Saturday 26th November 2005 - Nelson Mandela Golf Invitational 2005 Interview transcript

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Ronan: What an event I mean that's why I'm back I just love it so much, everyone just kind of lets their hair down there's no pressure, it's just very relaxed ya know. And the names that turned up last year; they're back again this year it shows how everybody just enjoys it ya know and it's for such a fantastic cause and all, that's the bigger reason why we keep coming back.

Interviewer: So has your golf improved?

Ronan: "Well I hope so yeah it has yeah, I mean I'm playing a lot better I'm playing a lot more frequent. I was involved with a European team against America in the All Star Cup in Wales there in the summer; in September. Monty captained our team and O'Meara captained the American team and it was an amazing event we had such a great time and it came down to myself and Damien Lewis on the 18th against Mark Spitz and Michael Douglas and we beat them on the 18th and it was the closest I'll ever get to a Ryder Cup moment (laughs) it was really truly fantastic out there, we got very drunk afterwards and had a great time. So I've been playing a lot; I'm playing well."

Ronan: "I'm off 18 but I'm about to chip away at that I think. You see it happens in spasms that's the problem (laughs) with my handicap at my level ya know there's no strength; everything is good some days and everything is bad on others. Ya know I can't say that I'm a great driver or, my short game stinks and, sometimes my short games great and my driving sticks, so it depends really on what's happening on the day, or falls in place. I'm not good enough to have any points where I can say that's my fault and I can fix it ya know; I wish I was that good. That's the thing I wish I was that good! (Laughs) you wanna see how bad I was last year that's where I'm coming from!" (Laughs)

It's tough as hell I lost a bag of balls here last year ya know; and I got 2 bags this time (laughs). Nah I mean it's an amazing course it really is beautiful, luckily I played it 3 times now; we played obviously 3 days last year so I kind of know the course pretty well. I'm looking forward to the round today before we get into the real game tomorrow.

Just the Sunday night, I fly back Sunday we had a baby 6 weeks ago so it's kind of been full on ya know and I'm in the middle of making the new record, so it's pretty busy in the Keating household at the moment ya know. It's great though it's exciting but full on. I haven't slept much and I have a cold as well