BERNHARD LANGER: First of all we got off to a horrendous start more or less. We pretty much gave the first two holes, but we knew it was not going to be over after two holes. We walked off that second green and we're saying, you know, okay, we're 2-down. Let's keep the ball on the fairway on the green, give ourselves chances and make some putts and put the pressure back on them. The last thing you want to do in foursomes is playing bogeys and kind of hand it to them on a silver platter.
So we started getting comfortable and started hitting some shots. We made three birdies in a row, I think 8, 9 and 10 or whatever it was and had more opportunities after. The whole thing changed and turned. I think that's foursomes. You don't want to beat yourself. You need to keep constant pressure on the other team, and at the end, we played very well in the end. I think.
COLIN MONTGOMERIE: Seven birdies.
BERNHARD LANGER: We set up birdie after birdie chance. We didn't convert every one, but we had great chances. And Tom Kite makes, whatever it was, at least 30 feet, maybe 40 feet on 16. And as we miss from six, seven feet, whatever and then he holes a bunker shot on the next.
So we look way ahead, we look like we're going to win both holes and we lost one. Thank goodness for the great putt on 17 and we halved it; otherwise we could have lost both of them. But that's match-play. In the end it was a great match and it was in a way sad that they 3-putted there on 18 from that fairly short distance, but that's what happens. I think Ray was, you know, wanted to make that putt to win and he was going after it and then he missed and it goes six feet by. That's not an easy putt when you have grain to deal with and cross-grain and left-to-right. So it all swung in our favor. It turned out great.
To come back to our relationship, I just think we like each other's company. We play a similar game. We just enjoy being together and our caddies are having a good time. We communicate, we talk and we just know we can do it well if we play somewhere close to our best. And, you know, over the year, we've proven that.
COLIN MONTGOMERIE: We actually started playing together here in 1991, Kiawah Island.
BERNHARD LANGER: When you started that story about the sprinklerhead. (Laughing).
COLIN MONTGOMERIE: 1991.
BERNHARD LANGER: Yeah, on the second hole. Remember?
COLIN MONTGOMERIE: I'll never forget.
RODDY WILLIAMS: Was there any truth in that story?
COLIN MONTGOMERIE: 13, 14 years ago, amazing.
RODDY WILLIAMS: By my calculations, this is your 10th match together in Ryder Cup and UBS Cup, and I think you've now one 8 1/2 and lost one.
COLIN MONTGOMERIE: We lost to Tiger. I don't know how that was and O'Meara. I don't know how we lost. (Laughter.) What the hell, never mind.
Q. Any more from Ryder Cup, any other matches?
COLIN MONTGOMERIE: Yes, we played the four-ball against Corey Pavin and Steve Pate. That's when we started our relationship together.
BERNHARD LANGER: Which one was that?
COLIN MONTGOMERIE: Kiawah. '91 we played.
BERNHARD LANGER: We played Tiger twice in '97 at Valderrama, Tiger in the morning and afternoon.
COLIN MONTGOMERIE: We got them in the afternoon.
BERNHARD LANGER: That was our one loss, so we had to get it back.
COLIN MONTGOMERIE: One loss in ten games, that's okay. That's okay.
Q. How long was the birdie put that they had at the end?
COLIN MONTGOMERIE: It was about 20-foot I suppose. It could have been a good victory for them to birdie the last four holes to win by 1-up. It would have been a great end and he sort of, well, he just hit it a little bit too firm. Then suddenly, hang on, wow, there's one coming back here, and they didn't hole it. And one of those things, I suppose. I guess in these situations, you've got to go for the win and that's what he was trying to do.
RODDY WILLIAMS: Any thoughts on tomorrow's match, against Fred Funk and Hale Irwin?
COLIN MONTGOMERIE: Yeah, they played well today in their foursomes play and they are obviously a good, strong team. They play a similar game, and it will obviously be quite tight again. But we look forward to having our ninth win.
BERNHARD LANGER: Together.
Q. In America they call it bulletin board material.
COLIN MONTGOMERIE: We'll see. We'll see. But we look forward to playing again tomorrow.
RODDY WILLIAMS: Thanks very much.
End of FastScripts.
