A: "The arm is doing great. I played the proper round today, didn't hold back on anything. I even hit two-dozen practice balls. I think I am very fortunate that in doing the injury, I did it 50 yards from the 3-iron physio bus. I was there for four days...for three sessions a day. I wore my cast when I was meant to and didn't hit any balls for three days. All in all, it knited together well and I think everything is fine. ...I wasn't even thinking of it yesterday afternoon the last couple of holes."

Q: Has the golf course changed much since 1991?

A: "It has changed a lot. Obviously, we didn't play in a buffeting wind like this. The greens have changed. There's a couple of major changes on a few greens, the shape or the contour has completely changed. So, yes, it's a different golf course."

Q: In these conditions, is this as tough a par-70 as you've played?

A: "Sure. You have got the 2nd, the 6th, 11, 15 and 16 straight into the teeth of the gale. Then most of the other ones are either straight right to left or straight left to right, you know, like 1 and 10. You know there are some holes like that where it is hard left to right and you're trying to go to the left. It's a tough golf course, yeah."

Q: How do you rate Birkdale compared to other Open venues?

A: "I think, especially the way it is playing, this is as tough as we've had - the last three days, this is the toughest we've experienced for a while. I remember Turnberry blew like mad for one of the practice rounds. For this, and what is predicted for the week, I think this is going to be as tough an open as we've had in a long time."