Quotes of the Week: July 20, 2014

Everyone is thinking that I’m going to pick them automatically. I can assure you that I’m not going to pick them automatically. I said about Tiger that I’ll pick him if he’s playing well and he’s in good health. Phil is the same way. If he’s playing well, again, how can you not pick those two? – Watson, on using his Ryder Cup captain’s picks on Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson based on their current form.

I’m not as fat as I was and it just took some time to match everything up. – Clarke, on the effect that his slimmer physique has had on his golf game.

I would say yes, but that’s my position on it. He’s the captain. Obviously it’s his decision. He’s going to field the best 12 players that he thinks will win the cup back, and I hope I’m on that team. – Woods, when asked if he would pick himself to be Tom Watson’s Ryder Cup team.

It would mean a lot of hype going into Augusta next year. Not a lot of people have achieved the career Grand Slam. And if everything goes the right way tomorrow to get to that three-quarters of the way there is some achievement by the age of 25. – McIlroy, while sitting on a six-stroke 54-hole lead at the Open Championship.

I may be putting a bit too much pressure on myself, going out on Fridays and trying to back up a score. I have no problem shooting a low one on Thursday, so there should be no reason I have any problem shooting a low one on Friday. I think it just got into my head. – McIlroy, on his propensity this year for shooting high scores on Fridays after low ones on Thursdays.

I was delivered a letter from Arnold Palmer at breakfast, saying Way to go! Great one to pick up for your first victory. It was unexpected and pretty darn cool. – Martin, after winning the Women’s British Open.

I got more game time under my belt. Obviously, there’s a lot of things I need to work on, but I haven’t been able to work on a lot. I was down for three months, so I’m just now starting to come back. – Woods, after finishing 69th at the Open, his worst 72-hole finish in a major.

I couldn’t get out of bed. I couldn’t move around the house. I couldn’t do anything. That made me appreciate just how fortunate I was to be able to play at that level for such a long period of time. – Woods, on life before back surgery.

I had to wait until a certain time, and I did it after the U.S. Open, started asking the players, and I didn’t expect too many to be able to make it. … It didn’t bother me. If you’re asking me that, it doesn’t bother me at all. – U.S. Ryder Cup captain Watson, on only two players attending his scouting mission to Gleneagles.

I don’t have any doubt he’ll win there. I just hope I get that one before he does.’ - Fowler, on Rory McIlroy’s chances of winning at Augusta.

Something like that, the only thing you can do is say, well done. At the end of the day we’re all doing our best. And if somebody is better than you, you can’t ask yourself for anything else. If you’re disappointed at somebody making birdies and eagles, then you’re not a good sportsman. – Garcia, on the play of Rory McIlroy at the Open.

Every year it seems someone asks me. I think they want to get rid of me.We’ll see how we go. I’ve done 40 (Open Championships). I’ve had a good run. - Open Championship first tee announcer Robson, on the possibility of retiring after next year’s British Open at St. Andrews.

This is the end of his career no question about it, and if you want to qualify era as dominance, then the Tiger era is over and we’ll never see it again. – Chamblee, on the end of the Tiger Woods era in wake of another major disappointment.

I’ve really found my passion again for golf. Not that it ever dwindled, but it’s what I think about when I get up in the morning. It’s what I think about when I go to bed. I just want to be the best golfer that I can be. And I know if I can do that, then trophies like this are within my capability. - McIlroy, on a big reason why he’s back in the major championship winner’s circle.