Ryder Cup fans were left stunned on Sunday as they realized one of the Team Europe stars has a very American sounding accent.
Sepp Straka was born in Vienna, Austria but moved to Valdosta, Georgia when he was 14 years old.
He later attended the University of Georgia and still lives in the United States to this day, now in the Birmingham, Alabama area.
And that time spent in the USA has certainly left him with a Southern accent, which was on display during Europe’s celebratory press conference.
His drawl was highlighted in one moment when he said: ‘In Rome, I was leaving for the airport and I still saw Tyrrell [Hatton].’
And fans couldn’t believe how American Straka sounded.
Sepp Straka was born in Austria but moved to Georgia when he was 14 – leaving him with a Southern accent
Straka has lived in the United States since he was 14 and his wife, Paige, is also American
‘Sepp straka has a southern accent? What that’s a USA point,’ one joked.
‘Why have I never heard this guy talk,’ another said.
‘Watching [Shane] Lowry go crazy was pretty painful. But could you imagine if the guy from f***ing Valdosta clinched the Ryder cup for the Europeans?,’ another quipped.
And a fourth said: ‘You can have him convinced he’s a double agent.’
Straka was born abroad to an American mother and Austrian father, though he has never represented the US at any level in golf.
His wife, Paige, is also American.
‘I’ve always felt really close to my Austrian heritage,’ Straka said ahead of the 2023 Ryder Cup, via AP. ‘My dad is Austrian [and] always made sure I spent a lot of time going back.
‘Even my mom, who grew up in the States and is 100% American — she spent 24 years in Austria. She’s fallen in love with the country, and I think she’s probably just as Austrian as a lot of Austrians are.’
In his second Ryder Cup appearance, Straka posted an overall record of 1-2, bringing his all-time record to 2-4 in the competition as Europe held off the Americans.
