Birkdale's best opening lines
- 17 Jul 08, 09:28 PM
The first day of the 2008 Open has been a pretty memorable one.
There have been howling winds, pouring rain, high scores, player withdrawals and last minute call-ups - it's been a blast.
So, we've decided to round up the best quotes from Royal Birkdale in one easy package. Enjoy, and see you bright and breezy for day two.
"I sat at home this morning with my breakfast cereal and cup of coffee in my hand going: 'do I really have to go out there this afternoon?'"
Luckily for Scottish Open winner Graeme McDowell, conditions improved and he ended tied for the lead.
"If this is the summer, I couldn't live here."
Boo Weekley expressed what we were all thinking during Thursday morning's downpour
"My round is not a fun topic of conversation."
Phil Mickelson is right. He shot a 79.
"No."
Retief Goosen decides to keep his own counsel after being asked whether he wanted to talk about his comments suggesting Tiger Woods's injury might not be that serious.
"I'd like to have another go at today's round. I think I could do better. I don't know if I could handle it for another three days but if you told me we all have to tee up again tomorrow in the same conditions, I'd look forward to that test."
Reigning champion Padraig Harrington speaks for the entire field after his 74. Then again, maybe not.
"I've missed Boo, he's a great guy. He had his fan club and I wanted to join them. They're having a beer and having a good time, a better time than we are having, I can tell you."
Colin Montgomerie reveals that he is a party animal at heart
"When Padraig Harrington teed off, I went into the family dining room. I was there for around 20 minutes and I got the call on my cell phone that said there has been a withdrawal. They told me I had around 30 minutes."
Having a very late call-up to the biggest tournament in golf doesn't bother first-reserve Heath Slocum.
"You can't play. You put a four-handicapper on that first-tee and they'd probably shoot 100. That's no exaggeration. The course is nearly unplayable."
Simon Dyson struggles to sit on the fence after an opening 82
"I was home a couple of weeks ago. We were swimming in the middle of the winter in the ocean at home."
Australian Craig Parry, who fired the first shot of this year's event, hails from Sunshine, Victoria. And no, that isn't a joke.
"It didn't affect me. The weather was really bad at that point and he must have just decided he'd had enough. Which is fair enough, he didn't say really."
Graeme Storm refuses to get caught up in the controversy surrounding the early withdrawal of playing partner Sandy Lyle.
"Over the last two or three years, once Tiger got married, we really don't hang out as much. I kind of miss him but I got a text message from him this morning telling me to go out and kick some butt."
1998 Open champion Mark O'Meara laments the fact Tiger Woods is not up for as many trips to the boozer.
"I like to play quickly but today I was like Rafael Nadal, just drying myself before every single stroke."
Justin Rose explains that it was the weather that slowed the early starters.
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.