THE RYDER CUP

September 24, 2021

Sergio Garcia

Jon Rahm

Whistling Straits

Press Conference

Friday Morning Foursomes

Q. How did it feel going out this morning, first group, knowing what your job was to put a point on the board facing the most famous of the American Team that you're going to have out here this week, how did it feel going out this morning and taking care of business?

SERGIO GARCIA: It felt great, but I knew who I had on my side and I wouldn't change him for anyone, it was amazing. He made every putt he had to make, and it was a good match. I mean, don't get me wrong. Jordan and Justin, they played well, and we had to play very, very well to beat them. So it was a well-played match and very happy to be able to get a point for Europe.

Q. Seemed like you were the complete pairing and team effort, did it feel the same to you as well?

JON RAHM: You were seeing and feeling exactly what we were feeling, and not that I'm a bad ball-striker, but when you have this guy hitting the ball it's easy to be relaxed. Even as silly as it may sound, the 4-footer on 1, perfect pace, and making it dead center gave me so much confidence that when I had a couple of chances I was able to make it.

That was the difference-maker; that we made a couple of putts at the right time. And momentum is a big thing in match play, and that's what you saw today.

Q. Just thoughts on satisfaction and feeling that goes with putting the first point on the board for Europe?

SERGIO GARCIA: Yeah, it's always amazing. Unfortunately it's not looking the way we wanted it to look. Like Jon and I were talking, went out there and we did what we had to do against a very difficult couple, American couple, and just excited that we could get the point for Europe and hopefully rally a little bit this afternoon.

Q. There's always fire in the Ryder Cup, but it seemed extra heat on 6, the short putt not given, and then on 7 and 8.

JON RAHM: It's all part of The Ryder Cup, right. It's a lot of times where people are going to try to play mind games. In my case, I have a foot and a half to tie or win holes, I will make it, honestly. It's always a bonus to see the ball go in the hole, and I feel like it did put a bit of an extra thought in our mind. Those two missed putts, I was thinking I'm not going to give them the chance to have to give it to them or not.

I feel like that's when it got into gear, I started really well after that and played nearly flawless golf. It's a lot easier when you have a robot off the tee with the irons, so all I had to do was help him make a few putts and not get in his way.

Q. With your experience and if we work on the reasonable basis of losing the session overall, how big of a task is it to get it turned around?

SERGIO GARCIA: It's not a big deal. It's just the first session. A lot of things can happen. We have a good session this afternoon and everything is back to normal. I know the guys are fighting hard and we know that, and we are here for them. So they are doing everything they can, and then we'll see what it ends up like. Just good afternoon and see what happens.

Q. This home crowd gets really behind the Americans, the momentum behind that, does that concern you?

SERGIO GARCIA: We know that's the way it's going to be. If they don't get behind them in the U.S., where are they going to get behind them? You expect that. That's something that you know is going to happen.

And, you know, we would love to play amazing golf, all of us, and win every single point, but that's not the case. It doesn't happen. It's a very good American Team and a very good European Team, and the matches are always going to be tight.