President Bush welcomes Ryder Cup team

Nov 17, 2008 - 10:21 PM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Members of the 2008 United States Ryder Cup Team received a warm White House welcome Monday afternoon by President George W. Bush.

Seven of the 12-member U.S. team were joined by captain Paul Azinger and assistant captain Raymond Floyd in meeting Bush, who was joined in the Oval Office by Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.

"This was the icing on the cake for me and the players," Azinger said. "I was really proud of what the players were able to accomplish on a stage of this size, one of the biggest stages in the world when you consider there were some 600 million viewers. It was a great honor to have the president invite us, and to show how much he cared for and followed our team."

The U.S. team was accompanied by PGA of America president Jim Remy, vice president Allen Wronowski, honorary president Brian Whitcomb and chief executive officer Joe Steranka. The U.S. Team was represented by Chad Campbell, Stewart Cink, Ben Curtis, Jim Furyk, J.B. Holmes, Hunter Mahan and Boo Weekley.

It was an emphatic victory for the U.S., which won the Ryder Cup with a 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 thumping of the Europeans in September at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.

"I don't know what words you can use other than how inspirational it was to be with the president. I wish that everyone had the same opportunity to get a chance to meet him in a setting like this," Remy said. "It was a fantastic day. The president spoke about how he came into office with the same set of values that he will take with him. The whole experience was like a dream and you want to pinch yourself."

The U.S. team presented Bush with a personalized Ryder Cup golf bag, the same Sunday red golf shirt and sweater vest worn by the team and a Ryder Cup money clip.

Weekley wore a big smile as he entered the White House.

"Wow!" he said. "I can't believe that I was able to walk through this son-of-a-gun," said Weekley, who despite his "rookie" status entering the Ryder Cup became a quick team and fan favorite.

"There's so much stuff here, so many pictures and so much history. I was honored to meet the president. He's like one of us. The only thing that would top off this year any better for me would be to go out and get me a big deer. I'm headed to Missouri and Illinois to do some hunting."