What he said: Quotes from PGA Championship round 3
Henrik Stenson (The big Swede looking to challenge on Sunday)
“It’s three and a half days hard work to try to be there for the back nine when it all matters.
“Hopefully I can get off to another good start tomorrow. I was very quick out of the blocks today. I hit some great shots early on. Made a couple of birdies.
“It’s all about positioning, being there. You never know what can happen. I’ve been up there a few times. I haven’t had the best chances of winning one of the big ones in the past, even though I’ve had some high finished. It’s always been a couple too many away, I feel.
“Hopefully tomorrow I can make it a little bit tighter on the back nine. Again, I’m focusing on my stuff and we’ll see what happens.”
Louis Oosthuizen (Right in the mix on -9)
“The way the golf course is now, you can attack quite a bit. So you know you don’t get that opportunity every time you play a major. It will be fun.
“I think it should be very interesting tomorrow to see the guys probably go at a lot of pins.
“I played nicely. And just putted beautifully, same as yesterday. I missed quite a few putts over the edges, but I made some good ones as well.
“Just happy, I’m swinging it better, making a few putts and I’m right up there.
“I think the way the golf course is, I’m definitely a bit more aggressive than I would usually.
“Still, you know, try to give myself as many birdie opportunities, because I feel like the putter is really behaving.”
Adam Scott (Kept his hopes alive with a five-under 67)
“It was good solid round. Obviously to have no bogeys is good. Probably left a couple out there. Seems like 4‑ or 5‑under is about even par today.
“I got off to a perfect start and just missed a couple good chances. It Could have been the putts, could have been the chips. Something needed to be a bit better there.
“I hung in there. Even though my game is certainly not 100 percent, I managed to get around all right.
I’m probably too far back unless there’s something special in there tomorrow. I’ll certainly be trying" “All my birdies today were from four feet and in. It’s doable out there, if you can get it in the fairway enough.
“I still didn’t get it in the fairway enough today. You’ve just got to give yourself 18 looks at it and hope you make your share.
“I’m probably too far back unless there’s something special in there tomorrow. I’ll certainly be trying.”
Justin Rose (Got to four under but is not expecting to challenge)
“Nothing much to be excited about really, is there, I suppose?
“Damage was done first couple of days, I suppose. I mean, I played well too so I had every opportunity.
“I think if I had putted well, as I looked at it I could have been 7, 8, 9, 10‑under par.
“When you are giving out that many, that many short ones missed, it’s frustrating.
“I would say the winning score is going to be 16, I would imagine, somewhere in that realm. When you start even par, you got to go all guns blazing.
“I felt like I could have got halfway there today, but it wasn’t to be and just sit and watch now and see what everyone does this afternoon.
“There’s always something to play for. You always play for pride. It won’t be an overly exciting day tomorrow.”
JB Holmes (Battled his way to four under par with a 69)
“I think I’m really close. I played pretty good today. I had a chance to have a really good round. I just putted really bad. It was kind of Jekyll and Hyde.
“Seemed like I either made a long putt or hit an awful putt. I had three 3‑putts and missed a couple short birdie putts. I finished with two birdies.
“Hopefully it will all come tomorrow. I definitely hit it better today and had a chance to shoot a really good round.
“Maybe the putter and everything will show up tomorrow and I can go low and hopefully finish off pretty good.”
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James Savage
Former equipment editor of NCG. Inconsistent ball-striker and tea-maker.