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October 7, 2015

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Players happy with phone-snappy fans

A CLUTCH of the world鈥檚 best golfers are playing to a different beat at the first Presidents Cup in Asia this week 鈥 the constant drone of cameras clicking and phones ringing.

But they agreed the antics of the enthusiastic Korean fans, trying to get pictures at every opportunity and frequently answering mobiles in breach of golf鈥檚 usual hushed on-course etiquette, were not a problem.

鈥淗ey, they want to take pictures of us. I guess that鈥檚 a good thing,鈥 said US team member and world No. 5 Rickie Fowler after yesterday鈥檚 first official practice day at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon, South Korea. 鈥淯sually stuff like that doesn鈥檛 bother me or the guys too much I think in practice rounds. It will be interesting come tournament play, come Thursday,鈥 added the 26-year-old.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 notice it too much while we were hitting,鈥 said US veteran of all 10 previous Presidents Cups Phil Mickelson. 鈥淭here was so much of it, we tuned it out. I feel like it will be the same for everybody.鈥

South African Branden Grace said the unusually noisy crowds might give his teammates an edge on the Americans, as they play more events in Asia.

鈥淲hen you come to Asia you expect it,鈥 Grace said. 鈥淎s European Tour players we鈥檝e been exposed to it a little bit more than the US guys.

鈥淵ou just mustn鈥檛 let it get to you. Tomorrow might be a bit more hectic out there.

鈥淕olf is so huge in Asia and the people here just love taking photos, I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 any other way to put it. It gets nuts out there sometimes but it鈥檚 fun. They all mean well.鈥

The frenzied atmosphere, even on the first practice day, came as a bit of a culture shock to some of the US players such as Jimmy Walker, who do not venture outside the PGA Tour often.


 

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