SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES – Europe and the United States teed off in the 42nd edition of the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National on Friday.
AFP Sport picks out some of the best quotes from a rollercoaster opening day:
“Wish we could have done a better job, especially being 2-up. Would have been a different story if we were down the entire match, but we were down early, flipped it, got up, and we felt like we should have won the match if we made some more birdies coming in, and we did not.”
- Tiger Woods
reflects on a disappointing return to Ryder Cup action alongside Patrick Reed in the fourballs
“It's the best break I've gotten. When it meant something. I think that one will be replayed for a long time to come. That was a huge momentum changer for our match, and we were able to take advantage of it.”
- Tony Finau
acknowledges his good fortune after his tee shot on the 16th kicked off a wooden board by the water and landed a few feet shy of the pin.
Team USA's Tony Finau during a press conference at Le Golf National. Photo: REUTERS/Carl Recine
“I just think the biggest thing is - well, neither of us, we didn't ham-and-egg it very well.”
- Patrick Reed
on his and Woods' struggle to combine in the fourballs
“We were able to feed off each other. We ham-and-egged it extremely well around this golf course. I don't think we birdied the same hole once.”
- Jordan Spieth
on his partnership with Justin Thomas in the fourballs
Team USA's Jordan Spieth during a press conference at Le Golf National. Photo: REUTERS/Carl Recine
“Finally. Finally. I love him. What can I say? I love him.”
- Francesco Molinari
gushes about partner Tommy Fleetwood after winning his first full point in his third Ryder Cup
Team Europe's Francesco Molinari during press conference at le Golf National. Photo: REUTERS/Paul Childs
“It's not a fun feeling. I probably do it way more than I should. It seems just about every week we're hitting somebody, and you know, it's unfortunate. You're never trying to. It doesn't feel good, it really doesn't. You feel terrible for them.”
- Brooks Koepka
was horrified after hitting a woman in the face with a stray tee shot on the sixth hole
“That place was incredible, Hall of Mirrors. It was unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it. Can only imagine how much it costs.”
- Tony Finau
marvels at the Palace of Versailles, the venue for this year's Ryder Cup gala dinner
“721,000 square feet. I don't want that bill. Unfathomable. I mean, I can't even imagine.”
- Brooks Koepka
concedes the palace is probably out of his price range
Team USA's Brooks Koepka during practice at Le Golf National. Photo: REUTERS/Charles Platiau
“It's from carrying that wallet.”
- Henrik Stenson
's witty reply to Justin Rose, the winner of the $10 million FedEx Cup title, who said his backside was hurting after playing 34 holes