With just two weeks until The 42nd Ryder Cup begins at Le Golf National in France, rydercup.com looks back on the best quotes from previous Ryder Cups.
In 2006, The Ryder Cup headed to Ireland for the first time, with The K Club hosting the biennial contest. Europe appointed Ian Woosnam as Captain, making the 1991 Masters Tournament winner the third Welshman to lead the team after Dai Rees and Brian Huggett. Tom Lehman led the Americans in County Kildare with the intention to stop Europe from winning three Ryder Cups in a row.
Europe found themselves ahead at the conclusion of play on both Friday and Saturday, with a 10-6 scoreline on Saturday evening placing Woosnam's team in command. Paul Casey's hole-in-one in his foursomes match with David Howell against Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson proved the winning shot and helped Europe into pole position heading into the weekend. The hosts dominated the Sunday Singles, winning 8½ points to clinch an 18½-9½ victory.
Let's take a look back at some of the best quotes from an emotional week in Ireland...
"I don't know if any European team has played better than you guys in the history of The Ryder Cup." - Tom Lehman, on the resounding European win.
"This is the pinnacle of my life." - Ian Woosnam, on Europe's third straight Ryder Cup success.
"It was like an 80,000-seater stadium around one tee box. Frankly, it was like that on every tee box for him." - Zach Johnson, on the reception given to Darren Clarke.
"It was either going to be him or the nine-iron. So he chose the nine-iron." - Tiger Woods, jokes about his caddie Steve Williams dropping his club into a water hazard.
"The Belfry was a wonderful thing to happen to me, but this makes me more proud." - Paul McGinley, on winning The Ryder Cup in his home country.
The 2008 Ryder Cup took place at Valhalla Golf Club, with Nick Faldo and Paul Azinger skippering the European and United States sides respectively. While Azinger was without Tiger Woods, missing his first Ryder Cup since his debut in 1997 because of injury, Faldo was able to call on Justin Rose and Graeme McDowell for their debuts.
Unlike recent Ryder Cups, the Americans took a firm grip on proceedings and led 7-9 going into Sunday. The final day began with a stunning 5&4 win for Anthony Kim over Sergio Garcia and culminated in an 11½ - 16½ win for Azinger's team. Victory ensured Europe didn't win for the fourth straight edition and crucially was the Americans' first win since 1999.
Here are a selection of the best quotes from that week in Kentucky...
"I said this week would define my career, but it hasn't. It has made it." - Kenny Perry, on a significant American victory.
"There were 24 guys givng their all and we just came up short. The United States have done us and congratulations to them." - Nick Faldo, on a challenging week in Louisville.
"I really want to be there in two years, hole some putts and hear the crowd go bananas for us." - Graeme McDowell, on wanting to atone for defeat at the next edition at Celtic Manor.
"I got chills up my spine the whole day and I'm loving every minute of it. I wouldn't trade this for $10million." - Anthony Kim, on a super Sunday for Azinger's team.
