WALKER CUP

May 8, 2021

William Mouw

Seminole Golf Club

United States Press Conference

Q. We're joined by William Mouw. You were a quick sub in and I would like to know from your perspective how you prepare for that. How were you mentally and what was that experience for you?

WILLIAM MOUW: Yeah, I mean, with what's going around our team right now, you just don't really know what's going to happen. I got all dressed up ready to go out there, support the team.

I was talking with my caddie in the caddie yard and got a call from Robby, and he says, "Hey, William, I need you down by the range. I need to talk to you." So I went to the range and saw Ty was struggling a little bit, and first my concerns were on Ty to see how he was doing, and he was struggling a little bit, and he said, "You know what, I don't know if I'm going to be able to play the afternoon, would you mind taking my spot," and I said, "Yeah, I'm ready," and I was -- sure enough, I teed off in about 35 minutes and hit my balls and I was ready to go.

Q. How much were you fired up from the morning and maybe that was a good thing that you got to play after all?

WILLIAM MOUW: Absolutely, yeah. Stew and I played pretty decent. GB&I made a really good putt on 17 that kind of killed our momentum, but yeah, I was real fired up and disappointed that we didn't get the W in the morning. It really encouraged me to get the win and play hard in the afternoon, which I did.

Q. I've sort of lost track at this point, who has been sick and who hasn't? Can I ask your status?

WILLIAM MOUW: Yeah, my personal status, I'm doing well. I mean, I think eight or nine out of the 12 guys have gotten it already. I think it's died down now, so I hope both teams are going to do well for tomorrow and stay healthy.

Q. Were you ever one of those guys?

WILLIAM MOUW: I was. I was. Thursday night it was a brutal night. It's like Captain said, it's a 24- to 36-hour virus or whatever you want to call it. But yeah, just stay hydrated and get the IVs flowing.

Q. You could probably speak to this then very well. It was a long, hot 36-hole day, dehydrating in itself. Do you feel as if today may have set you back in your kind of recovery? Do you think that might be an issue for some of your teammates, even some of GB&I? Physically what did today do to -- what did it take out of you?

WILLIAM MOUW: Yeah, no, today was -- you go into these fun events thinking, I'm going to play 36 holes for the team, and I think just knowing that, you're mentally ready for anything that comes your way.

I think with some of our guys being down, I think just keep the fluids up and stay hydrated and keep eating. It takes a lot out of you, 36 holes, but if you're mentally prepared, I think you'll be just fine, so yeah.

Q. How do you prepare for greens that are as quick as these?

WILLIAM MOUW: Yeah, these -- during our practice round, we knew they were going to get a stimp or two faster. Just putting the faster putts around the greens, really seeing where the grain is going, where's the falloffs. Most importantly leaving yourself into-the-wind putts or into-the-wind chips. But yeah, these are difficult greens and you've just got to know where you can miss, and if you are out of position you've got to putt a little defensive.

But there's definitely green lights if you hit in the right areas where you can be aggressive. As strategic as a team, we're trying to hit it there.

Q. When you say defensive, could you elaborate a little more on that?

WILLIAM MOUW: Yeah, if your partner is inside of you, you're just lagging it up there as close as you can. If it goes in, great. If not, it's a tap-in. So I think that's the mindset that I have had and the team has had, as well, with these quick greens.

Q. Are there any drills in particular that you work on with quicker greens, or is it the same --

WILLIAM MOUW: I think it's just the same. I think most of these greens we play for our tournaments have been pretty fast, but these are a little quicker, and we're used to them, but I think just putting on them, getting practice on the green in the mornings and just, again, being mentally prepared for the fast greens is really huge.