Ryder Cup 2016 – Europe & USA Even With Two Majors Apiece Heading To Hazeltine.

With just 60 days to the start of the 2016 Ryder Cup and it could not be more even following the close of this year’s four Majors.

After Jimmy Walker held his nerve to hole a three foot par putt and capture a first Major in winning the PGA Championship it was Europe with two Majors in 2016 and also USA-born players winning the other two.

England’s Danny Willett began the year winning the Masters followed by Dustin Johnson finally seizing a maiden Major in winning a controversial US Open.

Henrik Stenson became the first Sweden-born male to win at golf’s highest level in winning a thrilling 145th Open Championship while last night we saw the Texas-born Walker lead from start-to-finish to be handed the Rodman Wanamaker Trophy.

SPRINGFIELD, NJ - JULY 31: Jimmy Walker of the United States celebrates with the Wanamaker Trophy during the trophy presentation ceremony after winning the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club on July 31, 2016 in Springfield, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Texan Jimmy Walker is the ‘Lone Star’ in winning the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club on July 31, 2016 in Springfield, New Jersey. (Photo www.pga.com/Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

And after making his Ryder Cup debut at Gleneagles and managing 2 1/2 points from a possible five, Walker is looking forward to again pulling on the Stars and Stripes on September 30th.

Q. I remember your fine play in The Ryder Cup, your debut in 2014. Do you think that helped you deal with the pressure, that international stage there, deal with the pressure here at all, or to what do you attribute your dealing with all the pressure?
JIMMY WALKER: Thank you, and I do think it helped. I felt like I learned a lot at The Ryder Cup two years ago. I learned that I am not into every golf shot I hit week-in and week-out on Tour. And that week, every shot I hit, I was 100 percent committed. And it taught me that you can do that. I played great that week, I really did. I know we didn’t win. It’s not fun not winning.

We’ve won a Presidents Cup. It funny, I’ve had mixed emotions. We win The Presidents Cup, and personally I didn’t feel like I played that well. Ryder Cup, we lost; I felt like I played well.

So you run the — I mean, the emotions you run through at these team events are huge, and I felt like I learned a lot about myself that week at The Ryder Cup, especially singles match the last day. It was crazy. I look forward to hopefully having a chance to do it here on our home turf this year.

SPRINGFIELD, NJ - JULY 31: Jimmy Walker of the United States hugs caddie Andy Sanders after his putt for par on the 18th hole to win the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club on July 31, 2016 in Springfield, New Jersey. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Jimmy Walker hugs his caddy Andy Sanders after his putt for par on the 18th hole to win the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club on July 31, 2016 in Springfield, New Jersey. (Photo www.pga.com/Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Q. That leads nicely into my question I was going to ask. How does it feel to have sealed your place for a second appearance in The Ryder Cup, and how much are you looking forward to ending that losing streak the Americans are on?
JIMMY WALKER: I’m looking forward to it. It would be great to get back on the team. So I remember when I left, I did an interview with Mark Rolfing, and he was like, what has this been like, and I said, I never want to miss another one again.

I thought about that all year. I haven’t played as well as I would have liked to, I’m not on the list, I’m not even close. I saw Davis this week and I told him, “Man, I’d love to be on your team.” Haven’t played that well this year, but I feel like there’s still time for me to play good at the end of the year to have a chance to get on the team or get the nod to get picked.

It’s always been on my mind since I played it. Definitely want to be back

 

 

 



Comments are closed.