Thomas Pieters looks to put Ryder Cup behind him in Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
By Mike Patterson
Last Updated: 05/10/16 12:34pm
Thomas Pieters admits his Ryder Cup exertions have taken their toll as he prepares to play in this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The 24-year-old Belgian played five matches for Europe at Hazeltine despite being a rookie and picked up four points, although he failed to prevent Darren Clarke's side from slipping to a 17-11 defeat to the United States.
Pieters' impressive performances have seen him installed among the favourites to win this week's Scottish tournament, which is played at St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie, but he will need to quickly put his busy schedule behind him if he is to triumph in the pro-am event.
"It was an exhausting week. Getting up at 4 or 5am every day and playing 36 [holes] two days in a row in that kind of environment takes a lot out of you," he told Sky Sports News HQ.
"But I'm happy to be here and a little bit rested - not really!"
Pieters was reluctant to discuss his own display in the Ryder Cup after Europe lost their hold on the trophy, but he does appear to be satisfied with his efforts.
"It's tough to do that when it's a team event - you win and lose as a team - so I'd rather not talk about that. But people are going to ask questions about it and I did have a good Ryder Cup as a rookie and I'm quite pleased about that as well.
"I was playing well right before, but you still have to come through in that type of environment and it was new to me, but I think I handled myself well."
Pieters insists he had no problems with the vocal crowds at Hazeltine despite criticism from some of his team-mates.
"I thought the crowds were fine," he said. "It was just the odd guy that couldn't hold it in and kept on yelling while you were hitting it, so everybody did have to back off a couple of times.
"But most of the American players and staff did everything they could to calm the crowds down sometimes. There was just a lot of alcohol involved and it happens sometimes."
When asked if he had got over Europe's defeat, Pieters replied, "Yes and no. It's just golf, you know? We'll get them next time and I'll try to not miss one from now on."
