WALKER CUP

May 8, 2021

Stuart Wilson

Seminole Golf Club

Golf Channel Interview

Q. The Americans lead after the first day. What are your thoughts after what you've seen so far?

STUART WILSON: Yeah, obviously it's been a hard-fought day. The foursomes were all very tight going up the last hole. I think that's kind of reflected on the whole match really. I think the result is probably tighter than it would suggest. I think the guys are doing a great job, but if they could just tighten up a couple little things, I think it'll be able to play for tomorrow.

Q. As a player in 2003, you won a couple of points for the GB&I team in a victory that year. That was 18 years ago. Now you're the captain. What's the difference between competing and being the captain and watching the guys compete?

STUART WILSON: Yeah, yeah, that's a good question. I think I'd probably still like to be in the team, to be fair, watching them play. It would be great. But it's a special thing if you're asked to be captain without a doubt, especially with the Walker Cup. It's such a great match, and we're having such a good time with both teams and getting to know Nathaniel and things. It's what the match is all about. Good friendly competition.

Yeah, I'm really enjoying the role of captain, and I'll be sad when it's over come Sunday, but we've still got a whole job to focus on and get the job done.

Q. What will your message be to the guys before they go out on Sunday?

STUART WILSON: Yeah, well, it's probably been the same as it has been all week. We've been talking about a number of things that are key messages, and they've applied some of it, I would say, today, but there's still some of it that -- like I say, sharpen on a few things. No. 17 was playing really tough today. I didn't see anybody hit the green. Just wee things like that to keep the momentum going and hit the greens and hole the putts basically. It always comes down to the putting.

Q. Paul McGinley came by. As a Ryder Cup legend, you guys were chatting a little bit. How much do you lean on a veteran like a Paul McGinley or other people who you know in the game who have been in this position before so that you can excel in your spot to put your guys in the best position they can be in to pull off an upset victory?

STUART WILSON: Yeah, so Paul was a Walker Cup player, as well, and then he obviously went on to -- used that as a stepping-stone on to greater things. He came down earlier in the week to walk a few holes with the guys and chat to them, and I think whether it's Ryder Cup, Walker Cup, anything like that, the messaging is always the same for these team events, and yeah, it was a great resource to have Paul there, and to see him out today, as well, supporting us was really nice of him to come along.