Team USA decline interviews with Golf Channel in odd move on eve of Ryder Cup

28 September 2023 , 16:05

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The USA team refused to be interviewed following their picks (Image: PA)

The United States Ryder Cup team refused to give any player interviews to Golf Channel after the announcement of their pairings for Friday's foursomes.

The Opening Ceremony took place at Marco Simone on Thursday, where both captains confirmed their selections for the opening morning of play. Match one will see Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton take on Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns at 6:35am (BST).

Match two will then see rookie Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland take on two other debutants in Max Homa and Brian Harman at 6:50am (BST). Match three will then see Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka take on the returning Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa at 7:00am (BST).

The foursomes session will then finish with arguably the biggest match of the morning, as Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood take on Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay at 7:20am (BST). Following the match confirmation the players made their way off the stage with the Golf Channel cameras waiting.

To the surprise of many though, the Americans opted to skip their media duties ahead of tomorrow's play. The Europeans meanwhile were happy to appear in front of the camera, with a beaming McIlroy and Fleetwood discussing their new-found partnership.

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Fleetwood famously played alongside Francesco Molinari in Europe's last victory back in 2018, with the 'Moliwood' duo winning all of their matches at Golf National in Paris. This time around Molinari has taking on a vice-captaincy role, so his shoes appeared to have been filled by McIlroy.

And the Northern Irishman is keen to replicate the heroics of his vice-captain four years on. "I feel this is as ready and excited as a group that I have been apart of," he told Golf Channel. "How Tommy played in France at his last home Ryder Cup and the partnership he had with Franky (Molinari).

Tommy Fleetwood will play alongside Rory McIlroy (Getty Images)

"I just hope I can live up to Francesco, is really all I am supposed to do. So if I can live up to Francesco I think we will be just OK." Fleetwood meanwhile is also looking forward to partnering the world No. 2. "Well anybody playing with Rory is going to be a good partnership," he commented.

"I am very excited to play with him, we have known each other for a long time and Rory has been a huge part of my Ryder Cup journey. Our games gel well, we get on very well and I can't wait to play with him tomorrow."

Joshua Lees