Open Championship 2014: Views from some of the leading contenders at Hoylake
Wednesday 16 July 2014 12:41, UK
A look at what some of the star names are saying ahead of the 143rd Open Championship at Hoylake.
Tiger Woods: “I think it gets harder every year just because the fields get deeper. More guys with a chance to win. The margin is so much smaller. It’s only going to continue to be the case. Guys are going to get longer, they’re going to get faster. I walked around with Gary Woodland on Sunday and he said: “Yeah, I finally found a driver and a ball I can hit 320 again in the air.” Yeah, in the air!”
Adam Scott: “I think I’m playing some of the best golf of my life at the moment. It’s one of the weeks I look forward to most out of the whole year. I got up here on Thursday and I’ve played every day, played pretty much 18 every day. I got to come and play the Open Championship course when it’s closed, the week before. It’s a real perk of the job. “
Justin Rose: “This is the one (tournament) that I holed the putt as a junior to win on the putting green. Thousands of times I’ve won the Open Championship in my mind. I think when you’re chasing major championships, any of them will do. But if you’re lucky enough to win this one, I think it would be incredibly special.”
Rory McIlroy: “I’m glad I played in Scotland last week. I feel as prepared as I ever have coming into an Open Championship, just because of four competitive rounds on links, and playing in some different conditions up there. The game feels in good shape…. I think the par-5s are a big key this week. There are four really good opportunities to make birdies out there.”
Martin Kaymer: “I just really enjoy playing this kind of golf. You have to think so much. You have to be creative. It’s a fight. It’s a battle. A lot of players get mad about it, so you win against them already. So 30 percent of the field is out.”
Phil Mickelson: “The reason I really like Royal Liverpool is the same reason that I really like Muirfield, and that is you have to land a ball 20, 30 yards short of the green. There is not these repellent hillsides in the landing area that kick balls off into the trouble. Well-struck shots are rewarded and poorly struck shots are penalized. That’s not always the case in links golf.”
Graeme McDowell: “I’m one of the short knockers these days. I don’t walk on to this golf course and kind of sigh and say, ‘here we go again, this is 330 paradise’. It’s not that type of golf course. It’s a placement course, I think. Look at the way Tiger won here in 2006. This is my kind of course this week. It’s one of my favourite Open venues from the point of view of fairness.”
Ian Poulter: “I like the golf course. I think my golf game has changed a lot in eight years (he missed the cut at Hoylake in 2006). I’m more equipped. I think I understand links golf better. With the record I’ve got in The Open I feel comfortable hitting certain shots, taking certain shots on and being aggressive where I need to. Perhaps I didn’t realise that in 2006.”
Bubba Watson: ”I love the creativity this kind of golf provides. I haven’t been successful at it yet, but hopefully over the next few years I can get better at it. The sad thing is, for me, is that it’s one week out of the year. So I’m coming over here trying to learn the style of golf real fast.”
