- Title: USA: No excuses: U.S. outplayed us, says Gary Player
- Date: 10th October 2013
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 8, 2013) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) GOLF LEGEND GARY PLAYER SAYING: "You know, I find that athletes, and people in life, always make excuses and you've got to just say when you play badly: 'I played badly. He played better than me.' And that's exactly what the United States did. They just played better. And really on paper there's very little difference. I mean if you look at the best swings in the world today: Adam Scott, you take Jason Day, you take Charlie Schwartzel, and Louis Oosthuizen. Basically, theoretically, those are probably the four best swings for perfection in the world today. So, the difference is when you play 18-hole matchplay anybody can win. But, I don't know what it is. I can't answer it. I feel, now the United States has lost continuously in the Ryder Cup to Britain. But, I feel if our team is better than the Ryder Cup team in Europe - it just doesn't make sense. I don't know what the answer is. All you've got to say is they played better."
- Embargoed: 25th October 2013 13:00
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- Story Text: Golfing great Gary Player had no excuses for the International Team that lost their fifth straight President's Cup this weekend, 18 1/2 to 15 1/2, to the U.S.
"I find that athletes, and people in life, always make excuses and you've got to just say when you play badly: 'I played badly. He played better than me.' And that's exactly what the United States did. They just played better," Player told Reuters on Wednesday (October 9).
The three-time captain against the U.S. did not have a solution to aid the side that has only won once in the ten editions of the biennial event that pits the best golfers outside of Europe against the Americans.
"Really, on paper there's very little difference. I mean if you look at the best swings in the world today: Adam Scott, you take Jason Day, you take Charlie Schwartzel, and Louis Oosthuizen. Basically, theoretically, those are probably the four best swings for perfection in the world today. So, the difference is when you play 18-hole matchplay anybody can win. But, I don't know what it is. I can't answer it. I feel, now the United States has lost continuously in the Ryder Cup to Britain. But, I feel if our team is better than the Ryder Cup team in Europe - it just doesn't make sense. I don't know what the answer is. All you've got to say is they played better," said Player.
A legend of the game, the Black Knight captained the International Team for three Presidents Cup from 2003 to 2007 and managed only a draw when the event was played on his home soil in South Africa.
Player, however, thought his side might have an advantage in the next edition of the tournament in 2015 when it will be played in South Korea -- if the home supporters get behind the home team.
"I think that has a lot to do . . . it's a natural thing when people are screaming 'USA, USA, USA!' Now, I said to my wife. . . I'd like to introduce something new for the Presidents Cup and I hope captains in the future will adhere to this. We got to get the public to say: 'We are the world! We are the world!' offered Player.
"You can't just sit there and say nothing. You've got to retaliate. 'USA', great. 'We are the world!' great. Cause I mean after all, it is a match that people want to win, but it's played in the true spirit of the game."
Though retired from competitive golf, the 77-year old, who played his last major at Augusta in 2009 when he missed the cut, earned the nickname Mr Fitness for his commitment to diet and exercise. He famously demonstrated his physique this summer by posing nude for ESPN: The Magazine's body issue, which features naked images of athletes -- usually in the prime of their careers.
"When my son first spoke to me about being in the nude, I said no. I said this is not for me I thought this was some kook idea, but they did it very discretely and they do it from the side so obviously nothing is seen. It's like being in a swimsuit really," explained Player who signed on as a spokesman for Humana, a managed health care company that promotes healthy living.
"I had more tweets, and more emails, and more telephone calls from people all over the world saying you know you're nearly 80 and I see the conditions you're in, and I'm 45, and I'm 50 and I'm 50 pounds overweight and my children are fat, I promise you I'm now going to exercise, I'm going to get my kids on a proper diet, and that's my mission is to try and get people into condition," said Player who regularly visits the gym where he does 1,200 sit-ups and squats 250 pounds several times a week.
Player remains active in golf despite retirement. 'The most well traveled man in sports' has a multimillion dollar company that designs golf courses and fundraises for charity, not including his corporate gigs.
But Player can't resist commenting on the most popular topic in the sport: Tiger Woods.
"If anybody can do, it's Tiger Woods," said Player about the quest to surpass Jack Nickaus' record of 18 majors.
"I personally see a few things in his swing that I believe, in my humble opinion, that he's doing wrong. And I think if he makes a slight change I his swing, in my humble opinion, he will definitely go past [Jack] Nicklaus, because he's got at least I would say as long as he stays healthy and his knee doesn't give in, he's got another 40 majors. Most talented man? Yes, I think he will. But there's 'if's' and one can never take anything for granted and know what's in store for you in the future," he added
"But Tiger, you've got to take your hat off to him. Even with his problems he had and chopping and changing his swing with coaches, he's still number one this year. I admire that tremendously," he finished.
Player will turn 78 on November 1st. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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