American golfer and world number 3 Jim Furyk today hit out at suggestions that the US team did not take the Ryder Cup seriously enough and went on to describe their performance as "horrendous".
Speaking at a news conference for this week's WGC American Express Championship at the Grove just
outside London, Furyk insisted he was motivated for last week's encounter with Europe at the K Club which ended in an 18-1/2 9-1/2 defeat.
Asked by a reporter if there was a difference in motivation for the Ryder Cup compared to a major, Furyk said: "I find the question offensive. It's almost like the Americans don't care.
"I had a writer ask me point-blank on Sunday whether, in the whole scheme of things, it actually mattered to me.
"Wanting to reach out and strangle him, I just bit my tongue, said 'yes', told him he offended me, and walked away.
"If you can't get up for the Ryder Cup, you don't have a pulse. It's the premier event. I get more jacked for that than I could ever imagine ever getting jacked up for an event individually, maybe to a fault at times."
He did, however, call America's performance last week "horrendous" and said there was work to do for his side.
"We obviously got outplayed in all aspects and we've done just a horrendous job," Furyk said.
"It's something we're going to have to work on the American side."
Meanwhile Thomas Bjorn, who launched a furious attack on Europe's captain Ian Woosnam after being overlooked for a wildcard, admitted he had watched the match after all despite saying he would not.
After practising with one of Europe's triumphant team, Darren Clarke, at the Grove, the Dane said: "It made for magnificent viewing for a European Tour player. It was absolutely brilliant, out of this world. It was just what our tour needed."
- REUTERS
