THE RYDER CUP

September 24, 2021

Justin Thomas

Patrick Cantlay

Whistling Straits

Press Conference

Friday Afternoon Fourballs

JOHN DEVER: Welcome to the 43rd Ryder Cup.

Q. You were in two dogfights today. How tired are you?

JUSTIN THOMAS: I've lost a bit of my voice. I was yelling a little bit. That's what this event is all about. I mean, to have the opportunity to go out and battle like that with Patrick, we've played a lot of golf together over junior years, amateur years, college, professional, and for me to be able to pull one for him, making putts, and vice versa, it was fun. Because I've unfortunately battled against him many times where I don't want him to make those putts and he does. It was fun for us to go out and get a halve out there.

Q. I saw some emotion from you today. That was fun to see. Was that because of the team atmosphere?

PATRICK CANTLAY: For sure, feeding off J.T. a little bit. He carried me around all day today and he played great, and it was a dogfight. I thought 3-1 and 3-1 in the two sessions, that's a great start. Hopefully we can keep the pedal down and keep doing more of the same.

Q. Is it more physically exhausting or more mentally draining going through this?

JUSTIN THOMAS: Right now, I don't know. I'm still amped up. Still got a lot of adrenaline. Just now seeing the video of Bryson hitting on the front green on 5 it looks like.

I mean, it's both, but it's just one of those -- one of those weeks where you're just -- so much adrenaline, you're going. But man, once Monday or Tuesday next week comes, it's a crash.

Q. Not everyone wants the ball in their hand on the 18th hole with everyone watching. Can you just describe what that moment is like, what you may be feeling inside?

JUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah, I said to Pat walking off 17, there's not really two better people in the world I would love walking up this hole right now needing to win. I mean, we're two great players. We've done a lot of things. We have a lot of belief in each other, and it's just -- it's fun because this is what we love to do. This is our job, but the opportunity to do this in front of our fans and do it, the opportunity to be the last match of the day, we fought like hell to halve that match.

It's just -- it's fun. You want to be in that spot and it is nerve-wracking. Don't get me wrong. You know it beats not being there I guess.

PATRICK CANTLAY: I think it's exactly why we practice and do what we do, and getting in that moment, for me at least, makes it even easier to focus. I'm so present and so ready for the moment that it's everything I've been preparing for, so it's the best.