“(The) Ryder Cup is an absolute different animal than any other golf event we do and really any other sporting event we do.” – Dan Hicks
“Those are the weeks I’ll remember when I’m all done doing whatever I’m doing.” – John Wood on his Ryder Cup Experience as a Caddie
“The worst part about being a captain is having no control whether or not you’re going to win or lose beyond creating the environment.” – Paul Azinger on Being a Ryder Cup Captain
Live Coverage of 43rd Ryder Cup Begins Friday at 8 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel; On-Site Live From The Ryder Cup Continues Tonight in Primetime at 7 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel
STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 21, 2021 – NBC Sports play-by-play commentator Dan Hicks, analysts Paul Azinger and Justin Leonard, on-course reporter John Wood, and producer Tommy Roy, previewed the 43rd Ryder Cup on a media conference call last week.
NBC Sports presents comprehensive live coverage of the 43rd Ryder Cup across NBC, GOLF Channel, Peacock, and RyderCup.com, beginning this Friday, September 24 through Sunday, September 26 from Whistling Straits Golf Club in Kohler, Wis. On-site studio coverage from Whistling Straits continues with GOLF Central Live From the Ryder Cup tonight in primetime at 7 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel.
Following are excerpts from the call. Click here for a full transcript.
Dan Hicks: “(The) Ryder Cup is an absolute different animal than any other golf event we do and really any other sporting event we do…I kind of compare it to an Olympics. It’s one of those events that brings in more than just the golf fan. It brings in somebody who maybe even never watches a golf tournament.”
John Wood: “It’s a different week. You’ve just got a lot more to prepare for. At the same time, it’s such a meaningful week. Those are the weeks I’ll remember when I’m all done doing whatever I’m doing.”
Paul Azinger: “Getting those right players together, like I did (with) personality types, and I felt that trumped analyzing their golf games…that was my philosophy…but it was up to them once the bell rings. The worst part about being a captain is having no control whether or not you’re going to win or lose beyond creating the environment.”
Justin Leonard on his experience playing in the 1999 Ryder Cup: “When you’ve got that bag with your country or your continent on it, you’ve got your flag or symbol on your sleeve, on your hat, you’re coming together as a group to try to accomplish something. There’s no words that can really do it justice.”
Azinger: “The Europeans are bonded by blood. They’re bonded naturally…they’re bonded by something that really gives them a full blown 1 percent advantage no matter where they are…so you have to as a captain figure out how to get yourself back in there where it’s evened up.”
Tommy Roy: “We have a love affair for this event. It’s right in our wheelhouse…every session will have the same intensity and even more energy than the back nine of a major.”
Leonard on U.S. Team captain Steve Stricker: “I think Strick is prepared for everybody on that team and knows what to do and how to handle it and knows that you don’t necessarily handle everybody the same way.”
NBC Sports will present coverage from the first tee shot of the Ryder Cup to the final putt on Friday-Sunday, totaling 100-plus hours of live coverage during Ryder Cup week from Whistling Straits including on-site studio coverage and featured groups.
Over the course of the week, more than 35 on-air talent will provide live commentary throughout live event and studio coverage across NBC, GOLF Channel, and Peacock. Click here for more information on NBC Sports’ live event and studio on-air teams for the 43rd Ryder Cup.
Jamie Palatini
203-356-2791
jamie.palatini@nbcuni.com
Matt Potolski
203-356-2719
Matt.Potolski@nbcuni.com
