Open Golf: The best quotes from day one

Lloyd Saltman on taking eight at the first – “It’s not the first time I’ve hit three tee shots on the same hole in the Open. I hit three on the 17th tee at St Andrews (in 2005) but thankfully found the first one.”

Jason Day following a +2 round of 73 – “I’m taking nothing out of that, it was just a lot of rubbish. Yeah, I just felt like I was going to hit it left all day and I was fighting that.”

Sir Nick Faldo on the conditions at Muirfield – “The golf course is tough. It’s like glass out there now.” 

Miguel Angel Jimenez on outplaying many of The Open’s young stars – “Hey you, 25 years old, what are you doing? Come on, play some golf.”

Martin Kaymer on the crowds – “There’s a great atmosphere out there. It always is at The Open. I’m Very honoured to be playing this time.”

Brandt Snedeker on his post round drink preferece – “Tennent’s is my beer of choice on the nightly occasions. I’m not a cider guy yet. I can’t quite get into that”.

Phil Mickelson on the English fans/culture – “It’s different. It’s just a different culture over here. In the States we don’t have 90 people inside the ropes. We have a few. And it’s just a different culture. But it always has been. I knew it coming over. It was just the way it was. Last week I almost got run over on a cart four or five times on the front nine!”

Tim Clark on the Muirfield greens –  A couple of the pin placements were on hills and with the greens dying out like they are, you cannot even putt it close. There were times all three of us had 15, 20 feet and we all hit it 6 to 8 feet past the hole. It can get a little bit unfair.

Rory McIlroy on why he struggled during the first round – “It’s not technique, it’s not that I need to concentrate, but sometimes I feel like I’m walking around out there a bit unconscious. I can’t really fathom it at the minute.”

Mark O’Meara on why he rates his chances this week – “Well, it’s motivating to watch what Tom Watson did at Turnberry. It’s motivating to see what Greg Norman certainly did at Birkdale. Do I think I can? When I play like I did today, yeah, I think I can”

Ian Poulter on the difficulty of the course – “Unfortunately the guys this afternoon will struggle with a few pin positions. 8th hole is a joke, 18th needs a windmill & clown face.”