Top Quotes of 2013: Part I

“I just think being from where we’re from, we’re placed in a very difficult position. I feel Northern Irish, and obviously being from Northern Ireland, you have a connection to Ireland and a connection to the UK. If I could and there was a Northern Irish team, I’d play for Northern Ireland.” – McIlroy, on the ongoing debate at to whether he will represent Ireland or Great Britain in the 2016 Olympics. Graeme McDowell faces the same conundrum. (Getty Images)

“I think I’ve always associated Nike with the best. Growing up watching athletes on TV, all the best athletes were in Nike apparel.” – McIlroy, on his much-ballyhooed switch to Nike gear and apparel at the start of the season. (Getty Images)

“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” – Johnson, with a smile, when asked if he’s dating Paulina Gretzky, who made the trip to Hawaii with him and was spotted following him in the gallery. Johnson and Gretzky got engaged seven months later. (Getty Images)

“I’m not exactly sure what I’m going to do yet. I’m not going to jump the gun, but there’s going to be some drastic changes for me, because I happen to be in that (tax) zone that has been targeted federally and by the state. It doesn’t work for me right now, so I’m going to have to make some changes.” – Mickelson, complaining about high taxes he faces in California. (Getty Images)

''I guess they could probably suspend him for a couple of months. I would think so. Listen, people have had to pay the price before and he should be no different.” – O’Meara, who doesn’t believe that Singh intentionally tried to cheat, but does believe the Fijian deserves a suspension. (Getty Images)

“I’m looking forward to some change in my body. It’s really hard to feel the difference if you’re only doing it for a couple of months.” – Singh, in an interview with Sports Illustrated on taking Deer-Antler Spray, which was believed to be banned by the PGA Tour. According to the report, Singh paid $9,000 for the spray, chips, beam ray and powder additive. He also reportedly uses the spray ‘every couple of hours … every day,’ and ‘sleeps with the beam ray on and has put chips on his ankles, waist and shoulders.’ (Getty Images)

“He called and said, ‘Hey Tiger, want to play a round of golf?’ No, it was much more involved than that. It was an invitation you don’t turn down.” – Woods, joking about how a round of golf was arranged with President Barack Obama at The Floridian in Palm City, Fla. Woods partnered with the president against U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Floridian owner Jim Crane and added, “We won.” (Getty Images)

“I’m not in a great place mentally. I can’t really say much, guys. I’m just in a bad place mentally.” – McIlroy, immediately after withdrawing in the middle of his second round at the Honda Classic. After an opening-round even-par 70, McIlroy was 7 over through eight holes on Friday morning. On his ninth hole of the day, the world No. 1 hit an approach shot into the water and then promptly walked off the course. (Getty Images)

“What I see now is that the talent that we all thought would be there is not there.” – Sorenstam, to Golf Magazine, on Michelle Wie, who has two LPGA Tour wins since turning pro in 2005. Her best result in a major this year came at the LPGA Championship where she finished T-9. (Getty Images)

“Under the Rules of Golf, I’m abiding by the rules. They made the determination that nothing had happened yesterday. It was certainly a distraction early. Just like anything, it happens, you move on. I was ready to play come game time.” – Woods, on the two-stroke penalty he was assessed for an illegal drop. He went on to say he never considered withdrawing. (Getty Images)

“To me, this doesn’t take any time or consideration. If he doesn’t disqualify himself, this will cast a dark shadow over the entire day of golf, over this entire event, but more importantly over his entire career, for the rest of his life.” – Chamblee, calling for Tiger Woods to withdraw after a bizarre situation unfolded following his drop on the 15th hole during the second round of the Masters. Woods’ drop was initially ruled OK, but upon further review it was determined that he took an illegal drop and was assessed a two-stroke penalty – instead of being disqualified – because of the way it played out. (Getty Images)

“From what I can gather, he took an illegal drop, signed a scorecard and left the course. Under most circumstances, that would result in disqualification. … If the Rules of Golf are upheld, I believe he should have been disqualified.” – Williams, Tiger Woods’ old caddie, on the illegal drop on the 15th hole in the third round of the Masters. (Getty Images)

“To caddie for a friend for his first major is pretty special. To have the opportunity to caddie for the first Australian to win the Masters; I’m just so fortunate. I don’t have words.” – Williams, Adam Scott’s caddie, on the historic win for a an entire continent desperate for a Masters win after so many close calls. (Getty Images)

“He’s in the eighth grade! The eighth grade and he’s playing in the Masters! And he gets a penalty? Can you imagine giving a 14-year-old kid a penalty for slow play? There’s hundreds of guys who are much slower probably than (he was), and they figure out a way to get away with it.” – Nicklaus, on the slow-play penalty given to Tianlang Guan at the Masters. Guan overcame the penalty to become the youngest player (14) to make the cut in a major championship. (Getty Images)

“Things like this unfortunately happen in the world, and you feel the pain. When it happens in America, it hits home more. But when it happens in your community, you can’t help but feel it way more. I live two blocks from where the bombs went off. That’s where I went to hang out. So when I see Boylston Street all over the news, covered in yellow crime scene tape, it just really hits home.” – Driscoll, who grew up just outside of Boston, on the Boston Marathon bombings. (Getty Images)

“It’s not a violation of the Doping Code for you to use deer antler spray. Now, however, if you read the WADA language, next Wednesday, if we get a test and there is a level set and we test for it but we’ll be very aggressive in letting people know when that test comes around.” – PGA Tour commissioner Finchem, after announcing that the doping case against Vijay Singh had been dropped. (Getty Images)

“Well, the marshal told me (Sergio) already hit so I pulled a club and was ready to play my shot. Then I heard his comments afterward, and it’s not real surprising that he’s complaining about something.” – Woods, responding to Sergio Garcia’s accusations that he intentionally distracted him during a shot at The Players. (Getty Images)

“I’m not going to lie, he’s not my favorite guy to play with. He’s not the nicest guy on Tour.” – Garcia, getting in one last shot at Woods after finishing the third round at The Players. When asked about not playing with Woods in the final round, Garcia responded, “We don’t enjoy each other’s company. You don’t need to be a rocket engineer to figure that out.” (Getty Images)

“That Tiger drop was really, really borderline. I can’t live with myself without saying that.” – Miller, on Tiger Woods’ drop on 14 during the final round of The Players. Woods went on to win the tournament. After consulting with playing partner Casey Wittenberg, Woods determined the point at which the ball last crossed the hazard – a point that some felt may have been closer to the hole than the true trajectory of the ball would have allowed. (Getty Images)

“We will have him round every night. We will serve fried chicken.” – Garcia, during a European Tour awards dinner in London, after being asked whether he would invite Tiger Woods over for dinner at the U.S. Open. (Getty Images)

“The comment that was made wasn’t silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate. I’m confident that there is real regret that the remark was made. The Players ended nearly two weeks ago and it’s long past time to move on and talk about golf.” – Woods, in a statement via his Twitter account, responding to the racially insensitive joke made by Sergio Garcia. (Getty Images)

“We accept all races on the European Tour, we take it very strongly. Most of Sergio’s friends happen to be very, er, are colored athletes in the United States.” – European Tour chief executive O’Grady, using his own unfortunate choice of words in an attempt to defend Sergio Garcia and his joke about Tiger Woods. (Getty Images)

“I was very sorry to hear of Ken’s passing. He was a friend and an opponent, and I had the utmost respect for him throughout his career. He was a great competitor, and the golf world will miss him.” – Palmer, on the death of friend and golf legend Ken Venturi. (Getty Images)

“Wherever he’s around, we’re living in a fishbowl. I didn’t quite know what I was getting myself into. It’s weird. But it’s just something I have to deal with. He has his job, and I have mine. I just have to get used to it.” – Vonn, to The New York Times, on her relationship with boyfriend Tiger Woods. (Getty Images)

“I did meet Rory McIlroy last year, and Rory offered to get my swing sorted. Which was a polite way of saying, ‘Mr. President, you need help.’” – President Obama, at the global G8 Summit in Northern Ireland, joking about his golf game. (Getty Images)

“Yes, the look up to the heavens was absolutely for my dad. Father’s Day was not lost on me today. You don’t have opportunities to really dedicate a win to someone you love. And today was about him and being Father’s Day.” – Rose, reflecting on his U.S. Open victory and his father, Ken, who died of cancer in 2002 at the age of 57. (Getty Images)

“Well, it’s very simple. We’re very happy where we’re at, but also we wanted to limit the stalkarazzi and all those sleazy websites that are out there following us. I’ve had situations where it’s been very dangerous for my kids and the extent they’ll go. We basically devalued the first photos.” – Woods, on releasing photos of him and new girlfriend Lindsey Vonn.

“What can I say, I was tired, my back hurt from sitting on the floor, and we were talking about relaxation and focusing.” – Dufner, in a tweet explaining his demeanor in the photograph that spawned the phenomenon of “Dufnering.” Dufner was in Irving, Texas, as the reigning Byron Nelson Championship winner and was speaking to a third-grade class at The Salesmanship Club School, where the lesson of the day was concentration.

“Right now it’s goofy ball. It’s not real golf; this is goofy golf.” – Watson, on the winds that delayed the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii for two days – kicking off a year in which Mother Nature played a prominent role week in and week out. (Getty Images)