SOLHEIM CUP

September 20, 2023

Gemma Dryburgh

Georgia Hall

Charley Hull

Finca Cortesin

Team Europe

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon, everyone. This is the fourth Team Europe press conference. I'm delighted to welcome Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, and Gemma Dryburgh to the media center. I'll start with a question for each and then we'll pass the microphone to you.

I'd just like to start with Gemma. You're a rookie on the team, how is the week living up to your expectations so far?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, it's exceeded every expectation, I'd say. It's only Wednesday and just everything's been so exciting. Walking into the room on the first day with all the kit and everything that we get, it's just amazing, and obviously the hotel this week is unbelievable, and being around the team as well it's very special. Usually we're just playing by ourselves, so it's nice to have a team around you and, yeah, it's just been great.

THE MODERATOR: Georgia, this is your fourth Solheim Cup. How does it feel to be back on the team?

GEORGIA HALL: Yeah, I think for sure it's one of the biggest moments of our career and it's definitely the funnest week of the year for me. It's so nice to be part of a team and to be in that environment and to, you know, create more friendships, I think, within the team and obviously it's a great golf course and so nice to be on home turf and have those home crowds cheering us on.

THE MODERATOR: Charley, this is your sixth Solheim and you're playing phenomenally well this year. How confident are you feeling and enjoying being in Spain?

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, I love always coming back to Spain and playing. It reminds me of when I used to come over here and play in junior golf with my dad. But, yeah, I'm looking forward to it and enjoying it. I feel like my game's in good shape, but at the end of the day it's match play and anything can happen in match play. I'm really looking forward to just going out on the golf course and playing with my friends.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Gemma, if I can start with you. How proud are you to be representing Scotland considering four years ago you were watching on at Gleneagles and now you're here and preparing to play in a Solheim Cup?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, I'm very proud. Obviously, four years ago, like you said, I was a spectator at Gleneagles, so this is a very different experience and I was definitely inspired when I went to watch the girls then winning there and Suzann obviously holing that winning putt. So it's pretty special her being my captain now. But, yeah, it's nice to fly the flag for Scotland and after Beany being the captain the last two years it's nice to keep the flag flying for us.

Q. Georgia and Charley, you guys look like you were having so much fun out there. Can you try to describe what the atmosphere is like and how that's helping with team bonding, please?

GEORGIA HALL: Yeah, we've got a really great team, I think, and we will get on really well and there's lots of similar personalities and a lot of us have played in this before.

I think for the rookies, they're really enjoying it and it's just a great atmosphere within the team room. And obviously our captain, Suzann, in practice rounds is blaring music really loud and she's just having a ball as well. So it's a great environment to be in and just having a lot of fun.

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, it is a lot of fun out there. It's quite relaxed and Suzann is a great captain. She's very, like, easygoing and stuff, which I enjoy. I feel like the whole team get along this year. Like, everyone's pretty chill and it's nice.

Q. Charley and Georgia, your captain yesterday said that she thought that this is the strongest European team she's ever seen. I would like to know your thoughts on that, first of all, and then the next question would be do you think you're favorites, then, because of that?

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, I think this is a very, very strong team. It's got a lot of depth to the team as well. So where before, we had a lot of strong players, but then sometimes the back end of the team wasn't as strong, but I feel like we're pretty strong all the way through. Yeah, no, I think we've got a good chance this year. I'm looking forward to it.

GEORGIA HALL: I think this is the strongest team we've ever had on paper, for sure. Like Charley said, there's not one week player on our team. I think you can put out any of us at any time and I think we'll perform well. So I think that makes it a little bit easier when picking players to go out and pairings for Suzann. So I think, yeah, we're very confident going into this.

Q. To follow-up, when you say it's maybe easier for Suzann to pick pairings, wouldn't it be just as more difficult because she's going to have to let four sit?

GEORGIA HALL: Yes, as well, but there's been quite a few of us that have played together before in the Solheim Cups and pairings that have been quite successful, so I think that's easier for her in that way. But then because everyone is playing well and we have a very strong team, I think that you can, you know, not have as many players sitting out as maybe previous years. That would be my guess.

Q. Charley, when you're playing as well as you have this year, I know you said anything can happen in match play, but is it hard to kind of temper your expectations for what you expect of yourself this week?

CHARLEY HULL: Say it again.

Q. When you're playing as well as you have, is it hard to temper your expectations for the week coming into this? Even though you said anything can happen in match play, it's not like a 72-hole stroke play event. How do you think about that and what do you expect from yourself this week?

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, obviously, I expect myself to do really well. But I feel like match play is quite a bit harder mentally because you've got to be on it from the get-go, where when it's four rounds, you kind of can build-up into it and stuff. But yeah, I feel like I am playing pretty well and, yeah, I'm just looking out there and to go and make some birdies.

Q. What's the highlight of the week so far?

CHARLEY HULL: The highlight of the week? Oh, honestly, in the team room they have the best seaweed salad. And I had two bowls of that to myself today. That's the highlight of my week. And I had an ice bath as well.

Q. What's the highlight of the week for you, Georgia?

CHARLEY HULL: Oh, and playing with Georgia yesterday.

GEORGIA HALL: Just Charley is the highlight for everyone every day. She makes everyone laugh. She doesn't try to, so that's the highlight (laughing).

GEMMA DRYBURGH: I would say on the 17th hole today. We had the music blaring, Suzann was dancing, we had Proud Mary on. Yeah, it was a pretty cool moment. Practice rounds are not usually as fun as that, so it was pretty cool.

Q. Did we hear a rumor that she's in the D.J. box at some point?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: I wouldn't be surprised. She had the music blaring all nine holes today.

Q. Charley and Georgia, how would you describe Suzann's leadership style and her reputation amongst players?

CHARLEY HULL: Strong. But then she's easygoing as well. Like you see a completely different side to Suzann when she's off the golf course from when she used to play to now. It's a lot more relaxed. But when she says, like, no, no means no still. Do you get me? Like everyone respects her very well and she's a very respectful person.

GEORGIA HALL: Yeah, I think it's very relaxed, very different to Catriona, for sure. But I think she definitely knows what she's doing and she watches us intensely. So, yeah, it's, she's, yeah, she's a strong character.

Q. For all of you really, just Leona Maguire played a pretty important role last time. Are you surprised that it's only her second Solheim Cup? She seems like a bit of a veteran at this stage. What are you expecting from her this week?

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, well, Leona, she's only been on tour for like, what, four years now. So she's been in both the Solheim Cups that she could be in. She's going to be on a lot more as well. I like playing with Leona. She's a great steady player. She's had a good season so far. But, yeah, no. I think I played in the Junior Solheim Cup with her actually in the Solheim in 2011. But I've known Leona for years and she's a nice girl.

Q. Gemma, what's the best gift or souvenir you've received so far?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Oh, good question. Bushnell was pretty cool. Got a brand new Bushnell. To be honest, like all the bags and everything. Even when I saw my tour bag I got a bit emotional kind of seeing my bag and all the little -- you get, obviously, a lot of Solheim Cup for how many you played. Just to see that for the first time was pretty special actually. But yeah, new Bushnell was pretty cool.

CHARLEY HULL: My favorite one is the Bushnell because I lost my Bushnell a year ago and I've not bought one since because I knew that I was probably going to get given one at Solheim this year. So every time I've been playing at home by myself I've just been eyeballing it. So yeah I'm looking forward to actually knowing the distance now.

Q. How have you been doing your yardages?

CHARLEY HULL: I don't. I just guess. Yeah, well not on tour, obviously, but when I'm at home I guess.

Q. For Charley, very much enjoyed watching you chase Allisen at Pebble Beach and Lilia at Walton Heath. Is there somebody specific you would most enjoy being matched up against come Sunday for singles?

CHARLEY HULL: I like a lot of the girls, most of the girls on the U.S. Solheim team. Like, they're nice girls. But I actually really enjoy playing with Lilia Vu. Sunday at the British, she played some great golf and she's just a very nice person, and she beat me in match play last year in Vegas, so I wouldn't mind playing against her, but I like playing with her. She's a really nice person as well.

THE MODERATOR: All right. Thank you, everybody, and have a good week.