Sepp Straka sits down ahead of his second Ryder Cup to describe the unique nerves of that first-tee shot in Rome (“unlike anything”), how he manages pressure with routine, and why at Bethpage Black he’ll lean on teammates more than crowd energy. He shares how becoming a new dad reshaped his prep, why he feels “100% Austrian and 100% American,” and how Luke Donald’s communication helped through a chaotic playoff stretch. Plus: the boom of golf coverage in Austria, Europe’s continuity from Rome, and what makes the songs and culture different on each side.
Seb Straa joins us now at the 2025 Ryder Cup. Seb, welcome to your second Ryder Cup. Let’s go ahead and jump right into questions. Mike 14. Seb, how would you cons uh compare the nerves you experience in the Ryder Cup to nerves you experience anywhere else? And what do you do to overcome them? Uh yeah. Uh I would say unlike any nerves uh I’ve ever felt was that first T-shot in Rome. Um, and yeah, you know, you can prepare all you want. You won’t feel that way. Uh, but, uh, I think just experiencing the nerves and knowing you can pull off a golf shot. I think that’s, uh, despite the nerves, I think that’s very important. And, uh, yeah, the biggest thing for me is just focus on my routine and, um, kind of get lost in that. Uh, I think that’s what I’ve found helps the most. Do you find that it’s a relief once you’ve got that shot out the way, the first one? Yeah, definitely. I remember uh uh I was playing with Shane in the morning session uh in Rome and uh I duck hook the first uh T- shot in the left hay and um he came up to me and said, “Well, at least that’s over with. Now we can go play some golf.” Sean, how has it been for you prepping for this week given all that’s been happening with your family and away from the course? Uh yeah, it’s been great. Uh we’ve been very fortunate um that uh we’ve got a great team looking after uh our son. Uh we’re we’re blessed uh very lucky. Um he came came a little early and uh but it’s been it’s been great. Uh obviously wasn’t able to travel to to Wentworth uh like I wanted or I was planning to um before and uh but yeah, I mean my wife’s been incredible. Uh the the doctors have been incredible. Uh it’s allowed me to kind of uh dedicate a lot of time to to try to prepare for this at home and uh also spend spend a lot of time with my family. So uh yeah, it’s been it’s been really great. Doug, Seth, what’s the dynamic for you this week as a guy who’s described himself as 100% Austrian and 100% American? Uh yeah. Uh you know, tune in to the to the Austrian side. Um no, it’s uh it’s uh it’s great. you know, this this team is incredible. Uh it’s it’s been such an honor to be a part of uh in Rome and again and again here. Um we’ve got basically the same 12 guys. Uh Nikolai got in yesterday as well. Uh he’s he’s here. So uh it’s it’s just awesome to to kind of have that that family, that team around you and uh incredibly part of it. Will you will the crowd go easier on you or does it matter because you’re wearing blue and gold? Fortunately for me, I don’t know that much of the crowd knows who I am. So, uh I think that’s uh that’s helpful in that. Um but yeah, I think uh I think it’ll be a tough environment regardless. Um and uh yeah, really looking forward to the challenge. Dan, you guys talk about, you know, not knowing if they’re going to make this team and how stressful that is with everything else being perfect in their life with everything that was going on with you. Like, was it difficult on a personal level to try and put in the practice or was golf almost like a a refuge for you? Um, you know, it I would say, uh, you know, preparation up until probably up to the playoffs was was great. You know, I just it was everything was normal. And then, uh, right before the playoffs happened, that’s when things kind of got a little bit unsteady. Um, and so right around the playoff time, so leading into Memphis, uh, BMW week, uh, was close to zero preparation and, uh, obviously the last few weeks has been a lot more stable, so it’s been great. I’ve been able to prepare very well. And, um, but the, yeah, the the fact of not knowing whether you’re going to be on the team is always nerve-wracking, obviously. Uh I was bummed that I couldn’t uh you know show show off my game in Atlanta um or Memphis really and uh that was a bummer. But you know Luke has been incredible uh throughout the whole process. The communication’s been amazing um and I’ve talked with him a lot over the last month or two and uh yeah been very fortunate to to have him as a captain to lean on uh for advice off the golf course. you know, not not related to the RDER Cup. It’s been it’s been really great. Over here with Juan. So, Seb, I wonder since Rome, is there more people in Austria that know what the RDER Cup is? Uh, I think so. Yeah, I think so. Uh, it’s been, you know, it’s been great to see the support uh and the uh the coverage that we’ve gotten in the in the media in Austria over the last few years uh has been incredible. And uh yeah, golf continues to grow. Um, and yeah, hopefully uh we can we can keep growing it. Do you think that puts extra pressure on you? I mean, do you feel more responsibility in a way or um I don’t I don’t think so. Uh I I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself uh regardless. So, uh I think that’s where where most of my pressure comes from is internal. Uh probably too much at times. And uh but it’s just really really great to see kind of the the country rally around and the the Austrian golf scene grow a lot. Dylan Seb guys uh guys talk about how once you make one of these teams you’re that much more desperate to make sure you’re on the next one and the next one. Have you found that to be true? Yes, no doubt. Um you know before Rome um we were all asked what the Rder Cup means to us uh individually and I I’m glad I didn’t really have an answer because I didn’t really know. Um, and I thought it would be something you would kind of check off your your accomplishment list and then uh be okay with it, but it definitely is not. Uh, it’s uh it’s an honor every time uh to be a part of the team and uh you definitely want to do it that much more the next time around. Are there any specific teammates that you get a kick out of seeing in this team environment this week? Um, everybody, you know, uh, getting to see John and Tier is always great because obviously we don’t get to see him as much as we used to. Um, so getting to but just getting to spend time off the golf course with everybody is great. Uh, you know, in a regular PJ tour week, we have our families. Uh, we see each other on the on the course, may have lunch together, but uh, we don’t get to sp spend a lot of close time together. and um and yeah with the practice trip and and all the time we get to spend off the golf course together is is really incredible. Over here seven carame being that this is an away rider cup maybe how has your preparation been a little bit different? I know your schedule’s been different the last couple months too but how has the preparation been different being on the road compared to what it was two years ago? Yeah, it definitely changes. Um you know just uh I’d say the way you prepare mentally uh what you prepare for mentally in Rome. we were able to use the crowd and we tried to use the crowd uh to the best of our abilities and they were the crowd was incredible in Rome and very supportive and it was easy when you kind of had a rough stretch to to lean on them to energize you and that’s obviously not going to be the case here. So, I think it’s going to be a lot more um just leaning on your teammates uh in those situations uh because that’s probably most of the support you have out there. And uh yeah, I think that’s going to be kind of the key. Take one more from Mike 14, please. Seb, since you identify as both European or Austrian and American, I wonder how you feel about the songs that the fans sing and why the Americans can’t come up with some better ones. Yeah, the songs are great. Uh the songs in Europe are incredible. Uh it makes for a fun environment. Obviously, I’ve not been a part of one uh over here. Um but uh yeah, I think it’s just a little bit of a difference in in uh in cultures. You know, I think a lot of it comes from from soccer. Uh the the songs are uh a part of a part of that and uh I’d say over here it’s uh it’s a little bit less than that. So that that’s probably what I would I would go with. Great. Thanks for your time, Seb. We appreciate
