EURASIA CUP presented by DRB-HICOM
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Darren Clarke Quick Quotes
Q. You must be an extremely happy man?
DARREN CLARKE: Yeah, the team have played fantastic this week. I’ve
thrown a couple of my ideas at them and aside from that, the team
bonding that they have had — Lee and Poults, both of them 100 per
cent. Lee to get the winning point, it’s brilliant. You know what
those two have brought to the team room is priceless. They have been
very, very good. All the young kids have listened to them. They have
all learnt from them.
I think it’s been a hugely beneficial week. Let’s not forget we’ve
still got a lot of matches to go but I wanted every guy to think about
their own match and not watch the leaderboards. It’s a difficult thing
to do but they have obviously, all the golf I’ve watched, they have
played brilliantly again. This team was a strong team and the way
Europe have played this week, I have been very, very impressed.
Q. How important will this week prove to be for you as a captain,
looking forward to The Ryder Cup?
DARREN CLARKE: Yeah, I think there’s a lot of things that I’ve learnt
this week. Time being one of them, I don’t have an awful lot of. There
have been a lot of positives this week. Obviously looking towards some
Ryder Cup things that’s going to come together. I’ve learnt a few
things, and hopefully I’ll do a better job come September. But if the
players don’t play and don’t perform, you can be the best captain in
the world and you’re not going to win. This belongs to the players;
the quality of the golf this week has been brilliant.
Q. Everyone has been extremely complimentary to you as a captain. Have
you enjoyed it?
DARREN CLARKE: I’ve enjoyed it immensely. It’s been a wonderful
learning experience for me. I’ve been around the game a long time and
done most things in the game and been fortunate to do so.
This is different. I really enjoyed it. The guys seemed to listen to
what I had to say, and if my little part of it has helped them along,
then well be it. I’m really looking forward now to, we’ll go back out
the next couple weeks and sit down with The European Tour and figure
out what I did well as a captain or what I could have done better and
work on those areas and hopefully become — get the whole package even
better for September.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
EURASIA CUP presented by DRB-HICOM
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Lee Westwood Quick Quotes
LEE WESTWOOD: I think everybody has played well this week and
obviously contributed. That’s why the score line has ended up as it
is.
Q. Satisfied with your part you played in it, as well?
LEE WESTWOOD: I didn’t hit many balls over the winter break there. But
still felt I did a bit of gym work and still felt I was going to come
out and carry on from Thailand, and I did that. Hit the ball pretty
well this week and obviously won three points, so it’s nice to
contribute.
Q. You don’t like this phrase, elder statesmen, but people have been
looking up to you. Have you enjoyed that responsibility?
LEE WESTWOOD: Yeah, I do. You can’t help getting a bit older, can you.
There’s young lads on this team and ones that are going to be playing
in The Ryder Cup obviously later on in the year. This is going to be a
great experience for them, just feeding them into team golf gradually.
And I’m sure they will benefit from this week. Nothing but positives
to come out.
Q. I gather Darren said I would be happy to take all 12 of you, which
is saying something for Europe over the whole anyway, isn’t it?
LEE WESTWOOD: Yeah, well, it’s obviously not going to be this 12
because there’s a lot of other great European golfers, but I know what
he means. This is a very strong European side we sent over trying to
win this, knowing Asia would put up a stiff sort of defense on their
home turf, and it was a strong side and we’ve all played well. I’m
sure Darren’s delighted.
Q. From a personal point of view, good to start of year in this kind of fashion?
LEE WESTWOOD: Well, last year was a bit disappointing. I didn’t play
as well as I would have liked but I feel like the swing is coming
along all the time and I’m starting to hit it like I feel I can hit it
and rolling in a few putts, as well, which is always necessary.
Looking forward to getting going in Abu Dhabi next week.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
EURASIA CUP presented by DRB-HICOM
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Ian Poulter Quick Quotes
IAN POULTER: Danny had nothing to lose, did he. So I had to come out
and play strong. That’s what I did today. I played pretty solid. A
couple of sloppy holes but to be honest, I played well and holed some
decent putts and obviously made it very difficult for him.
Q. Elaborate on the putting, and to clinch the match itself?
IAN POULTER: Obviously want to close this match out as early as
possible and get back out to see the lads. A little extra
concentration on the 25 footer and obviously rolled it in the middle.
Q. You’ve said throughout it’s a team event, but from a personal point
of view, it’s nice to have this form at the start of the year?
IAN POULTER: It’s always nice to play match-play golf whether it’s the
start or the end. It’s nice to get that buzz out on the golf course
to, get that nervous feeling going, and I played good golf, so I’m
pretty happy.
Q. Going to be a big year, isn’t it?
IAN POULTER: I hope so. I’m looking forward to 2016. I need to get
back to business and see if I can take care of a couple of wins.
Q. Good for The European Team?
IAN POULTER: We have got a very, very young team out here this week. A
lot of these guys playing this week are going to be putting that shirt
on come what September. So this is good for them. It’s good to have
that team room experience. And the guys that make it come September
obviously are going to feel pretty good.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
