09/21/21 01:27:00
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09/21 13:25 CDT The Latest: McIlroy plans to save energy this time around
The Latest: McIlroy plans to save energy this time around
By The Associated Press
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) --- The Latest on the Ryder Cup, the golf showdown between
the United States and Europe (all times local):
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1:20 p.m.
Rory McIlroy was at his fist-pumping, crowd-inciting best the last time he
played a Ryder Cup match on American soil. Problem was, he lost that match, and
Europe lost the cup.
McIlory, whose 1-down loss to Patrick Reed in 2016 was one of the most exciting
showdowns in the event's history, said he'll try to tone down his emotions this
time around.
"It's a lot of energy just playing, then trying to beat who you're playing
against," he said Tuesday, before heading out for a practice round at Whistling
Straits. "If you try to beat the crowd, as well, it seems like a bit of an
impossible task."
McIlroy played all five matches at Hazeltine, and he also played five in France
three years ago when Europe recaptured the cup. He didn't disclose the plans
for this year, but he knows he'll need to have more gas left in the tank come
Sunday singles this time.
"I felt like I sort of hit a wall on the back nine against Patrick that day,
and I want to make sure that that doesn't happen again," McIlory said.
Play starts Friday at Whistling Straits. McIlroy has an 11-9-4 record in five
previous Ryder Cup appearances.
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12:05 p.m.
Bryson DeChambeau says he's had some "great" conversations with Brooks Koepka
and downplayed the notion of any friction between the two heading into the
Ryder Cup.
DeChambeau, who has largely avoided media interviews for the past several
weeks, spoke to reporters Tuesday at Whistling Straits to preview the Ryder Cup.
He says tension between him and Koepka, much of it documented on social media
over the past few months, has largely "been driven by a lot of external
factors, not necessarily us two."
DeChambeau said he had some great conversations with Koepka at the Tour
Championship earlier this month, and they had dinner in Wisconsin on Monday
"and it was fine."
He said there "may be something fun coming up here moving forward, but won't
speak too much more on that."
American captain Steve Stricker has also downplayed the feud and said it's a
"nonissue" heading into Friday's matches.
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11:35 a.m.
To kick off Ryder Cup week, Europe produced an inspirational video that reminds
its players about the select company they're in.
The video points out that only 164 players have represented Europe (and, before
the team was expanded, Britain and Ireland) over the 94-year history of the cup.
By comparison, the video notes that 5,780 people have climbed Mount Everest,
570 people have been in outer space, 445 have won soccer's World Cup and 225
men have won golf's major championships.
"You sit here as one of the 12 lucky few," the narrator says. "But you will
only stand up and be counted if you know the true worth of your number."
What follows is a pantheon of Europe's Ryder Cup greats --- including Jos
Mara Olazbal, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie and Tony Jacklin --- ticking
off their spots on the list.
This year's team includes Lee Westwood (No. 118), Sergio Garcia (120) and
rookie Bernd Wiesberger, who is currently the last entry on the list at 164.
Europe begins its defense of the cup on Friday at Whistling Straits. The teams
were on the course for practice rounds Tuesday afternoon.
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More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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