STEWART CINK
"My first Ryder Cup in 2002, we qualified and formed the teams in 2001, but
9/11 moved it back a year. So I had like 13 months to wait. Then I sat out the
first session, so I had 13 months plus a morning session to wait.

I was paired with Jim
Furyk and he said, 'What holes do you want to go [first] on?' I said, 'I don't really want
to go on the first one. I've waited this long, I think I can wait to hit the second shot.'
When he said he'd take the odd holes I was like, 'OK! That's fine with me.'

He hit a good
drive down there, first cut, which was the perfect place for me because it was teed up
nice. It was an 8-iron, a simple shot. I remember taking my club out of the bag,
putting my glove on,
standing behind the ball
and literally thinking,
'What's my pre-shot
routine again?' You're so
nervous you just don't want
to mess up.

I hit a good shot.
It went directly at the flag
but about 30 feet too far.
The other team made par,
and Jim ran the putt like
four feet by, and then I had
to make that! And I made it
and was immediately kind
of calm, like, 'OK, I've done
this before. It's not the first
time I've ever
played golf.'"