How good is your relationship
with Europe’s Ryder Cup
captain, Nick Faldo?
I have known him for quite some time and have played practice
rounds with him at the Masters and the Open. But since he has
retired and is doing more TV work, he seems to be more accessible.
And that’s great for all of us to get
to know him personally.
Faldo seems to be rubbing a few players
up the wrong way already by criticising Monty’s team spirit at the
Seve Trophy and seeing Paul McGinley resign from his
vice-captain’s role.
That’s none of my business, I’m not interested in any of that,
and I don’t care about it. I take him as I find him. He has
been very good to me. There is a lot you can learn from the
guy. I am sure he is going to be a good captain. He is too
competitive not to be. He hates losing.
Why does the European team seem to have a better
team spirit than the Americans?
It’s cultural and the difference between the two tours. The
European Tour is gruelling. You travel to lots of countries
and continents, through time zones and different currencies.
It’s not possible to do all that with your family every week,
so players bond. In America, you are talking about car journeys,
maybe one-hour flights, or private jets, and childcare
facilities. It’s all conducive to being on the road with your
family. In Europe, you are 5000 miles away from home, and
you are in an official hotel with 30 other guys, so you are
going to meet up and have dinner together. And with that
comes potentially a little more camaraderie. I enjoy coming
back to Europe and catching up with the lads.
How far can you get in the game? Do you aspire to be
No.1 in the world?
You mean the other world No.1? No.2! [laughs] It’s not a realistic
short-term goal. Tiger is so far ahead on the world rankings
that I don’t see it’s possible to catch him. To break into the
top-10 was a goal, then the top five, then two, and then one.
No.2 is a good goal for us normal guys [smiles]. Tiger is miles
ahead. But No.1 is doable in the long term.
Is it good to be playing in Tiger’s era?
Or does it just
mean there are less chances to win?
It’s exciting. We’re all wealthier because of him [laughs]. Golf
has grown so much in the last five years. And it’s largely down
to me [laughs]. I have come into the game at a great time.
Tiger has been relentless over the last 10 years and he may
well keep that up for the next 10 years. The key for all of us is
to be there snapping at his heels.
Does he inspire you to become better?
If he can do it, so can anybody else. But he has invested so
much time, energy and effort into becoming the player and
person he is. And he protects it. He doesn’t let you into his
inner psyche. You realise he has created something special and
he doesn’t want to give it away. Tiger is so far ahead of everybody.
He is at another level. In normal events, guys give him a run for his money.
But in the majors he is untouchable. His mental focus is incredible. He is a
bit out there when you talk to him. He will never give anything away or let you
pick his brain. But he has still managed to do it by being a good guy, too. He’s
always friendly and says hello. But when the time is right, he’ll let you
know that he’s there to beat you.
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There is clearly a Tiger fear factor on Sundays.
I’m not going to say there isn’t one. But there shouldn’t be. I
respect Tiger as a player. But you need to respect the golf course even more.
Ultimately, that’s what you are
playing against. Nobody can control your golf ball. If
you can control your head, he shouldn’t be an issue.
He can’t run over and punch you in the ribs [laughs].
Maybe
there aren’t enough people mentally strong
enough out there to take him down?
I am not denying there isn’t a difference. I’m just trying not
to believe it [smiles]. If you believe it, and accept it, you’re
dead. I can’t sit here and tell you that guys don’t melt when
they play with Tiger. Because he is what he is. He’s arguably
the best player in the world. Ever. But he can’t touch my
golf ball. We are in control of our own destiny. But I’m not
saying it’s easy.
Rory Sabbatini seems to be the only guy trying to
get under Tiger’s skin. And your mate Ian Poulter! Umm.
If you needle Tiger and he goes out and shoots 73, I’d
say, yeah, let’s all get on the bandwagon, let’s start a
Put Down Tiger campaign. But you needle him, and he
goes out at shoots 63. So I say, shut up [laughs].
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