Ryder Cup Betting / Ralph Ellis / 24 September 2010 /

Betfair had our bags packed ready to meet Peter Hanson in Paris at the Vivendi Trophy - but ended up finding him back home in Sweden instead as he got over a chest infection and started thinking about his Ryder Cup debut...

Hi Peter. We often start these interviews by asking 'how are you', but this time the answer's even more important!
I'm ok, thanks. It's just a chest infection, but the doctor told me I'd be better coming here and resting.

We guess if you have to be ill it's better this weekend than next?
Definitely, that's exactly how I feel. I would have preferred to play four rounds at the Vivendi Cup to get into it, but if I'm feeling strong when I get to Wales on Monday there's still three practice rounds and that should be good

It was such a big effort for you to get into Europe's team - you had to win the Czech Open - so how do you feel now the Ryder Cup itself is just days away?
Very excited. I could feel it while I was in Paris earlier this week. Colin was there and we had the press conference, and you speak about it a bit more as a team, and things like that start to get your mind going.

You've played in team format golf, but what's so special about the Ryder Cup?
Obviously it's so much bigger than the team events I've been part of. I've played three Seve Trophies, and one Royal Trophy, and that's been great experience especially with Colin there for the last match, that's been important. I've got to know him well, we've played a lot of rounds together on tour, and having him as a captain is such a good thing. I'm not really sure yet what to expect, but I've spoken to a lot of my friends. I talked to Henrik Stenson yesterday and he said I'd made the right decision to get back here. He said: 'You'll need all the energy you can expend next week.'

How is your game? We hear you've started using a different driver?
Yes, I've been using the TaylorMade R9 for quite a while, but in the last few weeks I've switched to the R9 Superfast - and it's good. I get a bit more control and maybe a bit more distance. I started with it the week before my win at the Czech Open so it's one of the reasons I'll be at Celtic Manor.

How does it affect a professional to try different clubs? We talked to Stephen Hendry about how after he'd had his favourite cue broken he was never the same.
It's a different sport. I know snooker, bowling and stuff like that they stick to the same equipment. In golf technology goes so fast. There's a fine line between sticking to the things that you know work, but you still have to follow the technology, especially the drivers because they get bigger and better.

You didn't play in the Wales Open. What do you know about Celtic Manor?
It's a beautiful track. I played it last year and I know it well. I played the old course many times, and I played the Ryder Cup course once last year. Colin hasn't tried to change too much of it.

Which holes will be the key?
Towards the end there are some dramatic holes, but I think 14 and 15, they're very special.

Do you like Matchplay golf?
Very much. It's the man to man situation. I really enjoy it. Even if you don't think too much about the other guy it's a lot easier to control one guy than 150 in the field. And for me it brings back good memories. You play so much Matchplay as an amateur.

Colin has said everybody will play on the opening day. Is that good news for you?

Very good news. It means I can prepare myself. It's always hard if you go through practice rounds and you aren't sure if you will play on Friday or not, so it will make it a lot easier. The teams are so even.

You are one of the European players who lives in America and splits time between the tours. How does that affect spirit when you all come together?

It works very well. People talk about creating a world tour but I think one exists already. The top players play from the beginning of the year, to the Middle East, then in America until Sawgrass, then go to Europe. In my case I play a lot in Europe towards Autumn because I don't have full exemption in America. But Ian (Poulter) lives near me in Lake Nona, and Graeme McDowell and Ross Fisher - Justin Rose too although he's not in the team. We almost have our own little team there. We know each other very well. We sort of compete together against the Americans regularly anyway even if it is in individual events.

Who would you most like to face in the singles?

I would love to play Tiger, that would be fun. But it looks like they have a strong team too, a lot of in form players. Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar come to mind, but Tiger would always be the big challenge.

If Tiger's who you most want, who do you least want?
It doesn't matter. I think you always want to challenge yourself so it would be good fun to play Tiger or Phil Mickelson. They are number one and two in the world after all. But on any given day you have to play well to win. If you look at the American team maybe Rickie Fowler hasn't had the best year but you still have to go out there and play really well to beat him. Come to that I'm the lowest ranked player in our team, but I don't think there's any American who really wants to face me at Matchplay.

The main thing is to be playing at all?
Exactly!

Thanks for your time, get well, and we've a free £50 bet in aid of a favourite charity

Great. I'll choose a Swedish charity the SOS - although it works all round the world. Look it up at https://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk. And I'm a Manchester United fan so I'll back them to win the Premier League. Chelsea have made a great start which just means that [3.85] for United is brilliant odds.

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