The Open Championship 2001

Davis Love: "The rough is very very deep. I would say it's close to what Carnoustie was, and it's going to be as hard a driving course as Carnoustie was. If you drive it into the rough you may be able to chip back to the fairway a bit easier. You have to rely on the marshals if you are hitting it around a lot, or the gallery, to help you find it. But it's a much fairer test than Carnoustie was two years ago. Carnoustie was very narrow and the spots where they knew you were going to drive the ball they had the really really deep stuff right up against the green. That's why I say there was more of it at Carnoustie - I don't think it was that much higher, just more of it
and more in the playing spots."

Retief Goosen: "The course is really tough and the rough is so punishing this
week. Last time you could hit it in the rough and still get to the green.
Playing the first nine holes this morning into the wind was as tough as it
can get. The first nien holes, we just hit driver, three-iron every hole.

Overall, I'm quite comfortable this week. I've not got it into my mind that I
have to win this week. I'm coming to play well and if I play well enough to
win by the end of the week it will be great. Our practice round today was a
great experience playing with Gary Player, Ernie Els and David Frost. It is
great to play with Gary at possibly his last Open. The last hole he was a
little emotional playing with us. It's a shame. He has done so much for the
game and he played so well today. He was really hitting the ball well.
Hopefully he can pull something out of the bag this year and maybe come back
next year."

Thomas Bjorn: "I feel very confident after the last two weeks. I feel comfortable within myself. I feel that I'm moving in the right direction. I've taken a huge step in the last 12 months. Finishing second at the Open last year was probably the thing that gave me the belief that I could contend among the best players in the world.Every time I go into a major championship now, I feel I have the golf game. I feel I'm in the right frame of mind.

Fortunately I grew up in a country which is cold and windy so I know my way
around a course like this. It is always better to hit a shot that pitches 170
yards down the fairway and really low than trying to hit a big drive. That's
the way you have to play this week. You have to play smart golf and think
your way round the course.

Thomas Levet, on being paired with Woods for the first two rounds: "That's
good news. He'll be good company. It's a nice surprise. I've watched how he
plays and what happens in the majors, so I'll be able to see it now for real.
I think my parents will be happy because they will be following."

Adam Scott: "I got up at 5.15 am to play with Tiger and Thomas Bjorn, but the
clubhouse was locked and I couldn't get my clubs straight away. I didn't
catch up with them till the first green.
"Playing in the last group of three of my last four tournaments I haven't
been able to make anything. You can't win a golf tournament putting like that
no matter how well you hit it.

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