At the end of this week U.S. Open champion, Webb Simpson will have tasted it all – Walker Cup, Presidents Cup and finally the experience of competing in a Ryder Cup.

Simpson attended the Media Centre today to speak not only of his joy in finally pulling on the USA Ryder Cup colours but becoming a father for a second time with the birth of a daughter, Willow.

“I’ve had a great year on the golf course, but it’s been a much better year off,” said the reigning U.S. Open champion.

Webb Simpson and Davis Love 111 holding the Ryder Cup. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

“We welcomed James into the world last year, last February, and our daughter, Willow, was born in July. I feel like a very blessed person, just to have the family that I have.  I’ve represented my country in the Walker Cup and Presidents Cup, but to finally do it in the Ryder Cup is a dream come true, and I feel honored to be here this week and looking forward to getting everything started.”

The 27-year old North Carolina born Simpson arrived into Chicago in the company of fellow USA team members, Jim Furyk and Bubba Watson and after taking Monday off, it was out onto Medinah for a first practice round in front of some 10,000 spectators.

“I felt like I was in the final group of a major in a practice round,” said Simpson.

“I had heard that the Ryder Cup is just exponentially more kind of in each area than Presidents Cup; just a little more exciting, a little more emotional, a lot more people, and we got to experience that on the first tee.

“I’m just excited my first Ryder Cup is here in the States.

“Chicago is such a great city, and the fans are already loud and electric out there. You know, it’s been a great week already.  My wife got in yesterday, and we had a great dinner with the European Team and went to the gala.

“We’re having a blast.”

Simpson, who also had five other top-10 finishes this year on top of winning the U.S. Open in San Francisco, was asked to relive his earlhy memories of the Ryder Cup and in doing so he singled out the infamous 1999 ‘Battle of Brookline’ and the monster putt holed by Justin Leonard ahead of defeating Europe’s present captain, Jose Maria Olazabal.

“My favorite memory is ’99 when Justin Leonard made the putt on 17, and I remember exactly where I was,” said Simpson.

“My coach was in the room.  I was in his office at my home course.  I was with my dad and another member, and we were watching it, what looked like a defeat, and the U.S. was coming back, and then Justin made the putt on 17.

“I think that was the moment where I realized how special the Ryder Cup was, seeing the guys run on the green, hopefully not in José’s line.

“But I realized there how big it was and how much it meant to the country when we do play well in the Ryder Cup.

“I think from then on I paid attention, I watched the Ryder Cup, and of course it only comes every two years, so I think it builds the excitement for everyone, even us watching, so that was kind of the birth, as you might call it, for me and my love for the Ryder Cup.”

And while Simpson is a rookie going into this year’s Ryder Cup he believes the experience he’s gleaned from winning the U.S. Open and competing in the Majors in general should put him in good stead this week.

“Well, I’ve always been a guy who really believes in experience, whether it comes to winning a golf tournament or playing in a major, and so I think there’s an element that does help,” he said.

“But I think as athletes and golfers and competitors, at the end of the day we tell ourselves, you get on the first hole, you’ve got to hit it in the fairway and then you’ve got to hit it on the green, and that’s no different than a regular, individual tournament.

“So I think experience helps with the emotions and knowing how to handle the crowds and playing the other teams.  But I think for me, having not played Ryder Cup, I’m going to draw from Walker Cup, Presidents Cup, and just remember certain things that surprised me.

“I remember getting to the first tee at Presidents Cup and there was a lot of people, and I was glad that Bubba (Watson) was teeing off the first hole, and I said, I’ll take the evens this week, I like the evens.

“But I think more than anything, we just kind of dumb it down to it’s just golf.

“It’s A to B and hit it on the green and try to make a putt, and that’s what I’m going to be kind of telling myself all week.”