what those guys are doing and and we’re uh going to do the best job we can and and get everybody for the for the common goal and the and working on trying to get this rider cup back all on 12. Harris, you played in 21 just four ball uh with Tony both sessions. Was that kind of always in your prep and then this year maybe with a little bit more optionality how like prepping for forsomes has gone for you? Yeah, I mean Tony Phenol was unbelievable partner. Um, one of the best dudes I’ve ever I’ve ever played with. So, yeah, kind of easing me into the the Rder Cup. That was my rookie rookie year on the RDER Cup team. And um, yeah, obviously best ball is a little uh easier of a format for us to play because you’re playing your own ball. Um, kind of your own strategy and and forms is different. I’ve I’ve kind of done both this week and kind of ready for whatever um captain wants me to play. I’ve told him if he just wants me to play one match. If he wants to play five matches, I’m going to be ready. And uh yeah, trying out some different balls. Um getting in the rhythm of force a little bit and and a little bit of different strategy that you have to work on. I know you’re not a guy that tweaks a ton. So when a new ball gets thrown in there, like what’s what’s the process for you to kind of try to figure some of that stuff out? Um, it’s a lot of I I think driver off the driver is pretty easy to figure out, but it’s a lot of the iron shots, wedge shots, making sure the you’re hitting the windows that you want to hit and and seeing if the ball spins a little more, spins a little less. And um, also a little bit around the green. I mean, the the cover can can be a lot of how soft it comes off or or firm and and a little bit with a putter. I mean, it’s a lot more that goes into it um than people think of of putting or chipping a different golf ball. and um definitely prepped some last week at home with that and and been prepping this week for that as well for that if that opportunity arises. Take one more up top 16. Hey Harris, um just wanted to ask you about your Cali. Eric obviously was missing at the open. You have him here. What was it like to obviously not have him? And what’s the importance? What’s the relationship going to be like this? How you’re going to rely on him, I guess, a hell of a lot? Yeah, we’re all disappointed that that he couldn’t come over to the Scottish Open and the Open Championship. Um, I mean, he’s been a a massive part of my team for the last uh eight years or so. Um, Caddyy for me, Whistling Straits. I mean, he’s he’s the best guy in the world. Um, means a lot to me and um he’s been pushing me to get to get back here. He uh believes in me probably more than more than anyone out there. Um, so I I appreciate his support and um everything he does for me and and this is as much about me getting back here as it is him and I want him to enjoy every moment. Um, he’s getting older, too. So, you never know if he’s going to be back here as well. So, uh, he’s having a good time. He’s he’s one of the favorites amongst the players and caddies and um obviously with his story of uh being in prison. I mean he he has seen kind of the some dark places and um to get here and and to to see these crowds and to be in this moment is is very special for him. Thanks for your time, Harris. We appreciate it. All right. Sam Burns joins us now at the 2025 Ryder Cup. Sam, welcome to your second RDER Cup. Let’s go ahead and jump right into some questions here. Mike 16. Uh, hey Sam. Um, just wanted to ask you about your relationship with with Donald Trump obviously coming tomorrow. Um, I think he said after the BMW Championship that you could eat safely in Washington DC now, but I just wanted to expand on your relationship and what it means to you for him coming tomorrow. Yeah, I think it’s uh it’s a huge honor to have our president come to this event and support our team. Um, you know, this is about representing our country and representing the United States of America and who better to represent that than the president. So, I think we’re all excited right here on three. Cameron, making your RDER Cup debut a couple years ago in Rome. How much are you looking forward to being able to experience this atmosphere at home this time? Yeah, for sure. I mean, it’s, you know, it’s obviously very different playing away versus home. Uh, and I I haven’t experienced a Ryder Cup at home yet, but you know, just these last couple days with having the the support of the fans out here. Um, and then, you know, playing a President’s Cup in Charlotte, pretty similar. So, it’s been great. I think, you know, these these New York fans are very excited to have us here and they love their sports and um, you know, we’re going to try to go out there and give them a show and, uh, play our best and, uh, hopefully kind of feed into that support. How much of what happened in Rome has kind of been on your mind or maybe even a sour taste in your mouth over the past couple of years? Yeah, I think as you know, as competitors, um, you know, losing is never fun. Um, you know, it doesn’t matter what what sport or what game, whatever it is, you know, losing sucks in general. Um, and so I think, you know, for me and and for us, um, you know, we we want to use that those memories as fuel this week. and um you know as we prepare just I think everyone that was on that team or watched uh you know vividly remembers what that feels like and so you know you you don’t want that feeling again. Go over to nine starting with Dylan. What do you love so much about match play? You’ve had a bunch of success. Well, I think for one, it’s it’s such a different style than what we typically are used to week in and week out. Um, you know, it’s either me and someone else against two other people or you against the person standing on the tea, you know, with you. And so I think it’s just a totally different different animal. Um, and it’s, you know, a lot of times like if you make a mistake on a hole, you make a big number on a hole, the worst thing that can happen is you lose one hole. Um, and I think that’s the really cool part of match play is, you know, things can happen um, you know, in a weird way that you typically don’t see in stroke play. And so I think, you know, you see big swings in matches or pivotal moments in matches, uh, where you can really use momentum. Um, so stuff like that. I think I enjoy that part of it. Did you see Coach O out here this week? Of course. Yeah. Do you guys have a relationship? Uh, a little bit. Um I I’ve seen him a few times um you know since our time at LSU, but um it was great seeing him out here and you know he obviously loves being out with the fans and kind of spurring them on. Um he’s a perfect perfect person for that. Go ahead. Hey Sam. Uh, obviously uh being a being a good putter requires technical skills, but I’m wondering like weeks like this, how much of um the guys who really thrive, how much how much of it is managing your nerves over, you know, those sort of five to eight footers? Yeah, I think uh for me personally, you know, I try to approach it the same as any other putt. Um, you know, for me, I try to first off read it the the correct way. Um, and then, you know, I try to keep putting as simple as possible. I think there’s so many things that happen after you hit a putt that out of your control that, you know, whether it hits a spike mark or an imperfection in the green or the wind blows it, there’s just so many things that can happen. So for me, you know, I try to read it, start it on the line I want to with the right speed and after that whatever happens happens. Um, and I think that’s the best way to approach putting for myself. But that element of like controlling the jitters, I mean, I imagine you guys all feel it no matter how good a putter you are. I mean, is there anything you do in particular that sort of helps you manage that piece of it? Yeah, sure. I think, you know, for starters, you know, making sure that you, you know, putt when you’re ready to putt. Um, I think sometimes things can happen kind of quickly and so just making sure you’re kind of settled in and um, you know, not rushing it or or making sure you take the appropriate amount of time to to kind of settle into your routine. Um, but yeah, there’s definitely nerves, there’s definitely excitement. Um, it’s just, you know, kind of settling yourself down and realizing that, you know, a sixfooter is a sixfooter. Um it’s it’s a lot more difficult to do uh when you’re out there, but I think that’s the kind of simplest form of of doing that. Dan, go ahead. Yeah, there’s been a lot of talk about the money this week and and the stipen. What What do you make of this notion that if guys are getting paid or then somehow it’s, you know, it’s not as pure or they’re not playing for their country in some way? Yeah, I to be honest, um you know, my personal opinion is I’m extremely grateful. um that the PJ of America is doing this. I live in a small town in Louisiana um and that that that amount of money um in that community um for those charities is going to go a long ways. And so for me personally uh it’s going to have a huge impact on on our community. Um and I I’m just extremely grateful that we get that opportunity. And then yesterday Luke Donald said in the he said, you know, we’re not here for prize money. Did you guys take that as sort of a subtle jab? I mean, to be honest, like for us, you know, being able to to steward that money in our own communities at home, um, you know, I think that’s a great thing and I think uh the PJ of America given this opportunity for us to do that uh is really special. Up to Mike Five. Uh, hey Sam, over here. Uh, having played in a Ryder Cup before, how different are those interactions with the Europeans that you’re playing with as opposed to maybe a guy or two that you’re playing with on in a normal PGA Tour event? Yeah, there’s probably a little less a lot less small talk. Um, you know, I think in a normal week, you know, a normal PGA tour round, um, you know, time between shots, you’re usually talking about something, you know, families and kids or, you know, whatever it is. But um this week I think you’re just kind of a little more focused on um you know either talking with your your teammate or whoever you’re playing with um your caddy. Uh you’re just a little more focused on kind of your your little bubble. Was there a lot of chirping involved the the last time in Rome? Yeah. Um not necessarily. Not that I really recall. We’ll finish up way up top there. 16. Hi Sam. U back on the topic of uh putting with you know black typically having um very subtle breaks. There’s not a ton of undulation on them. Just curious any insight into your green reading process if that changes things or your final thought you know before pulling the trigger on maybe it’s straight a little bit of break. How do you you know what’s the last thought in your head there? Uh I would say the last thought is I mean you know for me it’s it’s committing to a line that I’ve read. I think the worst thing you can do in putting is kind of be unsure. Um because a lot of times if you’re unsure, you don’t really make a good stroke or don’t really have good speed. Um so really it’s just committing to that line, trying to make a good stroke, and then being able to accept the result. Thank you. Thanks for your time, Sam. We appreciate it. Ben Griffin is with us now at the 2025 Ryder Cup. Ben, welcome to your first RDER Cup. We’ll go ahead and jump into questions starting right here with Adam. Ben, um, this nickname Benny Booms, who coined it? Do you like it and do you think it’s gonna stick? Uh, I think Eric Ly came up with it in his video that he did of me at uh the St. Jude uh in Memphis uh FedEx St. Jude. Um I don’t know if it’s going to stick or not, but it seems like uh it stuck with you. So Cameron Ben, I remember we spoke in Houston and you had play that was your 12th straight week. Ended up playing 13 weeks trying to qualify for the Masters. when you look back 6 months ago to where you’re sitting now, how do you try to encapsulate everything that’s happened in your career? Yeah, it’s been a busy year for me. Um, played a lot of events for sure. Um, I felt like this year it’s kind of um I’ve played for a lot kind of every single week. Um, I’ve built my game up a lot over the over the course of the season. You know, if you look at where I was at at the start of the year, kind of one of those guys who was had finished between 50 and 60 on the FedEx Cup the previous two seasons. Um, this year obviously was more breakthrough, but kind of going through the season, I was kind of gradually getting closer and closer to kind of getting to the next step on of professional golf and the PJ tour of like getting into the signature events, getting into the majors. Um, and I felt like I did a really good job of kind of letting my game not wander off and and staying focused to the plan and um, just continuing to build. And so that’s why I kind of competed 13 straight weeks was I was only going to play six, but I was playing well and I was like, “All right, I’m gonna go play in Mexico.” Um, started playing well, had a couple top fives in a row in Mexico and also um the Cognizant that got me into Bay Hill because of the AON swing five. Um, I’m in the signature events now kind of and so now I’ve got to add those to my schedule. Going in this season, I wasn’t necessarily in those so I was maybe thinking about taking a week off somewhere in there. So I just kind of continued to qualify and Unfortunately, I fell, you know, fractionally short of making the Masters being 51 in the world. And it came down to, you know, Michael Kim’s putt on the last hole was the difference between him being in that field and me being in that field, which is crazy. Really crazy to for that to happen. I don’t think that’s ever really happened um going into the that last Masters cutoff. So, I had a couple weeks there and then started came out of those two weeks and and won the Zur Classic with Andrew. So, now I’ve kind of broken through as a PJ tour winner. um built a lot of confidence and then I kind of parlayed that into winning the Charles Schwab and and finishing top 10 at the PGA and all these I just kind of gradually got more and more momentum as the season kind of progressed and and continued to believe in myself. Um and gained a ton of confidence every single week I played and then this summer was uh pretty much just consistent top 15s. Um if you look at my last like I think it’s my last 13 or 14 events I’ve finished top 15 almost every week and um it’s been really solid golf. I haven’t been on in the mix as much as I was kind of in the spring, but then got back in the mix in Napa. Napa was a weird week because I felt like we were I was just bonding with all my teammates most of the week and then I kind of woke up on 17 or 16. I’m like, “Oh, I’ve got a chance to win this right now.” Even though I had the lead all week, it was just um it was an interesting week as a competing as a PJ tour player because a lot of those guys were kind of like me maybe the previous two season they’re two seasons they’re grinding to try to finish in the top 60 on the FX fall or grinding to keep their PJ tour card. For me, I that’s a that was a free week. Um and so I was just going out there trying to gain confidence going into this week and sure enough got in the mix and it was good to feel some of those nerves and um you know get those feelings down the stretch because there’s no doubt I’m going to have some of those same feelings um going into this week. Sorry for the long answer. Yep. How would you then describe your comfort level here in the last couple days um in terms of nerves and have you picked up any kind of advice on staying calm come tomorrow? Yeah, I think everyone on this team’s here for the the right reasons. We’re all um very accomplished golfers and believe in ourselves a lot and have a ton of confidence and um you know, just because I’m a rookie doesn’t mean I’m I’m nervous and and don’t know what I’m doing out there. I feel very calm, composed, and um honestly really excited. Um it’s been really fun getting to know every every guy on this team more. Um I knew everyone going into even before the selections were even going on with the Ryder Cup and um this team’s actually much closer than what a lot’s portrayed out there. Um we’re having a ton of fun in the team rooms. Um Captain Keegan’s doing an awesome job of keeping us all focused on the task at hand, but also making sure we’re embracing all these moments together. Um, and it’s been incredible out there with the fans early on in this week. I know it’s going to get even crazier, but um, yeah, I feel very relaxed and calm right now. Now, I know when I go through that tunnel in the first TE on on Friday, it’s going to be there’s going to be a lot more emotions that go go through, but um, I’m ready for it. Top right corner there, 15. Ben, you’ve been grouped with Bryson in practice each of the last three days. As you’ve played together, what have you learned about him as a teammate, and what have the crowds following you guys been like? I out drove him once, so I’m feeling pretty good. Um, no, Bryson’s amazing. He’s uh he’s been awesome to uh to have on this team. He’s a huge asset for us. Uh played a lot of golf with him this week. Uh had gotten to know him prior um not only in Napa, but but previous to that. And so um he’s got an incredible amount of talent. It’s been awesome to honestly talk to him about his thoughts on equipment and his process and learn about kind of how he goes through um through his process cuz it’s a lot different than what all of us do um if you just look at it from an equipment side and and green reading and everything like that. So, it’s been cool to it’s cool because these these team events is um you finally feel comfortable asking other competitors how they think about things, what they work on. When you’re playing in regular tour events, no one wants to really share much. You kind of stick to your own stuff. And so, it’s really cool to kind of learn from every guy and and how they think about um think their way around golf courses. Um and yeah, Bryson’s just an example of of one that’s maybe a little bit more unique than the rest of the teammates. Dan, go ahead. Guys in the past have said that it wasn’t until their first Rder Cup that they really felt like they sort of belonged or there’s a sort of shift that happens when you get to that level. Can can you understand why guys say that? Yeah, I think there’s maybe um not necessarily like an intimidation factor when you first get on tour, but there’s definitely a a separation you feel between being like a rookie on tour and being a top player. When you’re a top player, you’re kind of around top players a lot, whether it’s tea times on the PJ tour. You’re grouped together all the time if you’re a major champion or a PJ tour winner. So, you’re never really around the the guys that are at the top. So, my first two years on tour, I hadn’t won on I hadn’t won. So, I’d never played around with Justin Thomas, never played around with Jordan Speed, never played around with Ricky Fowl. there’s a ton of, you know, top names in golf at the time when when I just turned pro um that I just never would kind of see because I’m in different tea time waves and then on the weekends it’s you don’t know what you’re going to get. But if you’re grouped in a certain tea time wave early and you finish at the same time as maybe the guys you’re playing with, you’re probably playing with those same guys if you have the same score on the weekend on Saturday. So unless you get kind of paired at the top on Sundays, you’re you’re not playing with a lot of those guys. So it’s hard to build those friendships early on tour. Now, when you start playing really well and you kind of work your way to a top player, you kind of get closer with the guys that you’re you’re closest around. So, um you know, I’m still friends with a lot of a lot of guys on the Cornferry tour and a lot of guys that are strug are grinding right now to kind of keep their PJ tour cards, but now I’m also getting introduced to more guys that are, you know, elite players in this game. So, I have a huge mix of friendships right now, which is interesting. And you kind of I feel like you see that in all sorts of in any realm of life. kind of your closest friends are the ones you’re you’re hanging out hanging out with the most or around the most whether it’s in work or outside of work. And you know, being a PJ tour golfer, it’s pretty much work around the clock unless you’re home in an off week, you don’t know if other guys are going to be home that off week or if they’re playing somewhere. So, you’re kind of always around the guys that you’re paired with or um if you’re playing really well, the guys you’re with on the weekend and tour events, but even final rounds in tour events, you’re not talking to your competitor that much, especially if they’re a top player because you’re trying to win the golf tournament. So, it’s hard to kind of break in and and become friends with guys that you’re not that you haven’t been around much. So, if you look at a guy like me, I I had never went on tour until April. So, you know, I I played practice rounds with Justin Thomas before, but I I had never gotten really that close with him until kind of this summer. Um, and you look at other guys on the team. I mean, Scotty, Sam Burns, Colin I’ve known since junior golf, but everyone’s kind of on their own their own schedules. And if I’m in different tea time groupings on tour events, I’m not just not going to see them very much. Um, and so it’s interesting how that dynamic works. But, um, yeah, I feel like I have friends that are are grinding on the PJ Americas, guys that are grinding on the Cornfair Tour because I’ve kind of had this pretty quick trajectory in golf where I still have friends that are kind of trying to break through. Back up top to Paul up 16. And these events tend to bring out different sides of players. Do you have a sense of what you’ll be like in big moments when they happen on the course, animated, subdued? Do you kind of know what you’re going to feel? Um, I definitely will will feed some emotions off with the crowd. Um, there’s no doubt about that. We see it from every player. Um, hopefully we get some emotion from Cameron Young this week. I think we will. Um, but no, I mean, most tour events you just don’t you don’t have that because we we don’t play match play very much uh or ever now. um you know, it’s really just here and and in match play, the format just brings that out because in stroke play events, like if you’re fist pumping on Friday or Saturday, it’s not as meaningful when you’re when you’re fist pumping because you made a putt and it’s to go one up with three to play has a lot of meaning. Um because you’re playing each and every match is so important. You’re playing, you know, five tournaments within this one tournament. Every single round you’re playing if you’re playing five matches. And so it’s a different um you’re you’re mentally you’re going through your rounds differently than you would in any other tour event. Because of that, emotions are going to come out more often. That’s why everyone loves the RDER Cup. Um and I’m sure I will have some great reactions out there. I hope to have a lot. Um but I haven’t planned anything out. I think it’s all going to be raw and and real in real time. And I don’t know what my body’s going to do in those certain moments, but hopefully it looks cool. Over to nine. Yep. Uh Ben, I’m wondering, are you aware of the Benny Boon’s uh nickname? I am. What is the origin story behind it? Yeah, like Allan. Um Allan Adam. Adam, sorry. Um like Adam said, um Eric Ly, he’s a content creator. Um I think he started that uh in a video that we did at the FedEx St. Jude Classic um or St. 2 championship um for the playoffs and I think people commented on it and people needed a nickname for me because I’m a new face and I guess that one’s landed for now. I’ve also heard a lot of Beth Page Benny’s over the last like four months. I I might like that one a little bit more. But hey, people can can say what they want. I’m all open to free speech. You have a nickname. Hey Ben, uh how many players on the US team would you say are capable of driving the green at one? Um maybe one. Um it’s only in the right I mean right now looks like the flags are going down. It’s a little rainy, but I bet if Bryson went out there right now, he could probably do it. I mean I witnessed him do it um two days ago. Um everyone else is just probably playing it to the left. Um I know I certainly am right now. Um the wind’s got to be right. It’s got to be hot. It’s probably got to be pretty loud. What would you What would you handicap the odds in in the in the optimal conditions of of Bryson driving the green there? If you if you gave him 10 balls, is he going to hit the If I gave him 10 balls in the right conditions if he knows he can get it there, I mean, he’s going to hit three probably on the surface or on the French and five are going to be like in a bunker or on the green and then add another two that are going to be like 20 yards left and maybe one or two right. I mean, I don’t know, maybe one bad one, but yeah, hitting it pretty pretty good right now. Um, I played a lot with him and, uh, he’s pretty confident. Finish up right here on seven. Thanks. Hi, Ben. Um, golf is essentially a solitary sport as you’ve said, and the Ryder Cup is one of those exceptions. How much have you bought into the team concept? What do you enjoy most about it, and how much are you looking forward to that first tea experience when it eventually comes around? Yeah, this has been one of the the coolest weeks ever and it’s one that I haven’t really experienced since uh the Windham Cup AJ event in junior golf where I was honestly I was competing against Scotty Sheffller and Sam Burns who were representing the west side of the Mississippi and I was on the east side so my teammates would have been um you know Davis Riley um Doug Gam I believe uh Illinois I got to look at a map but um a lot of PJ tour players played in that and that’s the last time I’ve kind of experienced a true team against team event. Actually, I take that back. Um, when I was on the Canadian tour, the Mackenzie tour at the time, it was the last year they had what was the called the Aruba Cup, but we ended up doing it in I think Kamel or Cancun. Um, where the top 12 players from Canada played the top 12 guys who finished on that money list from or maybe it was top 10 from the Latin America Tour. So, that was seven years ago. Um, end of the summer of 2018. Um, so I haven’t had that much experience. I mean, at least in the last seven years, other than playing in the Zurich Classic, um, where I’ve felt like I’ve had a team, even though it was a small team with Andrew this past year. Um, but it’s been uh it’s been really cool again like learning from other guys and just being together with guys who all who all have the same common goal. Like sure, every week on tour you have a common goal of trying to win the tournament, but but you’re not working together to win that tournament. You’re working individually to win that tournament and beat the guy you’re you’re talking to. Um and so in this team format, it’s just really cool to um to pull for each and every guy on the team. And everyone’s just closer because of it. Um you know, a guy, for example, a guy like Patrick Antlay, who’s not going to, you know, he’s going to go about his business on a normal PJ tour week, a week like this, I I’ve gotten to know Patrick way more. And um it’s really cool to see him buy into this full team format. And he’ll do anything and everything for every single guy on this team. And that’s what’s so cool and what’s not seen because it’s behind closed doors. But um it’s really cool to see how close this team really is. And you know, I had no I didn’t know what a Ryder Cup was really like. I mean, even at the start of this year or two years ago, I don’t know what previous teams were like. I don’t know what other captaincies were like, but seeing it right now, I mean, it’s truly indescribable how how how kind of close we all are kind of getting, how much time we spend with each other. We we are on our own schedules a little bit in terms of like working out and physio and and sleep. But I’ll tell you that we’re together all the time and it’s been really really cool and it’s uh memories I’ll I’ll be able to have for the rest of my life. First tea. Are you looking forward to that? Quite an experience. Absolutely. It’s going to be insane. But yeah, I’m really excited to go through that tunnel and um and hear the crowd and and um fire off a good one. Thanks for your time, Ben. We appreciate it. Thank you. Appreciate it.