THE WALKER CUP

September 2, 2023

Mark Power

Quick Quotes

Q. How did you do that?

MARK POWER: Do you know what, I just felt like I was giving myself some looks on the front nine. I just wasn't getting the ball to the hole. I had a bunch of putts, but they were about 15- to 20-foot range, and I knew if I just gave myself something a little bit closer, got a little bit of momentum, I could put some pressure on him.

I knew the way the wind was going on the back nine, it was going to be tough for a lefty, so I said just give myself a chance, and lucky I got a couple breaks, made a couple nice putts, and that tee shot on the last was nice.

Q. How did it feel once you started building the momentum, 3-down after 10, 11 --

MARK POWER: Felt great. I was feeding off the crowd. The crowd is just unbelievable.

I wasn't sure -- when I heard the numbers this week, I was obviously so excited, but I've never played in front of a crowd this big, so you never know how exactly you're going to feel in front of it, but just felt great.

Even though I actually didn't feel like I was playing great, I just tried to grind it out and just find a way to get it done.

Q. Did it feel extra special after the morning match with Barclay to get some --

MARK POWER: Absolutely, yeah. We were in a decent position after 11 holes this morning, and I hit a poor tee shot on 12, cost us the hole, and I feel like the momentum flipped a little bit, and I felt like I had a little bit of responsibility. So I wanted to come out this afternoon and get a point and kind of just balance that out.

Q. You holed that really big putt for the half on 11, then obviously you win 2, so that's a two-hole swing. Was that kind of where the match changed?

MARK POWER: Yeah, I would say so, yeah. I hit a poor first putt on 11, but it was up such a slope, and if you don't quite strike your putts up those slopes, they just don't roll at all. That's I felt like what happened.

But I holed a nice 12-footer just to keep letting him know that I'm still there; I'm not going to lie down. Just got a really nice run going, made a few nice birdies.

There was a couple tough pins. I felt even a couple pars there coming in were big. Just really happy with that.

Q. Just going back to yesterday evening, raising the flag for Ireland, where does that rank not only in your career but in your life as a moment?

MARK POWER: Yeah, making that Walker Cup last time around was there, but this whole week has topped that. Regardless of how the rest of the week goes, raising that flag in front of the Old Course or in front of the clubhouse, it's just an unbelievable feeling. Almost loss for words. I'm on such a buzz after that.

This place is special. Just these last few holes having a chance to win a match is just unbelievable.

Yeah, just going to try to let it sink, but obviously we have a job to do tomorrow, so focus will need to be kind of regained.

Q. GB&I now in the lead going into tomorrow's matches. How big is that?

MARK POWER: Very good, yeah. I actually haven't quite had a look at the scores, but that's great.

We came out this morning with a nice lead, and our obviously main goal was to just not lie down. We know the Americans are unbelievable players, and they're going to be hungry to try and balance it out.

To be up is great, but we have to keep the momentum going in the morning.

Hopefully we can get it done. It would be so special if we got it done here on 18 green come Sunday afternoon.