Golfers usually don’t like to stir up controversy. U.S. captain Hal Sutton, though, didn’t hold back during his news conference after Friday’s play. Here are some excerpts:
On his initial reaction
“I hate to say this, but if the Americans keep this up, it won’t be long before they are considered the underdog instead of the favorite.”
On his players being tentative
“You have to try to make something happen rather than to try to keep something from happening. I saw the Americans trying to make sure they didn’t leave [long comeback putts for pars]. You don’t make putts on this course by letting them die into the hole. They break too much. . . . At some point we have to get mad and say, `I don’t give a darn if we have to make a 6- or 8-footer coming back.'”
On the difference between the Americans and Europeans
“I see too much tightness [from his team]. I see freewheeling from the Europeans. . . . [The U.S. players] better trust what I saw out there today. . . . I’m just going to tell them to be themselves. They weren’t themselves today. Y’all saw very few of the Americans really show up today. I’m hoping that’s going to be different tomorrow.”
On the tone of his team meeting Friday night
“I don’t think they want to be consoled. When I get mad at myself, I don’t want somebody patting me on the back and loving on me. I assure you, I’m not going to be loving on them.”
On being asked if Europe could clinch the Cup before Sunday’s final matches
“You wonder why there’s bad will [toward the media] sometimes. Next question.”
