Q. What are the pros and cons of the U.S. team playing team golf event every year?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I think it's a pro. It's nice to have the guys together every year. We get to play team events so seldom that it's nice to have a team event every year and have guys get experience in this format.
Q. Are there any cons to having that every year and never having a break for the team at large?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I don't think so. I think it's good to get the guys experience. I think we have two rookies on the team this year. Three rookies on the team this year. So I think it's a good prep if they go on to make Ryder Cup teams.
Q. You've been part of the U.S. team now for almost a decade. What's something that you enjoy about these events that's maybe not obvious to the rest of us?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Well, it's really nice to play match play. I feel like we play a lot of 72-hole stroke play golf tournaments, so I enjoy the environment of match play and I enjoy alternate shot. I think alternate shot's a really interesting, it's an interesting format because you can go five, six holes and not hit a full shot. So it's a different challenge that we get to do once a year. I really enjoy it.
Q. How much do you have to change your game because of that format?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I don't think you have to change your game. But I do think there's an advantage to having some experience in that format. I think it's good to have a good partner and someone you get along with, just because it's such a, it's a tricky thing. I feel like you can get a lot of momentum one way or the other in alternate shot, which make it's fun to play.
Q. Do you lean more on Joe or let's say you're playing with Xander, for example, or Xander on your discussions when you're in team play?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I would say more on Joe for most full shots. I do my normal routine. And then if I have a question about a putt though I would probably ask Xander.
Q. And then when the other guy's hitting off the tee, why aren't you waiting down the fairway where you're supposed to be why do you go to the tee with 'em, it seems like it wastes time.
PATRICK CANTLAY: I do on some holes. I've gone ahead before. I played Melbourne and we played 36 holes on Saturday and we were so tired with the time change and everything that I told him, Listen, I'm not going to talk very much to the, I'm going to go down, you know, and meet the ball in the fairway on the holes that you tee off and save some energy.
Q. Are you saying there's days you talk a lot? I don't get it?
PATRICK CANTLAY: What's that?
Q. Are you saying that there's days that you do talk a lot.
PATRICK CANTLAY: Some days I talk more, some days I talk less (smiling).
Q. Is there anything with the redesign of this place or even how they're routing it this week that lends itself for changes for match play as opposed to like a 72-hole tournament here?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I don't think so. The fairways are so wide this week and it's going to play soft, so if the wind calms down like it's supposed to I would expect a lot of birdies. With the course being so soft and guys are going to be playing from the fairway on pretty much every hole. But it's so radically different from what the golf course was like in 2019 it's basically a brand new golf course.
Q. Is it getting any firmer?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I think it's getting marginally firmer. It could probably be middle of the road firmness by Saturday afternoon or Sunday. But they have got a lot of rain, so it is soft right now.
Q. At Whistling Straits you talked about how Americans can disagree but we should all be pulling for the country to win. Has there been a moment in one of these team international events where you really felt that?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I feel like all the team events the crowds behind us, especially at home. And they have been great. I played a lot of tournaments here in Chicago and so I expect the same this week.
Q. Yesterday Sam Burns said the same thing, talking about unity and with President Trump expected to attend this week what do you think a week like this can do for sort of the unity of the country?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, I think it would be great to have the President out and hopefully gets the crowd going. I'm expecting the crowd to be loud and behind us this week and that's what makes playing home team events so fun.
Q. Have you ever had a chance to connect with President Trump?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I met him for the first time at the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen in 2011. And ran into him a few times since.
Q. What was that like?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, obviously he wasn't really a political figure in 2011. So I just, I know he's been a golf fan forever and obviously a huge supporter of the United States golf and the team events. So it's great to have him on our side.
Q. You've been on these a lot of these American teams, like what is it like for you representing the U.S., getting to put on the red, white, and blue?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, it's a huge honor, obviously. It's one of the weeks I look forward to the most. Going out there and winning points not only for my teammates but for my country, it's just the best.
Q. Geoff had said on the redesign he was really happy that the first kind of introduction to the public of this golf course is you don't have to worry about what the score is, you don't keep score this week, it's just matches. From what you've seen of it if it were these conditions what kind of winning score do you think it would have, if you had to ballpark it?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I think scores would be low. I think they would be in the 20s.
Q. Kind of like what it was?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Kind of like what it was, yeah.
Q. What are your impressions of the course just what they have done and what it looks like?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, I think it's a completely brand new golf course. I don't think there's really any holes that feel like the same holes. The fairways are a lot wider and they took out a ton of trees.
Q. Jackson playing in his first Presidents Cup. Wondering if you had spent much time with him before this week and if not like what it's been like to get to know him a little bit in this process?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, I hadn't met him before the practice that we had a couple weeks ago. But obviously been watching him play this past year has been very impressive. He hits it great and rolls it well too. So he seems like an impressive young man and happy to have him on the team this week.
Q. What do you remember from your first Cup? Like the emotions you were feeling, the nerves, just kind of that whole week.
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, it was great. It was in Australia, Tiger was the captain that week. So it was a real cool first experience to have him as the captain and not only the captain but a playing captain as well. We kind of came from behind that week, so it was a real, it was a good introduction to these events.
Q. A lot of travel and jet lag and all that, just a lot to get ready for, what is kind of -- I'm interested Brandt in past years as an assistant captain, a big jokey guy, Xander always giving him a hard time. But now that he's a captain, is he the same vibe? Do you have to kind of straighten up a little bit when you're the captain, just wondering what Brandt's overall ethos has been now that he's the captain?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, he's been great. I would say he's still himself, but when you take-over as the captain and you change roles from being an assistant captain to captain you have to take on a little bit more serious tone and responsibility. And I think he's done great job with that.
Q. I know you talked about this before, but just the idea of going from an individual competitor to a team game, what are the dynamics and what advice would you give to somebody like Jackson, given your success?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, I think it's really refreshing to have a team week like this and have 11 teammates and the captains all be on the same side. Not only that but representing your country as well, it's a huge honor. So it makes it very simple this week: If the team wins I'm happy. That's really all that matters. The most I can do to help out my team is win as many points as I can.
Q. We haven't seen too many fans yet, obviously, but what do you think about this whole Chicago vibe compared to Charlotte, Montreal, other places where you've played?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, I played a number of tournaments here in Chicago, at the BMW, and the crowds are always fantastic. So I expect them to be out here in droves and rooting us on hard. Chicago fans are usually great sports fans, so I'm looking forward to having 'em behind us this week.
Q. Can you talk about the redesign of the course, you knew this course when and now it's something new. What are the new holes like and do you think Ogilvy has an advantage as a captain advising his team on how to play those redesigned holes?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, I don't think there's any advantage. You still have to play the shots and I think everybody's going to be well prepared come tournament time. They took out a lot of trees and I would say the old course is completely gone. There are basically no holes that are the same or even close to the same. It's a brand new golf course. There's a lot of trees gone and the fairways are a lot wider.
Q. At a team event in front of all the fans how nerve wracking is it to have out of bounds all along the left side on holes 1, 2 and 3?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, I don't think it's that big a deal. There's plenty wide fairway out to the right. We play all sorts of holes that have trouble, whether it be water or even trees that were dense. So I don't think it's too big of a deal.
Q. Does that come into play pretty hard on the second shot on 2?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, it can come into play, for sure. Yeah, it's just right there a couple paces off the green.
Q. You've been one of the best players on the U.S. side over the last six appearances, this is your seventh. Looking back at your career when it's all said and done do you think this is going to be a big part of your legacy, how you've represented the USA team?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I don't spend a lot of time thinking about legacy or anything like that. I know it's really an honor to represent my country and be out there with the guys going out there and having a match and knowing that my teammates are out there battling as well. There's nothing sweeter than winning a point for your team. So that's really what this week is all about for me. I feel like if I can just play my little part as best I can, hopefully the team, hopefully it's enough to help the team get a victory at the end of the week.
Q. You've been great in this and also the Walker Cup, what about match play do you think kind of brings the best out of your game?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I really like match play. I think it's a little different mentality at times and I think also the alternate shot component, because we play it so seldomly is a huge part of it. It's just a format that can make uncomfortable and so if you can get some experience and some good vibes in alternate shot I think it can really help you throughout the week.
Q. You guys are back in Chicago here, it's obviously not a regular stop. In general, I know Brian Rolapp has said he wants to get back to some bigger markets, I think he said it a year ago. Curious what you thought of that philosophy and then I talked to some other guys, being part of the board, what are the challenges, it's not as easy as snapping your fingers and saying let's get back to bigger markets. How have you guys as a board kind of, how are you handling that sort of, I guess, goal, and also challenge of trying to get back to some bigger markets that you aren't in regularly right now?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, I think Chicago's, I played a number of events in Chicago. I think it's a great sports town. They love golf. Some of the biggest crowds I've seen are out at the BMW when they have it in Chicago. Yeah, I do think it's important for us to be playing at great golf courses in big cities. I think it's a long-term project. It's a long-term goal. You're not going to be able to turn an oil tanker around really quick, but I think you can get it going in the right direction over time.
Q. Just in general in terms of the next steps for the PGA Tour, how have you felt about the process being part of it in terms of I guess how it's gone, the players' input, has it all gone -- I'm sure it's not all gone according to plan -- but in general when you look back on what you have accomplished and what is still ahead do you feel like you're on the right path?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I think we have great leadership with Brian Rolapp, Joe Gorder, Tiger Woods, obviously, and Adam Scott. Having guys like that to bounce ideas off of and really feeling confident that with those guys in the leadership positions that we're going to be headed in the right direction. I think it's been great and it's been a privilege to be a part of.
Q. Last time that Team USA went -- sorry. Last time Team USA went to Medinah as a team event things didn't go your way and your captain and vice captain were both on the team. Did they tell you anything about that and if yes does it inspire you to bring a trophy back for USA in Medinah?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I don't think any guys on the team were a part of that Ryder Cup team in 2012, so that really hasn't been part of the discussion.
Q. Okay. But has the leader, either the captain or vice captain told you about what happened in Medinah?
PATRICK CANTLAY: No.
Q. The partnership with Xander, just talking to him about it, says it was Freddie's idea, right. Do you remember that in terms of the discussion?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, it was the first team event that we both had played and we were in Australia. Tiger was the captain. Obviously Fred and Tiger have been close for a long time. So Fred and I have played a lot of golf in Newport Beach and Xander's also a southern California guy, so he came up with the pairing and we played four matches together that week and with became fast friends.
Q. Just the nature of the pairing, Patrick. It's been interesting as an evolution, you guys have continued to play pretty well in foursomes, but not as much in four-ball, it's kind of gone away a little bit. Can you talk about just the differences of those two formats in terms of how you guys have gelled or not gelled?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, I think it's a small sample size in four-ball. I think we played more alternate shot matches together. But like you said, the first week that we played we won both our all the shot matches and lost both our best ball matches. Sometimes it just goes like that.
Q. Now you guys aren't playing much four-ball, is that kind of a conscious decision in essence of just to get you guys with somebody else?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, I think there's a lot of guys that pair up well together. The captains are looking at stats, among some other factors, so I think we're a good all the shot team and we've had our successes, so it's always comfortable to have that pairing. I don't think I played alt shot in one of these events with anybody else. So yeah, but I'm looking -- I've had good results in best ball with some other different guys and it's nice to mix it up sometimes.
Q. Last year, Saturday, you guys had this incredible match -- or two years ago, Montreal. You guys had those incredible matches. He was saying he never wants to see you, he never wants to play you when you're putting in the dark. I mean, how memorable is that for you kind of in all these matches that you played?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, it's definitely up there as one of the most memorable. Especially just being the last match on the course and I think the Cup was relatively close at that time. So I knew going -- we both knew going to bed on Saturday night would be, we would all sleep a little easier with a win. And the way it went down was, you know, just gave us that momentum going into Sunday.
Q. The build-up to the Presidents Cup, this one in particular coming off the Ryder Cup is so much different. Why is that? I know the Ryder Cup just has so much more history, but these are different times, too. What are your thoughts on just all the talk about build-up to this rather than the Ryder Cup. In terms of the fans, what's going to happen.
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, I think, like you said, the history plays a part in it. This tournament is still relatively young compared to the Ryder Cup. So I think that's just the nature of it.
Q. You're still facing another International Team, it just seems so different though. Is that hard because you guys have won so much do you think?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, that could contribute to it. I think as time goes on the two events may feel closer.
Q. How did things go last week at the board meeting, were you on board with everything, did you vote this time?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, I'm confident we're headed in the right direction and optimistic about the future. I'm not planning on playing anymore this fall, so and my board term is up at the end of the year.
Q. Also, the USGA and R & A are talking about some local rules. You talked about the ball before, but what did you think of this new idea that's come along?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, it's a conversation that I think started with the golf ball and has been evolving over the last couple years. I think it's really important that the USGA, the R & A and the PGA Tour have a good dialog and we can all come to an agreement on what's right for the game.
Q. Who is most likely to be late to the bus?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Xander.
Q. Who is going to bring the most energy this week?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Maybe Xander.
Q. Who is the most competitive in the team room?
PATRICK CANTLAY: That's a good question. Sneds is pretty competitive.
Q. Who is the best dressed?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I saw Cam Young's tie and he said when he went to high school he had to tie his tie every day, so last night Cam had a nice tie going.
Q. Who talks the most trash?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Xander.
Q. You had a great string of results to end the year throughout the playoffs. Could you assess where your game is at right now and how you're feeling heading into this week?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, thanks, I feel good about my game. I feel like it's been trending in the right direction for a few months now, and it's always nice to be playing some of your best golf at the end of the year. This will be a nice week. Looks like the weather's going to be good and conditions will be good, so yeah, I feel like I'm headed in the right direction and ready for a good week.
Q. You mentioned the weather as well. Obviously with the rain how has that affected your preparations and how do you anticipate the course evolving throughout the week?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, I think the golf course is soft right now and it will warm up or firm up as the week goes on. I think it could get to medium firmness by Saturday afternoon or Sunday. But right now it's soft and so I expect a lot of birdies, especially early in the week.
Q. What is your impression of, not just Jackson, but Chris and Jacob as well? What are your impressions of them and do you have any memories of you are self as a debut as a rookie?
PATRICK CANTLAY: First of all, they're all three great guys, and it's been a pleasure to spend some time with them and get to know them better. I feel like these weeks are special in that usually you don't get to spend a lot of time bonding with these guys on Tour because you're competing every week. So being on the same side this week gives us the opportunity to get closer and, you know, really learn a little bit about each other that we wouldn't usually get to in a normal week. My first, the first event I played was the it was the Presidents Cup in 2019 in Australia and it was just a different group of guys. I mean, Kuchar was on that team, Gary Woodland was on that team, being the youngest guy on the team, it's a different feeling than now I think I'm second oldest. So it happens fast.
Q. What would you say is the most interesting thing you've learned about your teammates, if you're at liberty to say?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I played a lot of golf with Chris Gotterup both at home and this week. And I think just spending time around him, he's just an all-around good guy. He's just one of the nicest guys I've met, so it's been a real pleasure to spend time with him. I feel like when everyone is in this environment where we're all on the same team, they kind of let their guard down and it's fun to see that.
Q. What would you say is you're most looking forward to ahead of this week?
PATRICK CANTLAY: What am I most looking forward to? Just competing. I feel like there's a ton of pomp and circumstance before events like this, so I'm ready to get going tomorrow.
Q. What about Jackson has impressed you, made you feel like he belongs in this spot?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, he's played really well in all his Tour starts this year and he's played really consistently. I played a few, I think I played one or two practice rounds with him last week or two weeks ago when we did the practice, and he's just a solid player, does everything all around really well.
Q. Anything that stands out from Snedeker as captain that is a little different from other captains in the past?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I think Sneds is a really competitive, fiery guy. So that comes out, you know, in the way that he's leading this team and I get along with Brandt really well and it's been fun to spend time with him over the last couple years as assistant captain, he walked a bunch of matches with me in Montreal, and so I'm glad he's the captain, I think he's doing a great job.
Q. Can you give an example of that fiery side?
PATRICK CANTLAY: He's just super competitive. Doesn't matter what it is. It could be throwing a water bottle in the trash can, he wants to win, and I think that's great. I think I enjoy seeing that out of the captain.
Q. Are you planning to do anything differently with your stipend this time around?
PATRICK CANTLAY: No.
Q. Have you ever done the karaoke thing as a first timer?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I had not. Fortunately that tradition hadn't started when I was a rookie.
Q. Would there be a song that Patrick Cantlay does karaoke to?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I would have to do a Bob Dylan or a Johnny Cash song something where the voice was a little less important.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports