Podcast: The High Performance
Published Date:
Sun, 24 Sep 2023 23:04:12 GMT
Duration:
1:04:42
Explicit:
False
Guests:
MP3 Audio:
Please note that the summary is generated based on the transcript and may not capture all the nuances or details discussed in the podcast episode.
This is an open discussion about leadership, creating culture and what makes a winning team.
To mark the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy, Jake and Damian host a roundtable discussion with current European captain, Luke Donald, and legends, Paul McGinley and Sam Torrance. As Team Europe Ryder Cup captains past and present, they offer a unique perspective on leadership, team culture, and the winning formula that defines this prestigious event. They debate what makes a good Ryder Cup captain and the ways they get the best attributes from their players.
Luke Donald shares his experiences under different captains and how this has now influenced the way he interacts with his players. He shares his key lessons from his first 13 months as captain, including battling imposter syndrome. Paul McGinley and Sam Torrance consider how they change the way they create a sense of comradery in the current digital age, in contrast to team meetings taking place in their captain’s bedroom back in 2004.
Paul and Sam reflect on their choice to not include Luke in their 2014 team. They share what went into this decision and what elements need to come together to create a winning team.
This Ryder Cup roundtable is a deep dive into the art of cultivating an open and communicative team, finding the delicate balance between talent and performing under pressure, and defining the legacy that extends beyond the competition itself. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, a leader, or simply seeking inspiration, this episode offers valuable lessons on what it means to lead, build culture, and win as a team at sport’s highest level.
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**Building a Winning Team: Leadership, Culture, and Communication in the Ryder Cup**
In this episode of the High Performance podcast, host Jake Humphrey and Professor Damian Hughes engage in a captivating discussion about leadership, team culture, and the winning formula that defines the prestigious Ryder Cup. They are joined by three European Ryder Cup captains: Luke Donald, Paul McGinley, and Sam Torrance.
**Key Insights:**
1. **High Performance in the Ryder Cup:**
- **Luke Donald:** High performance is the ability to consistently overperform, especially when you're not expected to win.
- **Sam Torrance:** It's about staying in the moment, focusing on your match, and leaving no ounce of effort behind.
- **Paul McGinley:** It's about creating an environment where players can perform at their highest level.
2. **The Role of the Captain:**
- **Luke Donald:** The captain's role is to observe, watch, and prepare for the next roll of the dice.
- **Sam Torrance:** The captain should empower players and let them make decisions on the golf course.
- **Paul McGinley:** The captain should create a culture of high performance and adapt along the way.
3. **Creating a Winning Culture:**
- **Luke Donald:** Communication, clarity, and a sense of belonging are essential for creating a winning culture.
- **Sam Torrance:** Making players feel special and cared for helps foster a positive team environment.
- **Paul McGinley:** Demonstrating that you care about players, both individually and collectively, is crucial.
4. **Handling Fear and Imposter Syndrome:**
- **Luke Donald:** Acknowledging fear and stepping towards it can help overcome imposter syndrome.
- **Sam Torrance:** Embracing the journey and enjoying the process can alleviate anxiety.
- **Paul McGinley:** Learning from past captains and growing as a person are valuable outcomes of the captaincy experience.
5. **The Application Process for Ryder Cup Captaincy:**
- **Sam Torrance:** In the past, the selection process involved a committee interview.
- **Luke Donald:** The current process includes a formal application and a focus on winning and making necessary changes.
6. **Balancing Experience and New Talent:**
- **Luke Donald:** A mix of experienced players and rookies is essential for a balanced team.
- **Sam Torrance:** Rookies bring energy and enthusiasm, while experienced players provide stability.
- **Paul McGinley:** Form and recent performance are key factors in selecting players.
7. **The Legacy of the Ryder Cup:**
- **Luke Donald:** The Ryder Cup is about more than just golf; it's about sharing experiences and creating lifelong memories.
- **Sam Torrance:** The Ryder Cup is a unique event that transcends individual achievements.
- **Paul McGinley:** The Ryder Cup is about representing your country and playing for something bigger than yourself.
Overall, this episode delves into the intricacies of leadership, team dynamics, and the art of creating a winning culture in the context of the Ryder Cup. The insights shared by Luke Donald, Paul McGinley, and Sam Torrance offer valuable lessons for leaders, athletes, and anyone seeking to achieve high performance in their endeavors.
**Navigating Leadership, Creating Culture, and the Winning Formula in Sports: A Roundtable Discussion**
**Episode Summary**
This episode features a roundtable discussion with current European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and legends Paul McGinley and Sam Torrance. They offer a unique perspective on leadership, team culture, and the winning formula that defines this prestigious golf event.
**Key Points**
* The importance of creating a culture of openness and communication within a team.
* Balancing talent with the ability to perform under pressure.
* The role of the captain in fostering team unity and creating a legacy beyond the competition.
* Insights into the decision-making process for selecting Ryder Cup team members.
* The evolution of team-building strategies in the digital age.
* Emphasizing the delicate balance between individual talent and team performance.
* How to gauge a player's ability to handle pressure and perform in high-stakes situations.
* The significance of understanding a player's mannerisms and body language in assessing their potential.
* The impact of player commitment and dedication on team selection.
* Recognizing the importance of scouting and tracking potential players over an extended period.
* Acknowledging the unique blend of talent and mental fortitude required for success in high-pressure competitions.
* The role of statistics and data analysis in identifying and selecting players for the Ryder Cup team.
* The importance of fostering a sense of camaraderie and togetherness among team members.
* The influence of the captain's leadership style and approach on team dynamics and performance.
* The role of the captain in creating a platform for players to perform to the best of their abilities.
* The significance of building a strong team culture and creating a sense of belonging among players.
* The impact of the captain's decisions, particularly in pairing players and setting the team lineup, on the outcome of the Ryder Cup.
* The evolution of team meetings and the changing dynamics of team bonding in the digital age.
* The importance of maintaining a balance between individual talent and team cohesion in achieving success.
* The role of the captain in managing player expectations and delivering difficult news, such as not making the team.
* The impact of a player's form and recent performances on their selection for the Ryder Cup team.
**Overall Message**
This episode highlights the intricacies of leadership, team culture, and the importance of creating a winning formula in sports. It emphasizes the role of the captain in fostering unity, making strategic decisions, and creating a platform for players to excel. The discussion also underscores the delicate balance between individual talent and the ability to perform under pressure, recognizing that both are essential ingredients for success in high-stakes competitions like the Ryder Cup.
# Ryder Cup: Leadership, Culture, and Teamwork
**Navigating the Delicate Balance of Team Dynamics**
The podcast delves into the intricate world of leadership, culture, and teamwork in the context of the prestigious Ryder Cup, a biennial golf competition between Europe and the United States. Current European captain Luke Donald, along with legendary captains Paul McGinley and Sam Torrance, offer their unique perspectives on creating a winning team and fostering a culture of camaraderie and success.
**Key Insights from the Podcast Discussion:**
1. **The Significance of Team Culture:**
- A strong team culture is paramount to success in the Ryder Cup.
- Captains play a crucial role in shaping this culture, fostering a sense of unity and purpose among team members.
2. **Authenticity in Leadership:**
- Effective leadership often stems from authenticity.
- Captains who stay true to their leadership style and values inspire trust and respect among players.
3. **Adapting to the Digital Age:**
- The role of captains has evolved with the advent of digital communication.
- Captains now utilize technology to connect with players and create a sense of community.
4. **Balancing Talent and Performance Under Pressure:**
- Selecting the right players is essential, but managing their emotions and ensuring they perform under pressure is equally important.
- Captains must find the delicate balance between talent and the ability to thrive in the high-stakes environment of the Ryder Cup.
5. **Creating an Open and Communicative Team Environment:**
- Establishing an open and communicative team environment is vital for success.
- Captains encourage players to share their thoughts, concerns, and insights, fostering a sense of collaboration and trust.
6. **Scenario Planning and Adaptability:**
- Captains engage in scenario planning to anticipate potential challenges and develop strategies to address them.
- Adaptability is crucial as circumstances can change rapidly during the competition.
7. **Handling the Intensity of the Rivalry:**
- The Europe-USA rivalry adds an intense layer of emotion to the Ryder Cup.
- Captains emphasize the importance of staying focused on the task at hand and not getting overwhelmed by the hype.
8. **Empowering Players to Embrace the Crowd's Energy:**
- Captains encourage players to channel the crowd's energy positively, using it to fuel their performance.
- This approach helps players stay engaged and motivated throughout the competition.
9. **Non-Negotiable Behaviors for a Ryder Cup Captain:**
- Consistency, communication, and fun are three non-negotiable behaviors that captains prioritize.
- These behaviors contribute to a positive team culture and lay the foundation for success.
10. **A Captain's Final Message to the Players:**
- Captains deliver a final message to players on the first morning of the competition, emphasizing key points and setting the tone for the event.
- This message often focuses on unity, resilience, and the importance of playing as a team.
11. **Golden Rules for Winning the Ryder Cup:**
- Creating an environment where players feel unburdened, inspired, and empowered to play their best is crucial.
- Captains strive to provide a clear plan and a strong culture that fosters success.
**Overall, the podcast highlights the intricacies of leadership, culture, and teamwork in the context of the Ryder Cup. It offers valuable insights from experienced captains, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, adaptability, and creating a positive team environment. These lessons extend beyond the golf course, providing valuable takeaways for leaders and teams in various fields.**
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[00:37.920 -> 00:38.400] Hi there.
[00:38.480 -> 00:42.040] You're listening to High Performance, the award-winning podcast that unlocks
[00:42.040 -> 00:44.880] the minds of some of the most fascinating people on the planet.
[00:49.000 -> 00:55.000] I'm Jay Comfrey and alongside Professor Damian Hughes, we learn from the stories, successes and struggles of our guests, allowing us all to explore, be challenged
[00:55.000 -> 00:59.400] and to grow. Here's what's coming up today.
[00:59.400 -> 01:04.680] As a captain, your role is to try and create that culture, that environment for them to
[01:04.680 -> 01:05.000] succeed. We just for them to succeed.
[01:05.000 -> 01:07.920] You know, we just need them to play to their ability.
[01:07.920 -> 01:10.400] You know, we don't need to outperform their ability
[01:10.400 -> 01:11.320] or anything.
[01:11.320 -> 01:12.600] They play to their ability,
[01:12.600 -> 01:14.620] they're more than good enough to win.
[01:14.620 -> 01:16.400] We all talked about our experiences
[01:16.400 -> 01:19.920] and how amazing those experiences are in Ryder Cup.
[01:19.920 -> 01:22.560] So they outperform anything we do as an individual
[01:22.560 -> 01:24.800] because we get to share it with those people.
[01:22.520 -> 01:24.760] They outperform anything we do as an individual because we get to share it with those people.
[01:25.960 -> 01:29.480] You have the power of 60,000 people
[01:29.480 -> 01:31.000] in the palms of your hands.
[01:31.000 -> 01:32.360] And when you're standing at first tee
[01:32.360 -> 01:33.200] and rather than thinking,
[01:33.200 -> 01:35.080] oh my God, you know, get the tee in the ground,
[01:35.080 -> 01:35.960] I hope I don't miss it,
[01:35.960 -> 01:38.000] I hope I don't sky it or block it.
[01:38.000 -> 01:39.920] Just think, when it goes quiet,
[01:39.920 -> 01:41.480] this place is going to rock
[01:41.480 -> 01:43.080] if I rip it down the middle of the fairway
[01:43.080 -> 01:44.480] and the crowd just go ballistic.
[01:44.480 -> 01:45.800] They want a reason to scream.
[01:46.880 -> 01:48.320] Beat the guy that's in front of you.
[01:49.360 -> 01:51.360] The guy that's standing on the first deal looking at you.
[01:52.080 -> 01:54.360] Show no fear, look him in the eye, shake his hand,
[01:54.920 -> 01:57.080] say good luck, then beat him.
[01:59.280 -> 02:03.440] So those are three men who are Ryder Cup captains.
[02:03.520 -> 02:05.720] Sam Torrance, whose career has been defined by
[02:05.720 -> 02:09.720] this competition. Paul McGinley, who's a previous guest on High Performance and delivered one
[02:09.720 -> 02:14.160] of the most compelling episodes. And Luke Donald, the current captain who will lead
[02:14.160 -> 02:20.720] Europe into the Ryder Cup against the United States this year. And the Ryder Cup is fascinating.
[02:20.720 -> 02:28.520] Remember, golf's an individual sport where you're competing alone, where it's all about about you on the green, on the fairway, delivering when it matters. And suddenly in
[02:28.520 -> 02:33.160] the Ryder Cup, you're having to compete in a team setting. It's Europe versus America.
[02:33.160 -> 02:38.840] It's an old rivalry. It's an intense rivalry. The noise, the cat whistles, the boos, the
[02:38.840 -> 02:43.720] cheers, it's all part of this incredible competition. And you're about to hear why captaining the
[02:43.720 -> 02:45.100] Ryder Cup is so special.
[02:45.100 -> 02:47.560] Remember, the Ryder Cup captain is a golfer.
[02:47.800 -> 02:50.860] They haven't spent their lives bringing people together, getting them to play as
[02:50.860 -> 02:52.880] one, creating a team culture.
[02:52.880 -> 02:55.760] They've been the individual sports person and suddenly their
[02:55.760 -> 02:57.520] role is very different.
[02:57.760 -> 02:58.680] So how do you do it?
[02:58.740 -> 03:01.880] Well, you're going to hear Paul and Sam talking about their past experience,
[03:02.240 -> 03:08.480] giving some brilliant advice to Luke, the current Ryder Cup captain. And Luke's also going to share the decisions that he's made, the thoughts that
[03:08.480 -> 03:13.600] he's got, and the plans that he's formulating in his mind to make sure that Europe wins the
[03:13.600 -> 03:18.400] Ryder Cup against a US team who are heavily fancied and have some amazing players in their
[03:18.400 -> 03:23.200] ranks. Remember, this conversation isn't about golf. It's about creating a culture. It's about
[03:23.200 -> 03:30.080] inspiring people. It's about getting someone to perform under pressure. It's about driving unity in a team and so much more.
[03:30.080 -> 03:33.880] Listen, thank you for coming to this episode of High Performance. If you have a friend
[03:33.880 -> 03:37.760] who would benefit from this, whether they're a golf fan or not, please feel free to share
[03:37.760 -> 03:42.680] the things you're learning from High Performance. But let's get straight into it. Here we go.
[03:42.680 -> 03:48.940] Our Ryder Cup Captains Special. As we sit down with Luke Donald, Paul McGinley,
[03:49.260 -> 03:52.540] and Sam Torrance on the High Performance Podcast.
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[06:40.360 -> 06:44.080] Thank you all very much for joining us for our Ryder Cup Captain Special.
[06:44.080 -> 06:46.240] Obviously, the podcast is high performance,
[06:46.240 -> 06:48.480] so I want to start by asking each of you in turn,
[06:49.040 -> 06:53.200] what is high performance in the context of the Ryder Cup?
[06:54.240 -> 06:55.120] You want me to start?
[06:55.120 -> 06:56.160] I'm afraid so.
[06:56.720 -> 07:01.360] Yeah, I mean, high performance is the ability to consistently overperform,
[07:01.360 -> 07:03.360] I think, time and time again, you know,
[07:03.360 -> 07:07.000] and I think we've certainly done that as a team in Europe.
[07:07.000 -> 07:11.000] I don't think on paper, often we are the underdogs.
[07:11.000 -> 07:13.000] We're always the underdogs.
[07:13.000 -> 07:15.000] The Americans are always very strong.
[07:15.000 -> 07:20.000] On paper, their world ranking's way better than ours consistently.
[07:20.000 -> 07:22.000] But we find a way to win.
[07:22.000 -> 07:27.000] And I think that is what high performance is really,
[07:27.000 -> 07:32.000] is finding a way to win even when you're not expected to.
[07:32.000 -> 07:34.000] Couldn't agree more.
[07:34.000 -> 07:37.000] I think it's about staying in the moment as well.
[07:37.000 -> 07:39.000] Never get ahead of yourself.
[07:39.000 -> 07:40.000] Just concentrate and you're in match.
[07:40.000 -> 07:45.600] It's very difficult out there to look ahead and see what everyone else is doing, because
[07:45.600 -> 07:48.440] there's nothing you can do apart from win your own point.
[07:48.440 -> 07:52.720] Or you and your partner are singles, it's your point.
[07:52.720 -> 07:57.280] And just stay there and just dig in and whatever he does, do something better.
[07:57.280 -> 07:58.600] And just keep going to the end.
[07:58.600 -> 08:03.000] No matter what, you come off that last green and you've not left one ounce of anything
[08:03.000 -> 08:04.000] behind you.
[08:04.000 -> 08:05.720] Very nice nice Sam.
[08:05.720 -> 08:06.720] What about you Paul?
[08:06.720 -> 08:10.440] Yeah, I mean I think the words high performance are what it's all about.
[08:10.440 -> 08:15.040] I mean everything that captains do behind the scenes is about creating high performance
[08:15.040 -> 08:19.860] and the job of captains is not like it is in rugby and soccer where you're on the touch
[08:19.860 -> 08:23.200] line and you're making in play decisions.
[08:23.200 -> 08:25.040] It's rare that a captain in a right of court,
[08:25.040 -> 08:29.360] very rare. I mean, you didn't do it, Sam, did you? Get involved and give advice on the
[08:29.360 -> 08:32.560] course. I don't remember many captains I played under did.
[08:32.560 -> 08:37.480] There was a couple of instances where I should have done it and one I did and Bernard Langer
[08:37.480 -> 08:43.440] told me to do it. Another one was Fulke and Philip Price playing foursomes. There's times
[08:43.440 -> 08:46.400] where you feel, is it right?
[08:46.400 -> 08:48.440] Should you just step in there and say something?
[08:48.440 -> 08:50.920] And I think in hindsight, yes, 100%.
[08:50.920 -> 08:54.760] I think all these guys are high-performing athletes, aren't they?
[08:54.760 -> 08:56.440] And they know how to do it individually.
[08:56.440 -> 09:00.360] And so you got to kind of keep that mindset.
[09:00.360 -> 09:02.840] They know how to perform at a high level.
[09:02.840 -> 09:05.000] You're just there to kind of observe and then obviously give them information. they know how to perform at a high level.
[09:02.000 -> 09:07.000] You're just there to kind of observe
[09:04.000 -> 09:09.000] and then obviously give them information.
[09:06.000 -> 09:11.000] And that's how they want to take that information
[09:09.000 -> 09:14.000] and use it.
[09:10.000 -> 09:15.000] So it's not just about telling them how to play,
[09:13.000 -> 09:18.000] because they all know how to do that.
[09:15.000 -> 09:20.000] But there are instances where
[09:17.000 -> 09:22.000] you've seen something in a previous match
[09:20.000 -> 09:25.000] or a match in front of them
[09:21.000 -> 09:26.000] and you think, well, maybe that will help them.
[09:23.000 -> 09:25.000] Give them a little bit of information, a match in front of them and you think,
[09:22.000 -> 09:27.000] well maybe that will help them,
[09:24.000 -> 09:29.000] give them a little bit of information,
[09:25.000 -> 09:30.000] they can take it or leave it.
[09:26.000 -> 09:31.000] But I think once Friday comes, the morning,
[09:29.000 -> 09:34.000] you're sort of just letting them go.
[09:31.000 -> 09:36.000] You're trying to create that culture
[09:33.000 -> 09:38.000] and get them in the right frame of mind
[09:35.000 -> 09:40.000] before Friday morning.
[09:36.000 -> 09:41.000] But after that,
[09:37.000 -> 09:42.000] sort of let them go play.
[09:40.000 -> 09:45.000] At the end of the day,
[09:41.000 -> 09:46.000] you sort of adjust, I suppose.
[09:43.000 -> 09:48.000] I haven't gone through it yet,
[09:44.000 -> 09:46.000] but I've been through it as a vice captain.
[09:46.000 -> 09:49.480] But as a captain, you know, I think you want to
[09:49.480 -> 09:52.720] just observe a lot and then you obviously make
[09:52.720 -> 09:55.320] adaptations along the way,
[09:55.320 -> 09:57.720] just depending on how the players are looking,
[09:57.720 -> 10:00.040] how they're feeling, how they're reacting
[10:00.040 -> 10:02.680] under that pressure, all that kind of stuff.
[10:02.680 -> 10:03.960] That's how I saw it, too.
[10:03.960 -> 10:06.840] I didn't get involved, like Sam got involved, two instances there.
[10:06.840 -> 10:08.200] I didn't get involved at all.
[10:08.200 -> 10:09.320] I'd never give advice.
[10:09.320 -> 10:13.840] I didn't see my role as telling Rory McIlroy it's a six rather than a five.
[10:13.840 -> 10:16.920] I left it up to him and empowered him in the caddies and I said that at the start of the
[10:16.920 -> 10:17.920] week.
[10:17.920 -> 10:20.840] I'm not going to get involved at any stage in any decision making on the golf course.
[10:20.840 -> 10:22.600] You're the best players in the world.
[10:22.600 -> 10:28.720] You've made great decisions to be where you are and my job is to observe, watch, and as Luke says, get prepared for
[10:28.720 -> 10:31.880] the next roll of the dice and who's going to be playing in the afternoon and who's going
[10:31.880 -> 10:36.280] to be playing the following morning. So there's different ways of doing it. I know Seve was
[10:36.280 -> 10:39.480] really involved. Seve really got involved.
[10:39.480 -> 10:41.480] He wanted to hit every shot.
[10:41.480 -> 10:51.000] Yeah, tell him Monty, was it the 17th? No, Darren was on 17th and he had to tell him to politely go away, leave me alone.
[10:51.000 -> 10:54.000] Oh no, it's not sandwich, you must be wedged, pitching wedged.
[10:54.000 -> 10:56.000] Yeah, a little wedge, you hit it like this.
[10:56.000 -> 11:00.000] I think we've all played and played under very different captains, you know, everyone has different personalities.
[11:00.000 -> 11:05.000] I had Bernard Langer was my first captain in 2004,
[11:03.000 -> 11:08.000] super detail-orientated.
[11:06.000 -> 11:11.000] I just felt like I knew exactly my role,
[11:08.000 -> 11:13.000] where I needed to be, what was expected of me,
[11:11.000 -> 11:16.000] my partnerships I kind of knew in advance.
[11:14.000 -> 11:19.000] Nothing really surprised me, which was good for me.
[11:16.000 -> 11:21.000] I kind of liked that structure,
[11:18.000 -> 11:23.000] so I really enjoyed playing under Bernard.
[11:21.000 -> 11:26.000] But the next two years later I was with Woozie,
[11:24.000 -> 11:25.800] a completely different character,
[11:25.800 -> 11:28.680] sort of a little bit more less structured,
[11:28.680 -> 11:30.880] let's go in the bar, have a glass of wine,
[11:30.880 -> 11:33.720] and talk things through, that kind of feel.
[11:33.720 -> 11:35.840] And it was just very different.
[11:35.840 -> 11:38.520] We won both of them 18 and a half to nine and a half,
[11:38.520 -> 11:41.160] so sometimes it just comes down to,
[11:41.160 -> 11:42.960] you can get the players in a great spot,
[11:42.960 -> 11:47.680] but sometimes it comes down to the talent and how they perform on those days.
[11:47.680 -> 11:49.120] And the wine stuck with you.
[11:49.120 -> 11:51.120] Well, we're high-performance athletes.
[11:51.120 -> 11:55.600] I love the fact you three are on the red wine and we've got the water.
[11:55.600 -> 11:59.840] So what would you say are the best attributes of the captains that you played under then?
[11:59.840 -> 12:05.700] Again, for me it was communication, kind of having that clarity, that understanding what
[12:05.700 -> 12:09.300] the plan was ahead of time.
[12:09.300 -> 12:16.300] I think most people, especially the 12 that we have now, I think they appreciate that.
[12:16.300 -> 12:20.640] They want to kind of have a sense of what's going to happen, a sense of who they might
[12:20.640 -> 12:23.940] be playing with, just so they can prepare.
[12:23.940 -> 12:28.160] That's important for me, you know, is that constant clarity, that constant communication.
[12:28.160 -> 12:32.400] I'm interested in how all three of you kind of approached it.
[12:32.400 -> 12:38.020] You know, as we sit here now, you've both done the job, you're very close to doing it.
[12:38.020 -> 12:41.960] Did you have a really fixed idea of the kind of captain you both would be?
[12:41.960 -> 12:45.300] And are you sitting here now with a very clear idea of the captain
[12:45.300 -> 12:49.900] you will be or is it about getting everyone together and feeling it?
[12:49.900 -> 12:55.020] Well I wanted just to look after them individually and make them feel special.
[12:55.020 -> 12:56.020] How did you do that?
[12:56.020 -> 13:03.700] Talk to them, take them aside, just be a pal really.
[13:03.700 -> 13:06.120] To me the captain was always daunting.
[13:06.120 -> 13:07.880] It's kind of like the headmaster in the school.
[13:07.880 -> 13:10.080] That's why the vice captains are great.
[13:10.080 -> 13:11.240] You know, so you can go to the vice captain
[13:11.240 -> 13:13.800] and say, I've got a wee problem here, can you get it fixed?
[13:13.800 -> 13:15.480] He'll either fix it or take it to the captain,
[13:15.480 -> 13:17.040] and he will definitely fix it.
[13:17.040 -> 13:19.200] But the captain was kind of up there, you know,
[13:19.200 -> 13:21.880] so it's different for me to be that man up there.
[13:21.880 -> 13:24.880] I was normally the reprobate, causing them trouble.
[13:24.880 -> 13:29.280] But just make sure that we're feeling okay and relaxed.
[13:29.280 -> 13:31.240] Yeah, I think show them that you care,
[13:31.240 -> 13:36.240] that they're important and you're doing all the work
[13:36.280 -> 13:39.680] to give them the best team to succeed.
[13:39.680 -> 13:42.800] And I don't think you can really change who you are.
[13:42.800 -> 13:45.000] I mean, I've had to maybe become a little bit more And I don't think you can really change who you are.
[13:43.000 -> 13:48.000] I mean I've had to maybe become a little bit more outgoing,
[13:47.800 -> 13:52.800] extroverted, you know, up my communication.
[13:50.480 -> 13:55.480] I was someone that kind of stuck in my own lane
[13:52.840 -> 13:57.840] as a player individually.
[13:55.320 -> 14:00.320] I think a lot of us do.
[13:56.680 -> 14:01.680] We're sort of in a very individual sport.
[13:59.800 -> 14:04.800] You mix a little bit with players,
[14:01.320 -> 14:06.320] but you're very single-minded
[14:03.560 -> 14:06.400] about what you need to do to be successful.
[14:06.400 -> 14:07.880] Ryder Cups are a little bit different.
[14:07.880 -> 14:12.560] You want to keep that mindset with the players, but you want to create that belonging that
[14:12.560 -> 14:15.600] everyone is there and that you care about them.
[14:15.600 -> 14:21.040] So I think for me that's been a big thing for me in my captaincy.
[14:21.040 -> 14:27.640] Can you give us any tangible examples of how you demonstrate that you care for one of your
[14:27.640 -> 14:28.720] team?
[14:28.720 -> 14:34.260] I guess it's just constant communication, constant feedback, you know, wanting to hear
[14:34.260 -> 14:39.440] from them as well, you know, not just thinking that I know everything, just getting their
[14:39.440 -> 14:41.560] opinions, getting their takes.
[14:41.560 -> 14:44.080] You know, I think that's important.
[14:44.080 -> 14:49.520] There's certain things I won't go into because I think they're sacred to the team of how
[14:49.520 -> 14:55.840] to create that belonging, that getting guys feeling comfortable around each other.
[14:55.840 -> 14:59.020] Certain things that we've done as a team.
[14:59.020 -> 15:00.020] Some of these aren't secret.
[15:00.020 -> 15:05.080] You create dinners, you go out to dinners, and you just get to know them.
[15:05.080 -> 15:08.520] Even my wife, Diane, plays an important role.
[15:08.520 -> 15:09.680] I think talking to the wives,
[15:09.680 -> 15:12.400] making them feel comfortable,
[15:12.400 -> 15:15.400] the partners, girlfriends, all those.
[15:15.400 -> 15:18.280] So once we get there on the match week,
[15:19.200 -> 15:21.640] we already understand each other a little bit more.
[15:21.640 -> 15:24.640] We're already happy in a team room together.
[15:24.640 -> 15:27.800] We're not feeling like the rookies are in one table
[15:27.800 -> 15:29.240] and the superstars are in another.
[15:29.240 -> 15:33.500] Now everyone's mixing together and involved with each other.
[15:33.500 -> 15:36.400] So that's kind of my philosophy anyway.
[15:36.400 -> 15:40.080] I think there was, on that, when a team,
[15:40.080 -> 15:43.080] you're going to have some guys who are the superstars
[15:43.080 -> 15:47.840] and they're going to be the guys taking the heavy load in terms of playing big matches and a lot
[15:47.840 -> 15:52.000] of matches and then other guys that are going to come in and play a lesser role in terms
[15:52.000 -> 15:54.120] of lesser matches.
[15:54.120 -> 15:57.260] And so there is that natural divide in every team.
[15:57.260 -> 16:02.080] And I was part of the vice captaincy in 2012 in Medina.
[16:02.080 -> 16:06.080] And one of the things that came out of Medina, Ollie was the captain who was
[16:06.080 -> 16:07.720] very instinctive.
[16:07.720 -> 16:12.560] So he made his decisions based on his heart and his soul more than analytics or anything
[16:12.560 -> 16:13.560] else.
[16:13.560 -> 16:17.560] Now, there's not many people who have as big a heart and a soul as him, and you know, we
[16:17.560 -> 16:21.440] were all waiting, and sometimes he was waiting until five minutes, you know, the guys were
[16:21.440 -> 16:27.960] in play in the morning, and he wouldn't put the team for the afternoon in until literally, he wouldn't make his call until five minutes before.
[16:27.960 -> 16:30.520] So that was causing chaos for the guys.
[16:30.520 -> 16:34.960] As Luke says, a lot of them are like him, kind of OCD style structured and like to know
[16:34.960 -> 16:35.960] what they're doing.
[16:35.960 -> 16:38.980] And he got four guys back in the locker room climbing the walls, not knowing whether to
[16:38.980 -> 16:40.720] tee an off in an hour or not.
[16:40.720 -> 16:52.600] And Ollie was, you know, at the 11th hour he'd make his call. So one of the things in the debrief that we found from Medina was the value of maybe instead
[16:52.600 -> 16:56.480] of having four vice captains, one to follow each game and the captain to roam, that we
[16:56.480 -> 17:00.480] needed a fifth vice captain to be with the four guys who were not there.
[17:00.480 -> 17:04.400] So it was a constant stream of communication back rather than somebody having to come off
[17:04.400 -> 17:07.640] the golf course to go in and say, wait a minute guys, he still hasn't made his decision.
[17:07.640 -> 17:10.760] I'll be back in half an hour and back out to follow their game again, which is what
[17:10.760 -> 17:12.080] Thomas Bjorn had to do.
[17:12.080 -> 17:17.720] So that's the kind of thing that evolves and you got to be careful because communication
[17:17.720 -> 17:22.040] is so important and you don't want the guys who are not playing to feel second rate.
[17:22.040 -> 17:26.340] As Alex Ferguson said to me, never give bad news on its own, always give good
[17:26.340 -> 17:27.340] news with it.
[17:27.340 -> 17:30.900] You're not playing in the morning, but, I did that with Graeme McDowell, you're only
[17:30.900 -> 17:35.400] playing three matches, but I'm going to put you out number one in the singles on Sunday.
[17:35.400 -> 17:40.560] So you know, there's a yin and a yang there, and so that's what good communication is about.
[17:40.560 -> 17:43.600] You see, this is interesting though, isn't it?
[17:43.600 -> 17:45.640] You know, you're a golfer, right?
[17:45.640 -> 17:49.560] Suddenly you're going to have to employ a load of skills that the guys have just explained
[17:49.560 -> 17:54.320] about understanding human beings, communicating, solving problems, stuff that you haven't had
[17:54.320 -> 17:55.320] to do for your career.
[17:55.320 -> 18:00.760] So I wonder where kind of fear and doubt and imposter syndrome is sitting for you at the
[18:00.760 -> 18:06.000] moment, having to do something that you've not done in a long and distinguished career?
[18:06.000 -> 18:08.000] I think there's fear in everything that you do
[18:08.000 -> 18:12.000] in life that's tough, but that's part of it.
[18:12.000 -> 18:14.000] I'll be nervous, I was on a practice trip,
[18:14.000 -> 18:17.000] when I talked to the guys, it's not my natural place,
[18:17.000 -> 18:20.000] but if I'm prepared, then I can do it,
[18:20.000 -> 18:23.000] and I can send the right message.
[18:23.000 -> 18:29.260] I think once you step towards that fear and you go through it, you come, think about
[18:29.260 -> 18:32.760] it 10 minutes later and you're like, it wasn't so bad, it's fine.
[18:32.760 -> 18:38.520] So yeah, I think there's fear in everything that you do, but I've tried to step back a
[18:38.520 -> 18:43.800] little bit too and enjoy the journey as much as possible because, again, a lot of the past
[18:43.800 -> 18:44.960] captains have told me that.
[18:44.960 -> 18:45.000] It goes quite quickly, it's high pressure. journey as much as possible because, again, a lot of the past captains have told me that.
[18:45.000 -> 18:47.280] It goes quite quickly, it's high pressure.
[18:47.280 -> 18:50.240] Monday to Thursday is just extraordinary.
[18:50.240 -> 18:51.240] It's gone like that.
[18:51.240 -> 18:53.040] Yeah, and there's a lot going on.
[18:53.040 -> 18:55.920] It's a very busy week, the Rally Cup.
[18:55.920 -> 18:58.320] As a player, even, it's a long week.
[18:58.320 -> 19:00.000] There's a lot going on.
[19:00.000 -> 19:05.000] There's dinners, there's gala dinners,
[19:02.480 -> 19:07.480] there's opening ceremonies,
[19:04.560 -> 19:09.560] there's all kinds of videos
[19:06.760 -> 19:11.760] and fun things for the team.
[19:09.240 -> 19:14.240] It's a lot.
[19:10.240 -> 19:15.240] Certainly the last couple weeks,
[19:12.000 -> 19:17.000] I feel like I wake up an hour or two
[19:14.760 -> 19:19.760] before I should be waking up
[19:15.960 -> 19:20.960] because my brain
[19:17.000 -> 19:22.000] has got all these thoughts
[19:18.880 -> 19:23.880] and all these things
[19:19.560 -> 19:24.560] that I'm trying to figure out and plan.
[19:23.200 -> 19:28.200] I write notes down a lot.
[19:24.440 -> 19:26.620] I always have a notebook. I write things
[19:26.620 -> 19:32.920] down. I put things in my phone. I think that's just the way I am. Not every captain would
[19:32.920 -> 19:38.760] be like that, but I like to listen and learn from the people that came before me.
[19:38.760 -> 19:44.020] That's great, Luke. That's exactly what your job is. And a lot of it is just listening
[19:44.020 -> 19:45.000] to your players, to your
[19:45.000 -> 19:51.480] team, what they're saying, what they're doing, how's he feeling. And it's so instinctive,
[19:51.480 -> 19:52.480] you'll fly through it.
[19:52.480 -> 19:56.360] The skill sets of the vice captains is important too. You know, where you're weak, you put
[19:56.360 -> 20:02.920] somebody in strong. I mean, I had Sam as a vice captain because, you know, he's got this
[20:02.920 -> 20:06.920] effusive energy that, you know, was going to radiate through the room
[20:06.920 -> 20:09.280] and it was really important to have that.
[20:09.280 -> 20:13.600] I wanted a vibe, so I made sure that I had vice captains who were going to have a vibe
[20:13.600 -> 20:16.240] about them.
[20:16.240 -> 20:17.240] That's really important.
[20:17.240 -> 20:20.240] So Luke was saying there about him being structured, I'm the opposite.
[20:20.240 -> 20:21.860] I'm really unstructured.
[20:21.860 -> 20:30.480] So I had to force myself to write things and take a notebook as he says and write things down on my phone. I mean, you learn that. You learn that. And
[20:30.480 -> 20:35.840] it makes you grow as a person. It certainly made me do. I'm sure you'd feel the same.
[20:35.840 -> 20:38.880] You come out the other side of this as a more rounded person.
[20:38.880 -> 20:41.280] It's such an honor to be a helicopter captain.
[20:41.280 -> 20:45.000] Yeah, I was pretty anxious when I first got the call to be it.
[20:45.000 -> 20:47.000] You know, obviously, I was thinking, can I do this?
[20:47.000 -> 20:49.000] Were you expecting the call?
[20:49.000 -> 20:51.000] Well, I obviously applied to try and be the captain,
[20:51.000 -> 20:55.000] so it was a nice surprise when it happened.
[20:55.000 -> 20:59.000] But yeah, you always question yourself, can I do this?
[20:59.000 -> 21:02.000] I'm 45, am I ready?
[21:02.000 -> 21:04.000] What does it entail?
[21:04.000 -> 21:07.760] But you just take every day as it comes and you just keep moving forward.
[21:07.760 -> 21:13.480] And I think, you know, I've certainly learned a lot over the last 13, 14 months that I've
[21:13.480 -> 21:14.480] been in this position.
[21:14.480 -> 21:19.480] So, it's been learning that I can do it, I think.
[21:19.480 -> 21:24.720] Learning that, you know, my players are behind me, I think, and I'm behind them.
[21:24.720 -> 21:26.360] So, you know, I think that's really
[21:26.360 -> 21:27.360] the most important thing.
[21:27.360 -> 21:32.160] What was the application process like to apply for the job of captain?
[21:32.160 -> 21:37.840] It probably changed over the years. For me, it was like there's five people on a committee
[21:37.840 -> 21:42.040] and you're just pretty much like a job interview.
[21:42.040 -> 21:43.720] It has evolved a lot.
[21:43.720 -> 21:47.440] Ken Schofield came to Mark James and I said you two are the next two captains.
[21:47.440 -> 21:48.440] Is that what happened?
[21:48.440 -> 21:49.440] Take a pick.
[21:49.440 -> 21:50.440] Really?
[21:50.440 -> 21:56.480] And I had just won the French Open in 98 and I said to Jesse I think I can actually make
[21:56.480 -> 21:57.480] the team.
[21:57.480 -> 21:59.440] So he took Brookline.
[21:59.440 -> 22:01.600] So good move Sam, well don't give him the away one.
[22:01.600 -> 22:03.640] That was a smart move.
[22:03.640 -> 22:05.000] First tick in the box as a captain.
[22:05.000 -> 22:08.000] Yeah, captain at home. All three of us have done it at home.
[22:08.000 -> 22:10.000] It's a hell of a lot easier than doing it away.
[22:10.000 -> 22:14.000] Is it? I don't know. I wouldn't have thought more enjoyable, probably.
[22:14.000 -> 22:16.000] I find it easier to play away.
[22:16.000 -> 22:18.000] Yeah, I don't remember you telling me that.
[22:18.000 -> 22:19.000] Because?
[22:19.000 -> 22:21.000] Well, the crowd really annoys you.
[22:21.000 -> 22:23.000] Well, that's why…
[22:23.000 -> 22:27.000] Well, they'll, you know, all that.
[22:27.000 -> 22:28.000] It's great.
[22:28.000 -> 22:30.000] The atmosphere is wild.
[22:30.000 -> 22:35.000] But when you're underdogs and they're trying to,
[22:35.000 -> 22:38.000] they're a little, sometimes can be a little bit unkind,
[22:38.000 -> 22:40.000] and it just makes you madder and just want to play better,
[22:40.000 -> 22:47.440] and, you know, there's less expectation from you abroad, but we liked it, you know, we
[22:47.440 -> 22:49.440] liked it a lot, I thought.
[22:49.440 -> 22:52.800] So can we go back to the application process, because I'm interested in what kind of questions
[22:52.800 -> 22:54.360] are they asking you then when…
[22:54.360 -> 22:55.920] And what answers are you giving?
[22:55.920 -> 22:56.920] Yeah.
[22:56.920 -> 23:01.240] What kind of captain would you be, you know, what do you think we need to change from Whistling
[23:01.240 -> 23:02.240] Straits?
[23:02.240 -> 23:03.240] The result.
[23:03.240 -> 23:04.240] Yeah, yeah.
[23:04.240 -> 23:05.000] Let's recreate the process then. It wasn't that fun. from whistling straights. The result. Yeah.
[23:05.000 -> 23:07.000] Let's recreate the process then.
[23:07.000 -> 23:09.000] It wasn't that fun.
[23:09.000 -> 23:11.000] Luke, what kind of captain would you be?
[23:14.000 -> 23:15.000] Well, a winning captain.
[23:15.000 -> 23:19.000] You know, I've played on four teams and won every one,
[23:19.000 -> 23:21.000] so I think I know a little bit of thing about winning
[23:21.000 -> 23:24.000] and I can't even remember what I said in that thing.
[23:24.000 -> 23:25.000] But obviously, thing about winning.
[23:21.560 -> 23:26.560] And I can't even remember what I said in that thing.
[23:24.400 -> 23:29.400] But obviously, I mentioned winning.
[23:27.600 -> 23:32.600] I think we came off our worst loss in a long time
[23:32.240 -> 23:37.240] at Whistling Straits.
[23:34.320 -> 23:39.320] We've always had a pretty good template of success
[23:38.520 -> 23:43.520] and stuff that we've done well,
[23:39.880 -> 23:44.880] but that year we just didn't perform.
[23:42.800 -> 23:47.800] The players didn't really show up,
[23:44.560 -> 23:48.120] and I think we needed to do some changes.
[23:48.120 -> 23:53.200] So for me it was enacting a different qualification system.
[23:53.200 -> 23:58.920] It was bringing back a new match play event, the Hero Cup that we did.
[23:58.920 -> 24:03.320] And some of that stuff really had an impact on some of the picks that I made.
[24:03.320 -> 24:04.320] It really did.
[24:04.320 -> 24:06.060] And it was really worthwhile,
[24:06.060 -> 24:09.380] and I hope it continues for years to come,
[24:09.380 -> 24:13.200] because we don't have many match play events,
[24:13.200 -> 24:16.240] so you don't really see how these guys perform as a team,
[24:16.240 -> 24:18.520] and how they bond, and how they connect with each other,
[24:18.520 -> 24:20.760] and under those circumstances,
[24:20.760 -> 24:22.200] when you're playing for a teammate,
[24:22.200 -> 24:23.760] there's a little bit more pressure on the line
[24:23.760 -> 24:24.920] than just playing for yourself,
[24:24.920 -> 24:25.000] so you get to really see how they react in those situations, circumstances when you're playing for a teammate, there's a little bit more pressure on the line than just playing for yourself.
[24:25.000 -> 24:30.160] So you get to really see how they react in those situations.
[24:30.160 -> 24:35.480] And yeah, the qualification system, tweaking that was important.
[24:35.480 -> 24:40.200] We want our strongest players and we want some informed players and we don't want guys
[24:40.200 -> 24:44.360] that have played really well like in February or March and then sort of tails off, but they've
[24:44.360 -> 24:45.000] just done enough
[24:45.000 -> 24:47.000] to hang on to those automatic spots.
[24:47.000 -> 24:52.000] So again, certain things like that, that I put my case over.
[24:53.000 -> 24:56.000] So for the uninitiated, there are players that are there on merit,
[24:56.000 -> 24:59.000] and then you get your pick of players as well.
[24:59.000 -> 25:00.000] Yep.
[25:00.000 -> 25:04.000] So those players that you've had the choice to select,
[25:04.000 -> 25:05.040] how have you got the balance right
[25:05.040 -> 25:10.520] between what makes a good team and like who's going to win a game of golf?
[25:10.520 -> 25:14.000] We'll see in two weeks if I get the balance right, but I hope so.
[25:14.000 -> 25:20.360] I think we have 12 very strong guys, but it'd be hard to pick six rookies because again,
[25:20.360 -> 25:22.160] there's some uncertainty there.
[25:22.160 -> 25:25.000] You don't really haven't seen them in that situation and how they've performed, so you need some uncertainty there.
[25:22.080 -> 25:27.080] You don't really haven't seen them in that situation
[25:25.680 -> 25:30.680] and how they've performed,
[25:26.720 -> 25:31.720] so you need some experience there.
[25:28.560 -> 25:33.560] People that you know that you can count on,
[25:30.600 -> 25:35.600] that you've seen them perform
[25:32.120 -> 25:37.120] in those high-pressure situations,
[25:33.800 -> 25:38.800] that they've turned up in those big moments
[25:36.960 -> 25:41.960] and been able to kind of perform at a very high level.
[25:41.160 -> 25:46.160] But you need to have rookies as well.
[25:43.320 -> 25:45.060] I mean, you need to trust that there's going to be
[25:45.060 -> 25:50.420] a new generation of people, the future. And I was a rookie once. We were all rookies at
[25:50.420 -> 25:57.260] one point. You know, in my first Ryder Cup, we had five rookies on our team in 2004. And
[25:57.260 -> 26:02.100] we still were very successful. So the way you pick those is you're looking at form,
[26:02.100 -> 26:06.080] but you're also looking at how they performed over the last year.
[26:06.080 -> 26:12.640] And certainly my job may be slightly different to some captains, but I've been playing a
[26:12.640 -> 26:17.440] lot this year and last year, because I felt like it was great to be around these guys
[26:17.440 -> 26:22.080] as much as possible to see how they're playing, see them, how they react when I'm playing
[26:22.080 -> 26:25.540] with them, you know, and just gauging these
[26:25.540 -> 26:32.740] little things, you know, their mannerisms, their body language, the way they handle these
[26:32.740 -> 26:39.520] kind of situations, I think you can tell a lot. And certainly some of those things went
[26:39.520 -> 26:42.400] into the decisions that I made when I made my picks.
[26:42.400 -> 26:46.600] So what are the kind of mannerisms or the little tics that you're looking for?
[26:46.600 -> 26:51.280] You just don't want to see them very phased. You want them to see them, you know, quite,
[26:51.280 -> 26:57.720] they can handle that situation, I suppose. You know, some people handled it better than
[26:57.720 -> 27:01.840] others and some people really struggled, I think. You know, they just didn't perform
[27:01.840 -> 27:09.120] at a high level because they wanted to, they felt too much pressure to perform in front of me. But again, you're just trying to gauge,
[27:10.080 -> 27:15.200] you know, some of their body language, just the way their games are, the way they play,
[27:16.240 -> 27:21.440] all these little things, really. And you're just trying to keep a mental note of that for the last
[27:21.440 -> 27:26.640] 13, 14 months. So now you've both had a couple of glasses of red wine.
[27:26.640 -> 27:29.040] What did you think of his picks?
[27:29.040 -> 27:35.360] I think he was in a very luxurious position of having unbelievable choices.
[27:35.360 -> 27:40.720] I can't remember a captain being blessed with having so many choices that he couldn't get
[27:40.720 -> 27:41.920] it wrong.
[27:41.920 -> 27:46.260] And then it goes down to your point, which is how do you blend a team and potential partnerships.
[27:46.260 -> 27:52.180] I think the Hero Cup, who did what in that, passed records on that golf course, came into
[27:52.180 -> 27:53.180] it.
[27:53.180 -> 27:56.860] And then you got this guy coming up on the rails called Eberg, who was by all accounts
[27:56.860 -> 27:57.860] and-
[27:57.860 -> 27:58.860] Sure guy.
[27:58.860 -> 27:59.860] Yeah.
[27:59.860 -> 28:00.860] Yeah.
[28:00.860 -> 28:01.860] I mean-
[28:01.860 -> 28:02.860] But he's never played a major, right?
[28:02.860 -> 28:05.000] Yeah, but Luke's team, Luke's backroom team have been tracking this guy since he was an
[28:05.000 -> 28:06.000] amateur.
[28:06.000 -> 28:08.600] This guy is not something that just came on their radar two months ago and they thought,
[28:08.600 -> 28:09.880] oh, this guy looks good.
[28:09.880 -> 28:14.540] They have scoured every European with a passport in the last two years to get to this point.
[28:14.540 -> 28:18.120] This is not by chance that Luke has got the team that he has.
[28:18.120 -> 28:22.680] There's a huge amount of work and research going on behind the team, and that's his statistics
[28:22.680 -> 28:23.680] team who are doing that.
[28:23.680 -> 28:26.760] And, you know, he was flagged to you as an amateur, Luke, wasn't he?
[28:26.760 -> 28:30.880] Absolutely, we've known about him for a year or so.
[28:30.880 -> 28:33.920] He went through the college system just as I did.
[28:33.920 -> 28:41.640] I'm very good friends still with the college coach that I was under and he knows all about
[28:41.640 -> 28:44.320] these guys and we've been tracking him.
[28:44.320 -> 28:45.000] He's been about these guys. And we've been tracking him.
[28:45.000 -> 28:47.000] He's been playing professional tournaments.
[28:47.000 -> 28:49.000] He played in Dubai at the beginning of the year,
[28:49.000 -> 28:51.000] was in the top three or four, I think,
[28:51.000 -> 28:53.000] through two rounds.
[28:53.000 -> 28:55.000] And just as an amateur, that's pretty impressive.
[28:55.000 -> 28:58.000] I was a really good amateur, a very good college player,
[28:58.000 -> 29:01.000] probably best college player for a couple years.
[29:01.000 -> 29:03.000] And I played some professional events.
[29:03.000 -> 29:05.240] I didn't nearly do as well as him.
[29:05.240 -> 29:10.920] So his pedigree is very similar to a Hovland or a Rahm that were in college, what he's
[29:10.920 -> 29:11.920] achieved.
[29:11.920 -> 29:14.320] So we knew he was going to be good.
[29:14.320 -> 29:19.480] We didn't know exactly until he turned professional how he was going to react in that situation,
[29:19.480 -> 29:21.920] but he took to it pretty quickly.
[29:21.920 -> 29:25.280] Very consistent, compete at a high level on the PGA Tour against
[29:25.280 -> 29:30.520] the best players in the world. And then obviously, in the last couple weeks of qualification,
[29:30.520 -> 29:36.120] he came over. He showed commitment, that he wanted to try and impress me, impress the
[29:36.120 -> 29:39.720] team. I mean, the very first time I played with him in Detroit, he was 9-under through
[29:39.720 -> 29:44.280] 16-0. Again, to go back to, you know, just pairing up with some of these guys and seeing
[29:44.280 -> 29:45.480] how they react,
[29:45.480 -> 29:47.640] he wasn't unfazed whatsoever.
[29:47.640 -> 29:49.680] He just took it in his stride.
[29:49.680 -> 29:55.160] It looked first, very first tee shot, the very perfect line, slight draw, 320 yards
[29:55.160 -> 29:56.160] down the middle.
[29:56.160 -> 30:00.400] I mean, not an easy tee shot.
[30:00.400 -> 30:02.240] He made golf look very simple.
[30:02.240 -> 30:05.200] And I think when he needed to step up, he did
[30:05.200 -> 30:09.320] step up and he birdied four of his last five holes.
[30:09.320 -> 30:12.880] Immense talent and immense future for this kid.
[30:12.880 -> 30:18.560] The difference is you get talent coming out all the time and we see it in golf and we
[30:18.560 -> 30:21.680] understand somebody comes out, they hit the ball different, they look good.
[30:21.680 -> 30:26.360] Yeah, that's great, but we've seen loads of those and only one out of 10 of those that we see that
[30:26.360 -> 30:28.440] look special kind of really come through.
[30:28.800 -> 30:32.720] A wise man remember telling me years and years ago, you know, um, golf is about
[30:32.720 -> 30:36.320] performing in the allocated time under pressure, undergone.
[30:36.400 -> 30:41.080] So that's the points that Luke is making there in Dubai among professionals.
[30:41.080 -> 30:46.640] He performed playing with the Ryder Cup captain, knowing that he was potentially being thought about
[30:46.640 -> 30:48.640] under pressure, he performed.
[30:48.640 -> 30:54.520] Coming over under Luke's direction to come and play in Czechoslovakia and then play in
[30:54.520 -> 30:58.440] Switzerland, knowing that he's part of the conversation, but he needs to do something
[30:58.440 -> 31:01.280] to make it, that's the allocated time.
[31:01.280 -> 31:02.280] And again, he performed.
[31:02.280 -> 31:05.360] So not alone that he had the talent, he now performs under
[31:05.360 -> 31:10.640] the pressure and the heat. And they're two different things and when those two blend together
[31:10.640 -> 31:12.080] it looks like we got something special.
[31:14.800 -> 31:20.480] The next section of today's podcast is brought to you by Indeed, the UK's number one job site.
[31:20.480 -> 31:25.420] They offer powerful matching technology and features such as company reviews, salary
[31:25.420 -> 31:31.660] filters and their work well-being score to help you find the perfect place to work. Indeed
[31:31.660 -> 31:35.880] makes finding better work easier and more effortless. And today I wanted to talk to
[31:35.880 -> 31:40.860] you actually about how work can work better for us, specifically the ways in which workplaces
[31:40.860 -> 31:47.200] can better support their people so that their people can thrive and feel fulfilled. I wanted just to go through some of the things that
[31:47.200 -> 31:51.360] are important to me and the businesses that I'm involved in that I think can
[31:51.360 -> 31:57.080] help you flourish. Let's call them employer green flags. So before I start
[31:57.080 -> 32:02.660] you know I have a few businesses with over 300 people combined. One of my
[32:02.660 -> 32:06.440] businesses is a TV production company. And for the last
[32:06.440 -> 32:11.960] few years, every single year, we have been named one of the best places to work in television.
[32:11.960 -> 32:17.200] And I believe that is because of our culture. And one of the key hallmarks of our culture
[32:17.200 -> 32:21.920] is communication, communication with the team around us. And I think that a business that
[32:21.920 -> 32:26.840] communicates with its people is a business that brings its people on board. It goes on a journey with them. I hate
[32:26.840 -> 32:31.440] this idea that we're working for a business. And I much prefer the idea of
[32:31.440 -> 32:35.680] working with a business. Like I believe that every business is a recruitment
[32:35.680 -> 32:40.720] business. Because what are you? You're only the people that work for you. A
[32:40.720 -> 32:48.600] business isn't the infrastructure or the office or the logo or the sign outside or anything like that. It's the people that are in the
[32:48.600 -> 32:52.400] building and in our TV production business, the Whisper Group, one of the
[32:52.400 -> 32:56.560] key hallmarks is communication. So every single week we make sure that a
[32:56.560 -> 33:01.000] newsletter goes around letting the team, and it's a big team, know exactly what's
[33:01.000 -> 33:04.560] happening, our wins, our losses, our successes, our failures. I think it's
[33:04.560 -> 33:09.440] important to talk about both. But the wins, I think, are really exciting for people.
[33:10.000 -> 33:15.200] And our CEO, a guy called Sunil Patel, has always been brilliant at making sure that he calls out
[33:15.200 -> 33:19.840] the great moments. The other thing that we think is really important is that anyone in the business
[33:19.840 -> 33:24.160] can be involved in any part of the business. So if there's a big pitch or a big opportunity to win
[33:24.160 -> 33:26.580] some work, it's not just a senior people
[33:26.580 -> 33:29.640] or a specific group of people that work on that.
[33:29.640 -> 33:32.120] We actually put out a mail to the whole group
[33:32.120 -> 33:33.840] and we say, look, if you've got an idea for this
[33:33.840 -> 33:35.760] or you want to work on this project,
[33:35.760 -> 33:36.840] doesn't matter what your role
[33:36.840 -> 33:38.640] or what part of the business you're in,
[33:38.640 -> 33:40.280] we'd love to think about that.
[33:40.280 -> 33:42.720] And I think recognising the talents and the skills
[33:42.720 -> 33:44.840] that your people have got is so important.
[33:44.840 -> 33:48.560] We talk often on this podcast about catch people in.
[33:48.560 -> 33:50.040] And that's what I think a great business does.
[33:50.040 -> 33:52.680] It doesn't catch people out and point out where they're struggling.
[33:52.680 -> 33:54.080] It catches them in.
[33:54.080 -> 33:57.520] It's also really important for businesses these days to be flexible.
[33:57.520 -> 33:59.600] Everything has changed in the last few years.
[33:59.600 -> 34:04.320] And I think there used to be this idea that to get people to be good in the workplace,
[34:04.320 -> 34:05.040] they had to be clocked
[34:05.040 -> 34:08.720] in at a certain time, clocked out at a certain time. You had to watch them like a hawk to make
[34:08.720 -> 34:13.520] sure they were delivering. The truth is, if you trust and empower the people in your business,
[34:14.160 -> 34:18.720] they will just work hard for you because they love the business they're working for.
[34:18.720 -> 34:26.560] That idea of the carrot rather than the stick is so, so important. Mental and physical wellbeing is also at the forefront
[34:26.560 -> 34:28.520] of how businesses operate these days.
[34:28.520 -> 34:30.160] We've only got a very small team of people
[34:30.160 -> 34:31.400] that work on this podcast.
[34:31.400 -> 34:33.740] Literally a handful of people produce
[34:33.740 -> 34:35.480] the high performance podcast,
[34:35.480 -> 34:37.140] but their mental and physical wellbeing
[34:37.140 -> 34:39.040] is more important than anything else.
[34:39.040 -> 34:41.080] More important than the download numbers,
[34:41.080 -> 34:44.360] than the impact, than the content we're creating.
[34:44.360 -> 34:47.920] Them being happy means actually everything else follows on.
[34:48.680 -> 34:51.560] And the final thing is that businesses need to be places of learning.
[34:52.200 -> 34:55.600] You know, we love the conversation on this podcast about being lifelong learners.
[34:56.040 -> 35:00.720] And every single business should be a place that encourages their people to grow and to learn.
[35:00.720 -> 35:08.280] There's nothing worse than a restrictive business where they say, there's your box, there's your position, stick to it, encourage your
[35:08.280 -> 35:13.240] people to grow, put them on courses, find the mentors, help them to learn, help
[35:13.240 -> 35:17.200] them to grow. I think it's so important that we remember in business these days
[35:17.200 -> 35:21.120] is not just the employee working for the employer. It's making sure that you as
[35:21.120 -> 35:25.380] the employee gets the employer to work for you. It's a two-way
[35:25.380 -> 35:30.640] street and if you're interested in a career change or finding the perfect place to base
[35:30.640 -> 35:38.680] yourself then indeed.co.uk might just open up some amazing opportunities for you. Thanks
[35:38.680 -> 35:44.600] for listening. Our next partner, you won't be surprised to hear, is AG1. Look, we've
[35:44.600 -> 35:47.440] been working with AG1 for months and months now,
[35:47.440 -> 35:49.200] and it is something that for me
[35:49.200 -> 35:51.200] is a non-negotiable in my day.
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[35:52.600 -> 35:55.920] and I've got 75 super high quality vitamins, minerals,
[35:55.920 -> 35:58.360] and whole food sourced ingredients inside me.
[35:58.360 -> 36:01.580] I honestly believe it increases my immune system,
[36:01.580 -> 36:03.440] improves my mood, I think I sleep better,
[36:03.440 -> 36:04.840] I've got more energy.
[36:04.840 -> 36:08.400] I've told you this so many times over the last year or so that I thought I
[36:08.400 -> 36:12.880] would invite someone onto my podcast, making their high-performance debut, to
[36:12.880 -> 36:17.760] tell you what she thinks of AG1, because we take it together. It's my wife Harriet.
[36:17.760 -> 36:19.760] Hey Harriet! Harriet Briggs-Moggill Hello!
[36:19.760 -> 36:23.240] So this is totally unnatural for her, but she promised me that she would give it a go,
[36:23.240 -> 36:26.120] because she loves it as well. So what do you think of AG1?
[36:26.120 -> 36:32.760] I personally love it. I'm a mum of two small children and with you being away a lot, I
[36:32.760 -> 36:37.720] honestly think AG1 has been so good for me. It's the first thing I have when I wake up
[36:37.720 -> 36:42.120] in the morning, it's my go-to drink and it's just a great habit that I've formed. And although
[36:42.120 -> 36:49.560] it's just a small change in my day, I've seen such a huge impact on my energy levels, my sleep and I think in
[36:49.560 -> 36:54.200] the past year I can't think of any times when I've been really poorly in bed. I've
[36:54.200 -> 36:58.540] just been so healthy since starting taking it so I'd highly recommend it.
[36:58.540 -> 37:03.640] Toby There you go. If you don't listen to me, maybe listen to my wife. And if you're
[37:03.640 -> 37:05.680] interested in getting involved in AG1,
[37:05.680 -> 37:08.160] if you want to take ownership of your health today,
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[37:23.280 -> 37:24.240] Thanks Harriet.
[37:24.240 -> 37:24.640] Thank you.
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[40:39.240 -> 40:44.240] Talking of picking players, obviously you didn't pick him in 2014, did you?
[40:44.240 -> 40:46.160] You're going to bring that up? Yeah, I think we should.
[40:46.160 -> 40:47.360] Let's get to the bottom of this.
[40:47.360 -> 40:48.360] I think we should.
[40:48.360 -> 40:49.360] This should be the...
[40:49.360 -> 40:51.280] I'm blaming Sam, he was my vice captain.
[40:51.280 -> 40:57.120] So we've got the captain and the vice captain not picking the current captain in 2014.
[40:57.120 -> 40:58.760] I think we should finally get to the bottom of this.
[40:58.760 -> 40:59.760] Excuse me, who won in 2014?
[40:59.760 -> 41:02.080] Do we have any boxing gloves under the table?
[41:02.080 -> 41:04.400] I think he did the right job.
[41:04.400 -> 41:07.200] I think he did, but I think it's just very interesting.
[41:07.200 -> 41:10.160] No, you're stirring it up, you're not getting there Jake, okay?
[41:10.160 -> 41:12.800] You should be having the two glasses of wine, but not us.
[41:12.800 -> 41:14.720] Great, yes, we should all be on the wine.
[41:14.720 -> 41:17.680] No, but I think it's very interesting how you make these decisions,
[41:17.680 -> 41:21.360] how you deliver the news, but also how the players take that news.
[41:21.360 -> 41:23.200] I mean, I don't know, does it still sting now?
[41:23.200 -> 41:24.640] It's the hardest call to make, isn't it?
[41:24.640 -> 41:25.240] It is the hardest call I had to make. It's the hardest call to make, isn't it?
[41:25.240 -> 41:27.240] It is the hardest call, I had to make it very hard.
[41:27.240 -> 41:29.240] It's the happiest call, for several of them.
[41:29.240 -> 41:37.240] A few tough calls, especially one, but I mean, yeah, I was, you know, when you get that call
[41:37.240 -> 41:41.240] and you're not, when you're left out, you feel a little bit, you know, lost, you're
[41:41.240 -> 41:46.040] like, wow, it's so disappointing, you know, two years before I was playing number one
[41:46.040 -> 41:47.960] in the singles in Medina, and then suddenly,
[41:47.960 -> 41:49.200] you know, my form did drop.
[41:49.200 -> 41:51.480] I mean, I understand that, and I think,
[41:51.480 -> 41:54.360] as a player, you realize that you have the ability
[41:54.360 -> 41:56.100] to get into the automatic spots,
[41:56.100 -> 41:58.500] and if you don't, it's out of your hands,
[41:58.500 -> 42:01.140] and that's a little bit on you, as a player.
[42:01.140 -> 42:03.960] You should always, you always have the ability
[42:03.960 -> 42:05.000] to control your fate, and if you play well enough, you're gonna be there, you should always, you always have the ability to control your fate.
[42:05.000 -> 42:07.000] If you play well enough, you're going to be there.
[42:07.000 -> 42:09.000] And I certainly, my form had dipped a little bit.
[42:09.000 -> 42:15.000] I still would have backed myself to be on that team and perform and contribute,
[42:15.000 -> 42:18.000] but it was tough.
[42:18.000 -> 42:21.000] Certainly my game, I'd lost a little bit of confidence in my game.
[42:21.000 -> 42:24.000] I'd gone through a different swing coach in 2013,
[42:24.000 -> 42:25.000] then went back to my old coach. a little bit of confidence in my game.
[42:22.000 -> 42:27.000] I'd gone through a different swing coach in 2013,
[42:25.720 -> 42:30.720] then went back to my old coach,
[42:27.360 -> 42:32.360] and there was definitely some things
[42:31.080 -> 42:36.080] in the professional world that weren't going my way.
[42:34.200 -> 42:39.200] So they understood that, they were watching me,
[42:36.560 -> 42:41.560] they saw that.
[42:38.280 -> 42:43.280] I still, obviously, still think I could have.
[42:40.760 -> 42:45.760] It still hurts.
[42:42.760 -> 42:47.760] It does hurt, because
[42:44.560 -> 42:46.000] there's nothing quite like a Ryder Cup.
[42:46.000 -> 42:51.000] You want to be a part of it.
[42:51.000 -> 42:57.900] We talk about this even with a practice trip in Rome just yesterday.
[42:57.900 -> 43:03.420] We all talked about our experiences and how amazing those experiences are in Ryder Cups.
[43:03.420 -> 43:05.760] They outperform anything we do as an individual
[43:05.760 -> 43:07.680] because we get to share it with those people.
[43:07.680 -> 43:09.360] And that's what I lost.
[43:09.360 -> 43:11.240] I lost that ability to be in that team
[43:11.240 -> 43:14.200] and be in that, to share those stories.
[43:14.200 -> 43:18.200] So, of course, it was disappointing.
[43:18.200 -> 43:20.040] I think you've done a great job with your picks
[43:20.040 -> 43:22.320] because this year it is different.
[43:22.320 -> 43:26.420] There's only six spots, three from the world rankings, three from European tour
[43:26.780 -> 43:27.560] to make the team.
[43:28.320 -> 43:31.120] I mean, you can pick six players that you know are going to make it,
[43:31.820 -> 43:32.720] but it's certain.
[43:33.400 -> 43:35.720] And I think he did a fabulous job in that other six.
[43:35.720 -> 43:37.200] He actually had a difficult decision.
[43:37.240 -> 43:38.920] I'm sure you're talking about Maronk.
[43:39.400 -> 43:42.200] You know, he'd won at Marcos Simón, but so did Heuillard.
[43:42.920 -> 43:43.920] He won there as well.
[43:44.160 -> 43:45.000] Yeah, I mean, you just got to understand, again, I've been in this role for 13, Michael Simon, but so did Heukart.
[43:43.000 -> 43:48.000] He won there as well.
[43:45.000 -> 43:50.000] You just got to understand,
[43:46.000 -> 43:51.000] I've been in this role for 13, 14 months,
[43:48.000 -> 43:53.000] looking at these players,
[43:49.000 -> 43:54.000] looking at stats, looking at everything,
[43:51.000 -> 43:56.000] looking at all kinds of things.
[43:54.000 -> 43:59.000] Every Ryder Cup, there's always one or two guys
[43:56.000 -> 44:01.000] that think they should be there
[43:58.000 -> 44:03.000] and they deserve to be there.
[43:59.000 -> 44:04.000] It's very disappointing.
[44:01.000 -> 44:06.000] It's disappointing for me,
[44:01.000 -> 44:06.000] because I've been through that.
[44:03.000 -> 44:06.360] I've been on the end of those calls where you didn't make the team.
[44:06.360 -> 44:10.160] So I understand it and I have certainly a lot of empathy for those guys and I tried
[44:10.160 -> 44:12.560] to show that to the guys that didn't make it.
[44:12.560 -> 44:17.720] And that's again part of being a leader and a captain.
[44:17.720 -> 44:20.280] You certainly have to make those tough decisions at times.
[44:20.280 -> 44:25.080] But as Sam said, I'm very happy with the 12 that we have.
[44:25.080 -> 44:26.880] Is Marisa 2014 ring true with yours?
[44:26.880 -> 44:28.160] I mean it is about those tough decisions.
[44:28.160 -> 44:31.240] Yeah, I mean look, I mean it was a very tough decision obviously for me.
[44:31.240 -> 44:36.200] Luke, you know, he was the next man in and it was a tough decision at the end of the
[44:36.200 -> 44:40.600] day and I remember, you know, it was the count fall I hated having to make.
[44:40.600 -> 44:43.440] You know, Luke's first right of cup match, I was his partner.
[44:43.440 -> 44:48.000] In 2010 and 12 under Monty and El Azabal where I was a vice captain, my job was assigned
[44:48.000 -> 44:49.000] to look after Luke.
[44:49.000 -> 44:52.760] And he played brilliant in both of those games and was number one in the singles and winning
[44:52.760 -> 44:57.800] that as he started out that comeback on the Sunday to Medina.
[44:57.800 -> 45:01.800] But you know, I had Molinari, the stats guys were telling me Molinari was the guy to pick,
[45:01.800 -> 45:02.960] Francisco Molinari.
[45:02.960 -> 45:07.360] I didn't feel he had the steel in his game that he subsequently got when he started working
[45:07.360 -> 45:12.120] with Dave Aldred in the next year or two and going on to become Open champion.
[45:12.120 -> 45:14.200] And you know, Lee Westwood was there on the edge as well too.
[45:14.200 -> 45:16.040] And it came down to Luke and Lee.
[45:16.040 -> 45:21.080] And I just felt September, Glen Eagles, big heavy golf course, Lee's game would more suit
[45:21.080 -> 45:23.040] it to that challenge.
[45:23.040 -> 45:25.760] And then, you know, the big thing was Luke's form had gone off.
[45:25.760 -> 45:26.760] That was a big problem.
[45:26.760 -> 45:30.280] I think I stand corrected on this, Luke, but if I remember, I think your best finish from
[45:30.280 -> 45:33.080] May until the qualification was 40th.
[45:33.080 -> 45:37.960] So I didn't see a lot of form and I was hoping for form, anything.
[45:37.960 -> 45:41.200] And I know you were trying hard, you were going through your swing changes at the time.
[45:41.200 -> 45:47.080] And, you know, I had to make a call at the end and I felt that Lee was
[45:47.080 -> 45:48.440] going to be more suited to that.
[45:48.440 -> 45:52.680] Now it was a tough call to make and it could have gone wrong for me because of all the
[45:52.680 -> 45:57.240] modern guys, Sergio, you put all our best players in the last couple of decades before
[45:57.240 -> 45:58.620] Sam's era.
[45:58.620 -> 46:03.040] So you take the great players, the Poulters, and you take the Westwoods, and you take the
[46:03.040 -> 46:05.760] Sergios and and Montys, and
[46:05.760 -> 46:08.440] Darren, and you know, put all of those players in.
[46:08.440 -> 46:12.360] Luke's winning percentage is 70%, which is superior than all of those.
[46:12.360 -> 46:15.840] So we had natural partnerships in the team as well too.
[46:15.840 -> 46:19.920] But you know, it was a tough call, but I just didn't think there was enough form there to
[46:19.920 -> 46:22.600] play the big heavy golf course that it was going to be.
[46:22.600 -> 46:26.280] And who knows, maybe it was the wrong call, Maybe it would have won by more having you in.
[46:26.760 -> 46:29.920] So you've all been part of winning teams in the Ryder Cup.
[46:30.640 -> 46:35.400] What would you pinpoint is the difference between winning and losing?
[46:35.520 -> 46:36.360] A lot of tears.
[46:38.400 -> 46:39.960] Being in the right place at the right time.
[46:40.560 -> 46:44.080] People doing things, Paul making that wonderful four at the last of the
[46:44.080 -> 46:46.000] Belfry to win it for us.
[46:46.000 -> 46:52.000] And it comes down to so little at the end of the week. I mean, it can be half a point.
[46:52.000 -> 46:58.000] But that's all about the golf, right? I wonder whether the three of you think a captain
[46:58.000 -> 47:04.000] actually can win or lose a Ryder Cup, or whether that's putting too much emphasis and pressure on that role.
[47:04.000 -> 47:05.280] It's all about the golf.
[47:05.280 -> 47:08.000] Yeah, it's about the players and it's about the golf.
[47:08.000 -> 47:11.560] The captain's in a very strong position that's putting the people out there to play their
[47:11.560 -> 47:12.560] best game.
[47:12.560 -> 47:15.040] It's about creating a platform, as I say.
[47:15.040 -> 47:17.600] You're not hitting the shots, but you are creating a platform.
[47:17.600 -> 47:20.640] You're putting the pairings together and you're creating the energy, you're creating the buzz,
[47:20.640 -> 47:22.440] you're creating the atmosphere in the team room.
[47:22.440 -> 47:26.720] You're trying to create a platform that is phenomenal and exciting so the players go
[47:26.720 -> 47:30.160] out and they play to the best of their ability.
[47:30.160 -> 47:35.240] I can speak from experience under Sam.
[47:35.240 -> 47:36.680] He talks about Parndvik on an office game.
[47:36.680 -> 47:37.920] I went off my game too.
[47:37.920 -> 47:41.480] I was sixth in the money list to qualify 2001 for my first Ryder Cup.
[47:41.480 -> 47:42.480] 9-11 happened.
[47:42.480 -> 47:43.480] It's canceled.
[47:43.480 -> 47:48.760] I come back 12 months later and I'm 40th in the money list and I'm missing more cuts than I'm making
[47:48.760 -> 47:53.040] and my form is off, but I've got to play because it's the same team and play that qualified.
[47:53.040 -> 47:58.960] But when I went in, as I say, the effusiveness in that team room, the energy, the vibe, I
[47:58.960 -> 48:07.680] remember, I mean, it was so, so innocent in some ways, Sam, I remember, I remember, but you know, I got on a high from that.
[48:07.680 -> 48:10.720] And all of a sudden I forgot about my game being moderate
[48:10.720 -> 48:12.600] and I went out and performed really well,
[48:12.600 -> 48:14.080] culminating in holding a winning putt.
[48:14.080 -> 48:15.680] And I promise you, I promise you,
[48:15.680 -> 48:16.760] not because he's saying it here,
[48:16.760 -> 48:19.080] I'm sitting here, I've said it so many times,
[48:19.080 -> 48:21.600] I would not have held that putt.
[48:21.600 -> 48:23.080] I wouldn't have been in that mindset
[48:23.080 -> 48:30.000] to hold a putt without Sam and how he managed me and how he made me feel like I was the most important guy in the team.
[48:30.000 -> 48:32.840] Even though I was the guy he was probably worried one of the most about because I was
[48:32.840 -> 48:33.840] miles off form.
[48:33.840 -> 48:37.400] No I wasn't, I'd say I was much worse than you.
[48:37.400 -> 48:41.920] But I remember team room, I remember team meetings and this was before your time Luke
[48:41.920 -> 48:48.200] and the team meeting, it's so different now. You know, everything is so clinical and team rooms and everything.
[48:48.200 -> 48:53.160] But I remember the team meetings in the evening times were in Sam's bedroom.
[48:53.160 -> 48:55.340] Sam had a penthouse in the Belfry.
[48:55.340 -> 48:59.860] So we had a situation where we were actually in the bedroom, in the bed, and guys lying
[48:59.860 -> 49:03.800] on the bed, some on the floor, some on the sofa, Sam holding a meeting, and Suzanne next
[49:03.800 -> 49:05.800] door drying her hair, blow drying her hair.
[49:05.800 -> 49:11.680] That was the team meetings in the Belfry, but it created that sense of congeniality
[49:11.680 -> 49:15.520] and fun and all in it together.
[49:15.520 -> 49:23.440] And that kind of vibe, certainly from my experience, lifted me and lifted me to a performance level.
[49:23.440 -> 49:24.440] That was in 02.
[49:24.440 -> 49:26.000] Right, so this is, you've got to find a way,
[49:26.000 -> 49:28.000] somehow 21 years later actually, haven't you,
[49:28.000 -> 49:31.000] in this era of social media and mobile phones
[49:31.000 -> 49:36.000] to try and recreate that sense of togetherness.
[49:36.000 -> 49:38.000] Have you thought about that?
[49:38.000 -> 49:39.000] It's already happening.
[49:39.000 -> 49:40.000] It's already happening.
[49:40.000 -> 49:42.000] You know, we obviously, the practice trip we just did
[49:42.000 -> 49:44.000] was a huge thing towards that,
[49:44.000 -> 49:49.380] just to get everyone in the same team room, start discussing all that kind of stuff.
[49:49.380 -> 49:55.440] You know, we've had group chats together, opening up about all kinds of stuff.
[49:55.440 -> 50:00.600] And you know, I think again, for me, as a captain, your role is to try and create that
[50:00.600 -> 50:03.480] culture, that environment for them to succeed.
[50:03.480 -> 50:06.720] You know, we just need them to play to their ability.
[50:06.720 -> 50:09.760] We don't need to outperform their ability or anything.
[50:09.760 -> 50:13.720] They play to their ability, they're more than good enough to win and handle that pressure.
[50:13.720 -> 50:16.240] So you've already headed out then, is that what you're saying?
[50:16.240 -> 50:18.480] That practice trip, you've been to the course already?
[50:18.480 -> 50:19.480] We've been to the course, yeah.
[50:19.480 -> 50:20.480] Right.
[50:20.480 -> 50:24.360] And has that been, have previous captains done that?
[50:24.360 -> 50:28.720] It's actually the first time, I believe, that we've done a practice trip.
[50:28.720 -> 50:29.720] We did it.
[50:29.720 -> 50:30.720] Yeah.
[50:30.720 -> 50:31.720] In Belfry.
[50:31.720 -> 50:35.560] In Belfry, so I'm sure it has happened.
[50:35.560 -> 50:40.360] And it's about trying to relax the players before the full glare of the world's media.
[50:40.360 -> 50:41.480] Just get a feel of it.
[50:41.480 -> 50:48.000] Yeah, get the feel, get the 12 guys in the same room together, get them feeling comfortable,
[50:48.000 -> 50:54.000] some of the rookies getting to know the more established superstar players that, you know,
[50:54.000 -> 50:58.000] two, three, four in the world, you know, all that kind of stuff, and just get them feeling
[50:58.000 -> 50:59.000] comfortable around each other.
[50:59.000 -> 51:01.000] And again, you're trying to create that energy, that vibe.
[51:01.000 -> 51:03.000] So how did you do that, though?
[51:03.000 -> 51:06.320] Again, I've always felt like our ability to come together,
[51:06.320 -> 51:09.720] our unity is the bedrock of a lot of the success we have.
[51:09.720 -> 51:12.320] You know, so keeping that individual mindset,
[51:12.320 -> 51:15.520] but making them feel like they're a team,
[51:15.520 -> 51:20.520] that they have a great opportunity to do something great
[51:20.520 -> 51:23.600] together, to create history, to leave a legacy
[51:23.600 -> 51:26.360] and to kind of pass on what they
[51:26.360 -> 51:29.200] do in this Ryder Cup to future generations.
[51:29.200 -> 51:34.000] I think a lot of the guys want to play Ryder Cups because they're inspired by the people
[51:34.000 -> 51:35.680] that come before them as well.
[51:35.680 -> 51:42.320] So it's understanding the history and recognizing that and wanting to play your role and try
[51:42.320 -> 51:47.760] and create your own history. Nice. To answer, you're just thinking again too, as well, too,
[51:47.760 -> 51:50.640] the role of the captain compared to the players, and absolutely not.
[51:50.640 -> 51:54.520] You know, it is about the players, as Sam says, but also the captain
[51:54.520 -> 51:58.320] makes big decisions tactically that can determine the outcome.
[51:59.000 -> 52:02.560] And I'm thinking of Medina in 2012
[52:02.920 -> 52:05.000] and how we put out the team singles,
[52:05.360 -> 52:08.400] four points behind, we knew we had to get momentum,
[52:08.400 -> 52:10.420] we knew we had to put our strength at the top
[52:10.420 -> 52:12.480] and we knew we had to try to eat into that lead.
[52:12.480 -> 52:14.360] The worst thing we could do was lose,
[52:14.360 -> 52:16.760] do was lose two of the first three matches
[52:16.760 -> 52:18.080] and fall further behind.
[52:18.080 -> 52:20.440] So what we do is we tactically put out the team,
[52:20.440 -> 52:23.320] we put out Luke, who was a Chicago boy,
[52:23.320 -> 52:24.880] out number one, big heart,
[52:24.880 -> 52:25.000] that's the kind of guy you play number one. I think we put Poulter too, who was a Chicago boy, out number one, big heart, that's the
[52:25.000 -> 52:28.560] kind of guy you play number one. I think we put Poulter too, who just done his heroics
[52:28.560 -> 52:33.520] on a Saturday. I think it was Rory three, I think it was then Justin four and maybe
[52:33.520 -> 52:38.440] Paul Laurie who played so well in 99 and Brookline away from home and we knew that he's a guy
[52:38.440 -> 52:43.660] with a big heart to play in that role. So, and then we won, I think we won all those
[52:43.660 -> 52:45.840] five points. So now we're one point ahead.
[52:45.840 -> 52:50.120] Now the guys in the bottom in America are thinking, oh my God, I thought we were going
[52:50.120 -> 52:51.120] to win this easily.
[52:51.120 -> 52:53.640] We were walking the park, we've lost our lead.
[52:53.640 -> 52:57.200] And Tiger Woods was the best player in the world that year, 2012, and they put him out
[52:57.200 -> 52:59.000] number 12.
[52:59.000 -> 53:01.680] Tiger should have been number one, and they wouldn't make that mistake now.
[53:01.680 -> 53:03.600] I think America have moved on a lot.
[53:03.600 -> 53:06.000] They've had the task force and they've learned a lot of lessons.
[53:06.000 -> 53:08.000] And I can't see Zach making that mistake,
[53:08.000 -> 53:09.600] certainly Steve Stricker didn't.
[53:09.600 -> 53:12.080] And, you know, they're the kind of things
[53:12.080 -> 53:13.600] where the captain does have a role.
[53:14.320 -> 53:17.040] But absolutely, it's absolutely, you know,
[53:17.040 -> 53:18.480] captains don't win the Ryder Cups,
[53:19.040 -> 53:21.120] but they can help create that platform.
[53:21.680 -> 53:24.320] So how much scenario planning are you doing then, Luke,
[53:24.320 -> 53:26.640] for moments like that that of if we're
[53:26.640 -> 53:31.200] four down, how am I going to react if we're two up?
[53:31.200 -> 53:32.200] How much of that?
[53:32.200 -> 53:36.880] I mean I already have a pretty decent plan of what I expect some of the groupings to
[53:36.880 -> 53:37.880] be on Friday.
[53:37.880 -> 53:39.320] Again, that can change.
[53:39.320 -> 53:48.400] We still have a couple of weeks to go, but I think for Friday, again, I think what you really want to do
[53:48.400 -> 53:50.720] is get all the 12 guys out on the course.
[53:50.720 -> 53:57.160] You want to show faith in all of them, that you're 12 strong, that you trust in them,
[53:57.160 -> 54:00.240] and you kind of have a good plan on Friday.
[54:00.240 -> 54:04.720] Obviously, through Friday, you observe the players, you see how they're playing, and
[54:04.720 -> 54:07.000] sometimes you have to make adjustments for Saturday because of that.
[54:07.000 -> 54:14.000] So it becomes a little bit, that's when the decision making really starts hitting in, I think, on Friday afternoon is what I imagine.
[54:14.000 -> 54:24.000] Certainly what I experienced a little bit as a vice captain, but I think that Friday I have a reasonable idea of some of the pairings that I'm already going to have.
[54:24.000 -> 54:25.000] Do you still get to pick Forssum's first, Full Ball first? I have a reasonable idea of some of the pairings that I'm already going to have.
[54:25.000 -> 54:28.000] Do you still get to pick Forsen's first, forward ball first?
[54:28.000 -> 54:29.000] Yes.
[54:29.000 -> 54:32.000] I'm not asking you to give that away.
[54:32.000 -> 54:34.000] I'm not sure if that's public knowledge yet.
[54:34.000 -> 54:37.000] No, but you do take, whether it's Forsen's first or forward ball first.
[54:37.000 -> 54:39.000] Yeah, home captain always chooses that.
[54:39.000 -> 54:47.000] You know, and we get the ability to set up the golf course in a
[54:44.600 -> 54:49.840] way that we feel like will favor our
[54:47.000 -> 54:51.360] players. You know, again, we have guys
[54:49.840 -> 54:53.040] that are looking in-depthly into all the
[54:51.360 -> 54:54.720] statistics. What are we good at? What are
[54:53.040 -> 54:57.080] we better at driving than them? Are we
[54:54.720 -> 54:58.960] where we weaken them? Can we take away
[54:57.080 -> 55:02.040] their advantage? Can we help with our
[54:58.960 -> 55:04.240] advantage? Again, the statistics are
[55:02.040 -> 55:06.360] small either way, but we know little
[55:04.240 -> 55:07.000] bits here and there can make a big difference.
[55:07.000 -> 55:12.000] So all these little things that you look at leading up to the matches,
[55:12.000 -> 55:16.000] again, just try and tip the scales in your favor a little bit.
[55:16.000 -> 55:18.000] Yeah, and for a few of those players,
[55:18.000 -> 55:20.000] it'll be their very first experience, right,
[55:20.000 -> 55:23.000] of playing in this white hot heat of the Ryder Cup.
[55:23.000 -> 55:26.980] You've got four rookies in your setup.
[55:26.980 -> 55:31.760] You could all sit here and say, oh yeah, yeah, the rivalry's intense. But I think better
[55:31.760 -> 55:35.840] than that for people listening to this is an example of when you've been in a moment
[55:35.840 -> 55:40.680] where you've really felt that rivalry. If I was to ask each of you to tell us a story
[55:40.680 -> 55:46.040] or a moment that springs to mind when you really felt that Europe-USA
[55:46.040 -> 55:47.360] rivalry.
[55:47.360 -> 55:49.440] Where does your brain take you to?
[55:49.440 -> 55:51.540] It's just always there.
[55:51.540 -> 55:52.540] Every single shot?
[55:52.540 -> 55:56.000] Yeah, it's Europe against America.
[55:56.000 -> 55:58.480] From Friday morning to Sunday night.
[55:58.480 -> 56:02.840] May the best team win, it doesn't really change.
[56:02.840 -> 56:09.640] I think we're all very cognizant of the history, you know, and what's gone before, and why
[56:09.640 -> 56:15.280] there is that passion. There is a big rivalry, you know, from Seve and instances in the past.
[56:15.280 -> 56:16.280] Oh, Seve.
[56:16.280 -> 56:23.160] You know, it's just, it's sport, and you want to win. It's just an amazing feeling, the
[56:23.160 -> 56:25.480] Ryder Cup, you don't get that feeling. It goosebumps, I mean, it's just unbelievable. It's just amazing feeling the Ryder Cup. You don't get that feeling
[56:25.480 -> 56:28.360] – It goosebumps. It's just unbelievable.
[56:28.360 -> 56:29.360] It is unbelievable.
[56:29.360 -> 56:33.120] France, the first day in France, when they started that –
[56:33.120 -> 56:34.120] The clap.
[56:34.120 -> 56:37.120] That was just incredible. Goosebumps.
[56:37.120 -> 56:41.560] So can I jump in there then, Tam, and ask, how do you control the emotion to be able
[56:41.560 -> 56:46.240] to go out and play effectively without it overwhelming you?
[56:51.680 -> 56:52.560] Stay in the moment and don't get ahead of yourself and don't even think about getting involved
[56:59.680 -> 57:02.960] with the crowd. You're doing a job out there and when you watch a player win a major, don't get excited. We get excited when the ball's a long par but there's still three holes to go,
[57:02.960 -> 57:08.040] the one ahead. But in the Ryder Cup, just win the hole and just go to the next.
[57:08.040 -> 57:13.760] Don't run a bit mad, just try and stay in that same mode the whole day without getting
[57:13.760 -> 57:16.560] yourself put out of place.
[57:16.560 -> 57:18.040] What about you Paul, you nodded.
[57:18.040 -> 57:22.880] Well I have a slightly different view than that because I remember some, I don't know
[57:22.880 -> 57:25.040] if you remember this in that meeting in your bedroom,
[57:25.040 -> 57:27.760] when- You're not going to tell that one.
[57:30.480 -> 57:37.360] About Suzanne, you mean? I remember it was a Tuesday or Wednesday and at the end of the
[57:37.360 -> 57:41.040] meeting, it weren't very long meetings, they were 10, 15 minutes long, and at the end of the
[57:41.040 -> 57:45.240] meeting you said, does anybody have anything to say before we wrap up here?
[57:45.240 -> 57:48.520] It was the Monday or the Tuesday, we'd only got there, one of our first meetings.
[57:48.520 -> 57:51.040] And Parnevik said, yeah, I've got something to say.
[57:51.040 -> 57:53.120] I thought Parnevik gave some great insights.
[57:53.120 -> 57:55.600] I thought he was off his game.
[57:55.600 -> 58:00.880] He said two very, very relevant things that I took a lot out of.
[58:00.880 -> 58:05.800] And the first one was, he said, I just want to say to the rookies playing at home,
[58:05.800 -> 58:08.800] there's going to be a big energy coming from the crowd.
[58:08.800 -> 58:10.600] And it's up to you as a player to decide
[58:10.600 -> 58:12.160] what you're going to do with that energy.
[58:12.160 -> 58:13.840] You can take it and ride it like a surf
[58:13.840 -> 58:15.600] and you can get engaged with the crowd,
[58:15.600 -> 58:19.040] or you can do as Sam says and disconnect and just play.
[58:19.040 -> 58:21.480] He said, neither one is right, neither one is wrong.
[58:21.480 -> 58:24.840] You as a player have to decide which one is best for you.
[58:24.840 -> 58:25.020] And I remember then Darren Clark talking to me about it, what he used to do would look into the crowd and just smile. Neither one is wrong. You as a player have to decide which one is best for you.
[58:25.020 -> 58:28.240] And I remember then Darren Clark talking to me about what he used to do, would look into
[58:28.240 -> 58:30.040] the crowd and just smile.
[58:30.040 -> 58:35.880] And just by the body language of smiling, it raised the decibels again more.
[58:35.880 -> 58:38.120] And I certainly use that during the week.
[58:38.120 -> 58:42.640] I remember very much engaging with the crowd when I hold the pot, feeling that I was doing
[58:42.640 -> 58:43.640] it for them.
[58:43.640 -> 58:48.760] And I remember standing on this, you asked me about the moment there, Damian, a minute
[58:48.760 -> 58:53.760] ago, I remember standing on the 16th hole in the four balls, last game on the golf course
[58:53.760 -> 58:59.160] with Darren, we were one down playing 16, I'd hit it into about six feet and I had the
[58:59.160 -> 59:00.920] six footer to go all square.
[59:00.920 -> 59:07.840] The matches were level at that stage, so depending on how this match finished, it would be determined how we were going into the singles. And I remember having this put
[59:07.840 -> 59:11.760] from six feet, everybody was finished, I just had to go all square. And that's a moment
[59:11.760 -> 59:14.480] where you get scared, and that's a moment where you think, oh my God, I hope I don't
[59:14.480 -> 59:18.920] miss and I hope I don't, you know, let everybody down. And for some reason, something came
[59:18.920 -> 59:23.960] into my head, if you believe in spirituality or wherever it came from, I don't know. And
[59:23.960 -> 59:28.320] what came into my head was, this place, remember, this is the only game on the course,
[59:28.320 -> 59:34.260] is 15 deep, yeah, 15, 20 deep around the green, is going to go ballistic if I hold this.
[59:34.260 -> 59:37.340] So rather than thinking, oh my God, I hope I don't miss, I felt the opposite.
[59:37.340 -> 59:39.440] Now I'm playing to my, now my ego was like out of control.
[59:39.440 -> 59:43.320] It's like, oh my God, if I hold this, this place is going to go nuts.
[59:43.320 -> 59:44.880] Now I couldn't wait to hold a putt.
[59:44.880 -> 59:48.640] I hit a great putt in the middle of the hole, crowd went absolutely ballistic, and I totally
[59:48.640 -> 59:50.440] engaged with the crowd.
[59:50.440 -> 59:55.800] You know, and I brought that into my captaincy in 14 and had a huge image, a lot of imagery
[59:55.800 -> 59:58.480] that were important with messages I want to get to the players.
[59:58.480 -> 01:00:01.560] Rather than just saying to them, I wanted to portray messages through images.
[01:00:01.560 -> 01:00:05.520] And I had a picture of Justin Rose that I got superimposed with, smoke coming out of
[01:00:05.520 -> 01:00:06.520] his hands.
[01:00:06.520 -> 01:00:08.240] And the smoke came up the back.
[01:00:08.240 -> 01:00:09.240] Yeah.
[01:00:09.240 -> 01:00:10.240] And all the crowd behind.
[01:00:10.240 -> 01:00:15.600] And it was basically, you have the power of 60,000 people in the palms of your hands.
[01:00:15.600 -> 01:00:19.160] And when you're standing at first tee and rather than thinking, oh my God, you know,
[01:00:19.160 -> 01:00:20.160] get the tee in the ground.
[01:00:20.160 -> 01:00:21.160] I hope I don't miss it.
[01:00:21.160 -> 01:00:23.080] I hope I don't sky it or block it.
[01:00:23.080 -> 01:00:27.480] Just think, when it goes quiet, this place is going to rock if I rip it down the middle
[01:00:27.480 -> 01:00:28.480] of the fairway.
[01:00:28.480 -> 01:00:33.720] So it's like a reframing of the moment and being really empowered by the moment rather
[01:00:33.720 -> 01:00:35.360] than afraid of the moment.
[01:00:35.360 -> 01:00:39.280] And then you smash it down the middle and the crowd just go ballistic.
[01:00:39.280 -> 01:00:40.520] They want a reason to scream.
[01:00:40.520 -> 01:00:45.000] I don't mind the crowd going ballistic, you don't want to go ballistic.
[01:00:45.000 -> 01:00:48.920] Well, everybody's different, you know, some people want to ride the wave and some people
[01:00:48.920 -> 01:00:53.560] want to be calm, you know, like Sam obviously was, like Langer certainly was, like Luke
[01:00:53.560 -> 01:00:55.080] probably was.
[01:00:55.080 -> 01:00:58.100] And then somebody like Sergio, I mean, look at Sergio, how good did Sergio put on Ryder
[01:00:58.100 -> 01:01:00.280] Cups compared to majors and other events?
[01:01:00.280 -> 01:01:01.280] Why?
[01:01:01.280 -> 01:01:03.120] Because he was empowered, he was engaged.
[01:01:03.120 -> 01:01:06.000] It's interesting, isn't it, getting this balance?
[01:01:06.000 -> 01:01:11.000] Because you're very calm and controlled and you look very relaxed at the moment.
[01:01:11.000 -> 01:01:16.000] But there is also this thing of getting people in the moment isn't there as well,
[01:01:16.000 -> 01:01:23.000] but without being so much in the moment that it kind of impairs their golf rather than improves it.
[01:01:23.000 -> 01:01:25.480] I mean, it's a high-pressure situation.
[01:01:25.480 -> 01:01:30.000] I think a lot of these golfers are used to that, but the Ryder Cup is a different level.
[01:01:30.000 -> 01:01:33.760] Again, when you're playing for your teammates, there's more pressure.
[01:01:33.760 -> 01:01:40.080] When you're playing for your country, all these kind of real intrinsic motivators that
[01:01:40.080 -> 01:01:43.000] are real and what makes the Ryder Cup so special.
[01:01:43.000 -> 01:01:45.840] But I think it always, again, you want to, again,
[01:01:45.840 -> 01:01:48.360] be on the front foot, always, you know.
[01:01:48.360 -> 01:01:50.080] And if you feel like you're on the back foot
[01:01:50.080 -> 01:01:52.760] and you feel like you're doubting yourself,
[01:01:52.760 -> 01:01:55.000] just reframe your mindset, as Paul says,
[01:01:55.000 -> 01:01:56.800] you know, turn it into something like a challenge,
[01:01:56.800 -> 01:01:59.300] you know, like, bring it on, like, I've got this,
[01:01:59.300 -> 01:02:02.260] you know, look at the crowd, let's make the crowd smile,
[01:02:02.260 -> 01:02:04.640] you know, all that, those kind of little keys
[01:02:04.640 -> 01:02:05.000] that I would certainly have used as an individual level, you know, all those kind of little keys that I would
[01:02:05.000 -> 01:02:09.800] certainly have used on an individual level, you know, in high-pressure situations.
[01:02:09.800 -> 01:02:12.200] I certainly had to rely on those in Ryder Cups.
[01:02:12.200 -> 01:02:16.720] And, you know, even as calm as I am on a golf course, Ryder Cups brought out some passion
[01:02:16.720 -> 01:02:17.720] in me too.
[01:02:17.720 -> 01:02:23.200] I would bite my lip and fist pump and just nothing quite like match play, you know.
[01:02:23.200 -> 01:02:25.560] I think it's such a different mindset.
[01:02:25.560 -> 01:02:27.600] You know, I was never one of the longer players,
[01:02:27.600 -> 01:02:29.640] so I was always hitting into first, into greens.
[01:02:29.640 -> 01:02:32.840] I love the ability to put pressure on people.
[01:02:32.840 -> 01:02:34.800] I love the ability to switch a hole,
[01:02:34.800 -> 01:02:37.040] turn a hole around when it looked like I was gonna lose.
[01:02:37.040 -> 01:02:39.440] I'd chip one in, they had three putt.
[01:02:39.440 -> 01:02:42.640] And you know, that psychology of match play
[01:02:42.640 -> 01:02:44.720] is really, really fun for me.
[01:02:44.720 -> 01:02:45.000] I've just, again, that's maybe why I've been quite good at match play is really, really fun for me.
[01:02:45.000 -> 01:02:50.000] I've just, again, that's maybe why I've been quite good at match play over the years, I don't know,
[01:02:50.000 -> 01:02:53.000] but I just love that mentality.
[01:02:53.000 -> 01:03:00.000] Just to say the roar that he's talking about, not only does it lift the crowd around the green,
[01:03:00.000 -> 01:03:03.000] every other player on the team knows that was a European roar.
[01:03:03.000 -> 01:03:04.000] That's right, yeah.
[01:03:04.000 -> 01:03:05.600] That was definitely European.
[01:03:05.600 -> 01:03:09.800] Or if it's a wee, all the Americans just hold the ball.
[01:03:09.800 -> 01:03:11.600] So that's important too.
[01:03:11.600 -> 01:03:14.600] And reverse when you're playing away from home.
[01:03:14.600 -> 01:03:15.600] Exactly.
[01:03:15.600 -> 01:03:16.600] You want it quiet.
[01:03:16.600 -> 01:03:20.800] We've got a few quickfire questions, especially for you as the current captain.
[01:03:20.800 -> 01:03:25.080] What are the three non-negotiable behaviours as the Ryder Cup captain that
[01:03:25.080 -> 01:03:28.380] you want to see or that you want to instil in the team?
[01:03:28.380 -> 01:03:34.300] For me it would be consistency, communication, fun.
[01:03:34.300 -> 01:03:39.060] When you look at Team USA, what scares you most and why?
[01:03:39.060 -> 01:03:51.000] I'm scared that they beat us pretty badly two years ago. They've certainly begun to understand that becoming a close-knit team is important.
[01:03:51.000 -> 01:03:55.000] So, yeah, we're up against a very strong team.
[01:03:55.000 -> 01:04:01.000] We have a big mountain to climb and we're certainly on the floor from two years ago.
[01:04:01.000 -> 01:04:03.000] We understand that.
[01:04:03.000 -> 01:04:06.640] We're certainly underdogs, but I think we
[01:04:06.640 -> 01:04:11.800] understand that we still have a good opportunity to get that cut back.
[01:04:11.800 -> 01:04:16.280] What will be your final message to the players on that first morning?
[01:04:16.280 -> 01:04:22.080] First morning? Again, I think Paul just said it. Be yourself. We're hurting from whistling
[01:04:22.080 -> 01:04:26.600] straights. Let's be the hunter, start fast and
[01:04:26.600 -> 01:04:31.360] get that early lead. Let's put pressure on the Americans early and see how they react.
[01:04:31.360 -> 01:04:36.560] What one person has had the biggest impact on the type of captain that you're going to
[01:04:36.560 -> 01:04:37.560] be?
[01:04:37.560 -> 01:04:40.560] I mean, to be fair…
[01:04:40.560 -> 01:04:46.280] Your missus. Say your missus quickly.
[01:04:46.280 -> 01:04:51.720] Missus is my wife's great support, but I've tried to learn from all of them, you know,
[01:04:51.720 -> 01:04:56.600] to be honest. I think the most similar captain that I served under was Bernard Langer. Again,
[01:04:56.600 -> 01:05:00.800] I love that detail. I love that stuff, but I've talked to a lot of them. I've talked
[01:05:00.800 -> 01:05:05.680] to Paul a lot. I've talked to Padre. I've talked to Thomas Bure. I've talked to Paul a lot, I've talked to Padre, I've talked to Thomas Bjorn, I've talked
[01:05:05.680 -> 01:05:09.120] to Jose Maria, you know, so I mean it goes on and on.
[01:05:09.120 -> 01:05:11.160] You just try and take little bits.
[01:05:11.160 -> 01:05:15.760] I've learned a few things in the last hour that we've been talking, so those things have
[01:05:15.760 -> 01:05:21.160] gone in the head for what will happen in that team room in a couple of weeks.
[01:05:21.160 -> 01:05:22.160] Very good.
[01:05:22.160 -> 01:05:24.200] And this is the final question and it is to all three of you.
[01:05:24.200 -> 01:05:28.200] We'll start with you Paul and work around. We normally ask at the end of these conversations, one
[01:05:28.200 -> 01:05:32.480] golden rule to living a high performance life, but today the question is your one golden
[01:05:32.480 -> 01:05:35.800] rule to winning the Ryder Cup.
[01:05:35.800 -> 01:05:42.120] The golden rule is to create an environment for players to go out unburdened and unshackled
[01:05:42.120 -> 01:05:45.520] and inspired to play as good as they can play.
[01:05:46.640 -> 01:05:48.000] Beat the guy that's in front of you.
[01:05:49.120 -> 01:05:51.120] Guy that's standing on the first tee looking at you.
[01:05:51.920 -> 01:05:55.520] Show no fear, look him in the eye, shake his hand, say good luck.
[01:05:56.240 -> 01:05:56.880] Then beat him.
[01:05:57.760 -> 01:05:58.400] Or them.
[01:05:59.520 -> 01:06:02.640] Yeah, I think a clear plan and a great culture.
[01:06:02.640 -> 01:06:04.880] Again, a great environment for them to succeed.
[01:06:06.020 -> 01:06:08.020] Give them purpose.
[01:06:08.020 -> 01:06:09.700] We're all behind you.
[01:06:09.700 -> 01:06:10.700] Good luck.
[01:06:10.700 -> 01:06:11.540] Thanks.
[01:06:11.540 -> 01:06:15.200] ♪♪♪
[01:06:15.200 -> 01:06:16.040] Damien.
[01:06:16.040 -> 01:06:17.440] Jake.
[01:06:17.440 -> 01:06:20.620] I really enjoy when you have three people like that,
[01:06:20.620 -> 01:06:22.840] seeing the energy, seeing how the three of them get on,
[01:06:22.840 -> 01:06:26.000] the little sort of relationship between them?
[01:06:26.000 -> 01:06:30.000] Yeah, I love the dynamic where they're sort of giving each other little tips
[01:06:30.000 -> 01:06:33.000] and remembering certain moments that they've shared with each other.
[01:06:33.000 -> 01:06:34.000] I think it's a real privilege.
[01:06:34.000 -> 01:06:36.000] It's like being invited into the locker room, isn't it?
[01:06:36.000 -> 01:06:41.000] So are you feeling more confident after that about Europe winning the Ryder Cup?
[01:06:41.000 -> 01:06:44.000] I think Luke's very authentic as a leader.
[01:06:44.000 -> 01:06:47.000] I think that there's authentic as a leader.
[01:06:44.000 -> 01:06:49.000] You know, I think that there's no one-size-fits-all,
[01:06:47.000 -> 01:06:52.000] as I think Paul and Sam demonstrated.
[01:06:49.000 -> 01:06:54.000] One of them goes on emotion, one of them goes on the idea of logic,
[01:06:53.000 -> 01:06:58.000] like Luke said, he's just going to be himself.
[01:06:56.000 -> 01:07:01.000] He's going to tap into that sense of belonging
[01:06:59.000 -> 01:07:04.000] that Paul was really hot on,
[01:07:01.000 -> 01:07:06.000] but actually do it in a calm, methodical way.
[01:07:03.000 -> 01:07:06.000] So I think if authenticity is the measure,
[01:07:06.000 -> 01:07:08.000] I think he's going to be successful.
[01:07:08.000 -> 01:07:13.000] I also like the fact that yet again we're seeing a quiet leader get promoted.
[01:07:13.000 -> 01:07:15.000] We spoke to Joss Butler on the podcast, he's a quiet leader.
[01:07:15.000 -> 01:07:17.000] Gareth Southgate, a quiet leader.
[01:07:17.000 -> 01:07:19.000] Eddie Howe, a quiet leader.
[01:07:19.000 -> 01:07:22.000] I love the fact that we're in an era of sport where
[01:07:22.000 -> 01:07:25.000] it's not just the loudest person in the room
[01:07:25.000 -> 01:07:27.120] that ends up being the person in charge,
[01:07:27.120 -> 01:07:30.160] but actually probably the person that deserves it the most,
[01:07:30.160 -> 01:07:31.600] whether they're loud or quiet.
[01:07:31.600 -> 01:07:34.440] Yeah, there's a really interesting phrase on that.
[01:07:34.440 -> 01:07:36.520] People often put it in binary terms.
[01:07:36.520 -> 01:07:38.800] They say you're either an introvert or an extrovert,
[01:07:38.800 -> 01:07:41.000] but there's a phrase called an ambivert,
[01:07:41.000 -> 01:07:42.920] which means that you're somewhere in the middle,
[01:07:42.920 -> 01:07:45.640] that you get your energy
[01:07:45.640 -> 01:07:47.320] from hanging around with yourself
[01:07:47.320 -> 01:07:49.400] and maybe being a bit more reflective,
[01:07:49.400 -> 01:07:51.280] but you're capable of then going out to a group
[01:07:51.280 -> 01:07:52.640] and engaging with them.
[01:07:52.640 -> 01:07:55.080] And I think Luke's a great example of somebody
[01:07:55.080 -> 01:07:59.360] that's probably an ambivert, if we put it in those terms.
[01:07:59.360 -> 01:08:01.880] He also strikes me as someone who doesn't talk too much,
[01:08:01.880 -> 01:08:03.720] so when he does, you listen.
[01:08:03.720 -> 01:08:08.320] But also, when he does talk, he talks with such clarity,
[01:08:08.320 -> 01:08:12.400] as you said, such authenticity, it feels to me like a leader
[01:08:12.400 -> 01:08:17.120] that the players are going to respect and listen to almost more,
[01:08:17.120 -> 01:08:20.960] because he's not someone who's made a career out of being a loud person at all.
[01:08:20.960 -> 01:08:24.960] Yeah, and you know, like you said as well, that he spent the last 14 months
[01:08:24.960 -> 01:08:26.360] actually going and playing with these guys, watching them in key moments on the tour. Yeah and you know like he said as well that he spent the last
[01:08:24.080 -> 01:08:27.960] 14 months actually going and playing
[01:08:26.360 -> 01:08:30.640] with these guys, watching them in key
[01:08:27.960 -> 01:08:33.280] moments and observing them and talking to
[01:08:30.640 -> 01:08:35.360] them. So there's that phrase that comes up
[01:08:33.280 -> 01:08:37.600] so often with our leaders when they
[01:08:35.360 -> 01:08:39.120] talk about the power of trust. They
[01:08:37.600 -> 01:08:41.640] trust that whatever decision you're
[01:08:39.120 -> 01:08:43.520] going to make, they would trust the process
[01:08:41.640 -> 01:08:45.880] that you've taken to get to that
[01:08:43.520 -> 01:08:49.000] conclusion and I think the clarity of his message means that that trust is certainly going to be in place.
[01:08:49.000 -> 01:08:53.000] And he constantly spoke, didn't he, about the last 13, 14, 15 months.
[01:08:53.000 -> 01:08:57.000] And it's a great reminder for all of us that we'll tune in to watch the Radder Cup
[01:08:57.000 -> 01:08:59.000] and we'll be like, oh yeah, Luke's taking charge.
[01:08:59.000 -> 01:09:01.000] I imagine he's thought about this for the last few weeks.
[01:09:01.000 -> 01:09:04.000] The truth is this is like years in the making
[01:09:04.000 -> 01:09:08.840] and it's another reminder to come to these kinds of moments in life
[01:09:08.840 -> 01:09:10.560] with empathy and understanding,
[01:09:10.560 -> 01:09:14.440] and just to get a bit more depth about what's truly involved in this sort of thing.
[01:09:14.440 -> 01:09:18.840] Yeah, and I'll admit I was ignorant about the fact that you have to apply for the job,
[01:09:18.840 -> 01:09:21.440] and the process of almost going for a job interview,
[01:09:21.440 -> 01:09:23.960] and being clear about this is the type of leader I am,
[01:09:23.960 -> 01:09:28.240] this is how I'll handle certain moments. This is a man that's been preparing for this for
[01:09:28.240 -> 01:09:29.840] all his professional life.
[01:09:29.840 -> 01:09:32.040] I loved it. Thanks, mate.
[01:09:32.040 -> 01:09:35.560] Absolute privilege that one. Thank you, mate.
[01:09:35.560 -> 01:09:38.640] Well how about that? What a cool episode. Hey, I'd love to know what you thought of
[01:09:38.640 -> 01:09:42.560] it. Don't forget, you can also watch this on YouTube. Join the tens of millions of people
[01:09:42.560 -> 01:09:48.720] who are watching our content right there. I would love you to also hit subscribe either on your podcast provider or on YouTube. It
[01:09:48.720 -> 01:09:53.280] allows us to grow and it allows us to bring even more incredible guests to this podcast.
[01:09:53.280 -> 01:09:57.440] Look, huge thanks to you for growing, for sharing, for talking about this podcast among
[01:09:57.440 -> 01:10:02.280] your community. Please continue to spread the learnings you're taking from these episodes.
[01:10:02.280 -> 01:10:05.120] Remember, there is no secret. It is all there for you.
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[01:10:08.240 -> 01:10:08.600] Don't get high on your own supply.
[01:10:11.040 -> 01:10:11.560] Remain humble, curious, and empathetic.
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