Q. Just some easy ones to start. How would you describe the team atmosphere in one word?
RUSSELL HENLEY: I would say fun. I feel like everybody gets along really well. Everybody is really excited to be here. I've known a lot of these guys for a while and played a lot of golf with them. Spent a lot time with them. We have a fun time.
Q. Who is your favorite swing on the team?
RUSSELL HENLEY: Favorite swing? Let me think about that. Probably Chris Gotterup. I mean, he's very -- it's a very interesting move but it's so athletic and unique. I like watching him hit the ball.
Q. And one more. Obviously Koivun, youngest guy on the team and had a really good past few months. What have you thought of him as a pro and as a teammate?
RUSSELL HENLEY: Yeah, I've played a lot of golf with Jackson. I live in Columbus and when he went to Auburn we would play some together. I played a decent amount. Been around him a lot. He's just really good.
I'm excited to watch him play this week. You know, I feel like he's just very mature as a golfer. Very smart. Knows his game. Impressive player.
Q. Follow up about your relationship with Jackson. How do you ya'll first meet? I know proximity but you've known him for a couple years now.
RUSSELL HENLEY: Yeah, you know, Blayne Barber are are good buddies and he went to Auburn, you know, Nick Clinard was the coach for him when he was there, so when I moved to Columbus we started playing more together, and when Jackson started school, you know, he was -- he loves to get games going and playing. So I came over and started playing with him. He was about a freshman. Obviously played some Tour events.
So just been around him a lot and played a lot of the golf with him.
Q. Are there any anecdotes that you would say that some of his -- how he is on the team, how he's fit in quickly? It sounds like's assimilated pretty easily.
RUSSELL HENLEY: Yeah, yeah. I think he's a nice guy. He's very easy to be around. He's like I just said, feel like he's really mature for his age. Yeah, I think he's fitting in it perfectly. So it's been pretty easy to be around him.
Q. Hey, so you talked about the importance of your faith and how it helps you when your playing golf. There are several guys in this room that have been very vocal about their Christian faith. Is that something that you feel like has helped bring this team together?
RUSSELL HENLEY: I'm not sure. I mean, I feel like the -- I guess I would say the things that you -- when you study Jesus, the things he did, like loving your neighbor and caring for others, I feel like the world kind of steals those in a way.
He kind of came up with if you want to be first make yourself last kind of thing. I think that I see that a lot with how the team acts towards each other, and I think this is a very easy guys to be around is the way I would say it.
So, yeah.
Q. Captain Snedeker said some of you guys do Bible studies on Tour.
RUSSELL HENLEY: Yes.
Q. Is that something you've done this week with the guys?
RUSSELL HENLEY: Yeah, so not with the guys this week. Been pretty hectic week. But typically on Tour, Tuesday nights we have a Bible study and then a lot of times we'll go through a book with somebody from the college golf fellowship. They'll kind of lead the study and we'll talk once a week on a conference call.
So we do that as well. So that's my community I guess when I'm on the road.
Q. Last thing: So oftentimes guys will say my faith helps me get through the hard times. You're in a very competitive business. It can be very hard to do that sometimes. What does to look like in practice really relying on your faith when things are not going well on the course?
RUSSELL HENLEY: Yeah, I would say I think the reality that the eternal perspective I feel like is important for me as a Christian.
I know I'm not too far from being too old to hit it far enough or play this game. I mean, reality I have Lord willing, hopefully around 50 more years on this earth.
So I think as a Christian, I like to keep that in perspective. I don't know that I necessarily rely on my faith to play better, but I think knowing that I'm going to have a place in heaven because of what I believe and what Jesus has done for me -- not anything I've done, because of what he's done -- definitely gives me peace.
That doesn't mean I don't get nervous and frustrated and struggle with anger, but I know what I think the truth is and what I believe to be true. I think just knowing that is an encouragement.
Q. Earlier Brandt was kind of talking about the pressure some players can feel when they play with a Tiger or Scottie in this format, not wanting to let them down. You two got along really well when you played in the past.
RUSSELL HENLEY: Yeah.
Q. Have you felt any of that at any point? Like he's the No. 1 guy in the world, like I got to play up?
RUSSELL HENLEY: I think so, but because I've spent so much time with Scottie and Scottie and Sam have had me over to their house over the years since they've been on Tour and our wives are friends, I feel like I'm more comfortable with Scottie than I would be if they put me with Tiger.
There certainly is the pressure of I want to do well for my team and country. I want to hold myself to a high standard. But I don't know that I necessarily struggle with that as much.
I think just also because Scottie just makes me feel really comfortable, he's a really good teammate and I don't feel like he has an intimidating way about him around me. Maybe others feel that way. I don't.
I like playing with him and I get excited to play with him if I'm paired up with him.
Q. I remember talking to you in this setting two years ago in Montreal; first team event. At that point really cool experience for you to make it on one of those teams; now made three straight. Wondering how this week feels compared to doing it for the first time?
RUSSELL HENLEY: It's still kind of a pinch-me thing. I feel like there is a little bit more of a -- I'm thinking a little bit more about how I can be helpful to the rookies. These guys are so well on their way. I don't really think they need anything from me.
But, yeah, I still look around and we're on these bus rides and the dinners and the team room and on the golf course playing, it's just so cool to be a part of the team again.
So I'm trying to just really enjoy. You know, these weeks usually are busy but they just fly by. So I'm really excited to play again. Definitely not the same as the first time because I kind of know what to expect.
I'm still really excited to be here.
Q. Were you at all surprised to see Jackson on the team? We know his talent, but we didn't know if he would get the call.
RUSSELL HENLEY: Yeah, I mean, I wasn't really surprised just because, you know, there is so many stats out now and he's played in a lot of Tour events. It's not like he just turned pro and never played in a Tour event before he won. Been playing since he was a freshman.
So they had a way of looking at his stats and see his approach game, see his putting, see all that, and make more of an educated guess around the decision.
So doesn't surprise me a ton. But, you know, he's really good.
Q. Why do you think the Americans are have done so really in this event but maybe not so well in the Ryder Cup?
RUSSELL HENLEY: Good question. I don't really know. I've only been a part of one Ryder Cup, and it's just -- I don't know. I really don't have an answer.
Yeah, I mean, I wish I could put my finger on exactly what the answer is, but I'm not really sure.
Q. Would it be a combination of things or just golf being golf or...
RUSSELL HENLEY: Probably a combination of things. I mean, I don't know the stats of it all. It seems like the foursomes and best ball and stuff, Team Europe has usually done better than we have.
And so maybe there is something they're doing better in the way they pair guys and think through it. I'm not sure.
But, yeah, I'm sorry I just don't know.
Q. Does the contrast between the two come up in converse among players?
RUSSELL HENLEY: Like the way the tournament actually feels?
Q. That and the results between the two.
RUSSELL HENLEY: Oh, not really. Guys I think are trying to approach it the same. I mean, I've only been a part of one Ryder Cup so I don't know how guys are doing it. Seems to me like a couple teams I've been on were doing it the same, prepping the same, so doing everything the same.
Q. How would you compare the pressure of foursomes, just the dynamic of playing alternate shot, relying on a teammate? Anything you can compare that to versus the pressure you guys feel trying to win a tournament Sunday, things like that?
RUSSELL HENLEY: Yeah, oh, man, there is a sort of freedom I feel in foursomes sometimes when it's almost like all right if I can hit this shot well, kind of double this hole.
Like if I'm going to approach a player on a par-4 and I'm hitting second, if I can hit a good shot, when you hit a good shot it's almost like you can almost take it easy; versus a tournament trying to win a tournament. I know, every shot you have to be all there.
So there is that.
The other side is that you're lacking that rhythm of okay I just hit a drive and I hit a wedge and I'm going to hit a putt. I could hit an iron shot and not hit for 25 minutes.
So there is that part of it that I feel like is tough, getting into a rhythm with your golf swing. Sometimes you don't hit a putt for a few holes so there is that too.
Yeah, very different. I don't know if one is necessarily harder than the other, but they're very different to me.
Q. You feel like you could go down the team room you would know who prefers four balls and foursomes and just --
RUSSELL HENLEY: Yeah, because I still don't really know exactly -- like today we played a match and there is two other groups and I have no idea what they're doing, what they're up to.
So, yeah. I wish I had a better answer for you.
Q. I'm sorry if you got asked the question already about Scottie, but having partnered with him a couple times at the Ryder Cup, also at the Presidents Cup, just is there any difficulty in getting comfortable? A lot of these star players, this goes all the way back to Tiger, they had trouble finding a good partner because sometimes the guy who was the partner is trying so hard to please that guy. Wondering if it you felt any of that yourself. I know you're friends with him?
RUSSELL HENLEY: Yeah, I haven't felt that as much. I think if you would've told me my first Ryder Cup you're putting me with Tiger it could have been hard just because growing up I'm watching him every day on TV literally.
Scottie I've spent a lot of time with of the course leading up to these team events. For a couple years before I made any of those team events Scottie and Sam would get a house most weeks and we would hang with them; our wives are friends.
I've spent enough time with him that I haven't felt that very much. Really I'm just excited to play with him. He's an incredible teammate and obviously he's an amazing golfer, so it's kind of like the best combination. But I haven't felt that as much, and I just always look forward to being on his team for sure.
Q. Given his individual record over the last several years, four majors, all these wins, have you a little surprised that his team record isn't better? Losing record in the Ryder Cup; so-so in the Presidents Cup.
RUSSELL HENLEY: Yeah, I am, but I'm not. I feel like when you take the best player in the world and you put him on a hard golf course and you play for 72 holes, it shows it's usually one guy maybe ties or beats him. On average. It's ridiculous.
So that's over 72 holes. That's a normal golf tournament. When you're playing 18 holes and you have a partner, that's just a lot different.
So it is surprising because he's so good. But it's also like just part of it with match play. I don't know what Tiger's record was in match play, but I would imagine he was probably tough pair with because he's so -- such a world star.
Yeah, but, yeah, match play is just so different than stroke play, so, yeah.
Q. Give me your experience playing in the community before, Olympia Fields, here. What have you noticed the support being in the community for golf and what would it mean to have Chicago and have a regular stop like it used to have?
RUSSELL HENLEY: Yeah, I guess it's kind of surprising it doesn't. I played the Western Am here in Chicago 2011. And then we played a few times in the playoffs.
So it is surprising with how many great golf courses there are around. So I think it would be awesome to have a stop here.
Q. (No microphone.) (Regarding fan support and attendance. )
RUSSELL HENLEY: Conway Farms and Olympia Fields. I think it's been pretty good. Some of the courses are pretty far from the city, but I think it's been pretty good.
I think this week will be a lot bigger.
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