THE WALKER CUP

September 3, 2023

Stuart Wilson

Mark Power

John Gough

Press Conference

OLIVIA McMILLAN: Ladies and gentlemen, I am joined by members of the Great Britain & Ireland team. We have Mark Power, of course captain Stuart Wilson and John Gough. We'll head straight to the floor for questions.

Q. Sum up your feelings at the moment. Obviously a good position overnight and still in a good position going into the singles, but just slipped away in that sort of concluding singles.

STUART WILSON: Yeah, absolutely. It was a great performance from the boys yesterday to get those three points ahead and then still have a slight advantage going into singles. We were all still quite optimistic.

But I think -- yeah, the Americans just handled the conditions slightly better than us, and to be fair to the boys, without being too harsh or that, I'm sure they'll be quite disappointed in the way they played themselves.

They tried their hardest, but they didn't turn up with their "A" games this afternoon I would say in some matches. They'll be the ones that will feel it and hurt tomorrow, but the good thing is for them is they've got the future. They've got tomorrow. I'm sure they can start focusing on the next thing.

Q. John, you obviously had a tough opponent in Gordon Sargent but you pushed him all the way. Did you feel like that was maybe going to be a crucial match?

JOHN GOUGH: Yeah, I think personally I felt every match today was going to be crucial. Gordon has just won the McCormack Medal. Fantastic golfer. He's done so well so far in his amateur career, is still so young.

But at the end of the day you just had to see it as another opponent, and I think we had a great game. It didn't go any more than 1-up at any stage I don't think, up-and-down the whole way. It was just one of them games, obviously me on the other side of it, but it's one of them games where you don't want to see anyone lose.

It was a great game, and the Americans played really well.

But the boys with me, our team, we gave it everything we had, and I know that everyone would die for at least half a point.

I'm delighted to be here with this group of guys and this captain and all the officials and delighted -- well, relieved that it's finished with the stress of it all.

But I'm so proud and enjoyed every moment of it.

Q. John, could you just talk about the last few holes. You were through the green a couple of times, weren't you.

JOHN GOUGH: Yep. I was through the green a couple times. We both holed some good putts here and there. Hit a dodgy tee shot on 17, and I think that is what let the match get away. We both hit great tee shots on 18, and I'll give myself the putt for a two-putt, but I'll give him his.

Two birdies, it's just what you get when you play great opponents.

Q. What was the exchange when you agreed to give each other a putt on -- was it 16?

JOHN GOUGH: 16. He was a little closer than me. We both had disgusting left-to-righters and said, on to the next tee, and he agreed, so we went.

Q. John and Mark, you touched on what a great match it was to be involved in. Obviously disappointed that the result has not gone your way, but do you think in time this will be a match you look back on with a lot of fond memories, what a special experience it was this weekend?

MARK POWER: Yeah, absolutely. That U.S. Team is unbelievably talented. We all knew how highly ranked they were, and we tried to block it out, but I think they really showed their class this afternoon.

We gave it everything. I've never been a part as a team -- I say this a lot, but I feel like this week the team was just buzzing. Everyone wanted to do it for each other. Management, players were giving it everything we felt like we gave ourselves the absolute best chance to get it done. Unfortunately we just didn't quite have everything this afternoon. But unbelievably memorable week. I'll take so much from this, my last amateur event.

Definitely I'd say the highlight would obviously be better if we had have won, but a lot of great emotions out there this week.

JOHN GOUGH: Yeah, I mean, I've completely forgot the question.

Q. Do you think you'll look back on this as a really special week?

JOHN GOUGH: Yeah, absolutely, not only just being here at St Andrews, being here for the an verse at this match that we had, playing arguably one of the stronger teams I think America has ever put out, and I think besides the result, I know that we have 10 fantastic players in GB&I and eight more that can be going on further.

Again, similar to Mark, it was my final round of golf as an amateur today, so I'm going to take more than you can imagine away from the week, the players, the spectators, playing in front of crowds like that was crazy. There was oftentimes where I just looked back down from a green and just couldn't even see grass at some points. You just see people everywhere.

I don't think you can understand the feeling until you're there, and I'm sure half of the people watching would agree it was just so electric out there.

Q. Just you personally, the hole-out on the 6th, that must be a special one for you.

JOHN GOUGH: Yeah, it was very special. As I said, the game was always nip and tuck, and I couldn't actually see it go in because I'm not the tallest, but once I heard the claps up by the green, kind of let my emotions come out a little bit there.

But it's always nice doing something cool like that, especially when I've just realised now it was on camera, so that always makes it a bit better.

OLIVIA McMILLAN: Thank you so much for all your time this week. We've really enjoyed having you in, and we look forward to what the future holds.