Chaska, Minnesota … 

The passing of Arnold Palmer clearly has affected USA Ryder Cup captain, Davis Love 111 as evident by his sullen eyes and speech at today’s first press conference ahead of Friday’s start to the 41st Ryder Cup.

But aside the tributes to the late Arnold Palmer, Love 111 was asked who would be his Hazeltine team room leaders this week.

The two rival captains – Darren Clarke and Davis Love 111 – at the start of this week’s 41st Ryder Cup. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

“We have a lot of really long drivers and we can’t tell who is the longest; and we have a lot of great leaders and we can’t tell who is really going to step up,” he said.

“But what I’ve seen is the assistant captains over the last two or three months have all kind of helped me in different ways. They will continue to do that. But we have leaders that are — of our 12 players, we have leaders that have already stepped up in past years, like Phil Mickelson.

“But we have several leaders, Zach Johnson, Jordan Spieth has stepped up to be a great player but also a leader in the locker room.

“We are heavy on leadership and heavy on passion. We’ve just got to get out and play our game, I think is the only thing we have to do. But we’re excited about the 12 players, the six captains, the support team we have, and I don’t think we’ve ever been as pumped up and as organized and as together as a family as this group.”