Golf Channel Notable Quotes
ANA Inspiration
Third Round, Saturday, April 2, 2016
Mission Hills Country Club
Rancho Mirage, Calif.
**Thursday’s live coverage of the ANA Inspiration was the most watched round one morning (207,000 viewers, up 38% year over year) and afternoon (240,000 viewers, up 62% year over year) telecasts at this event ever on Golf Channel.
**Live coverage of Sunday’s final round airs at 5 p.m. ET.
On the crowded leaderboard heading into Sunday’s final round
Judy Rankin – “You never know when somebody might just light it up in the final round that you are not expecting, because with this many people in contention, we certainly expect some fireworks.”
Rankin – “I think it could end up being a contest between Lexi [Thompson] and Lydia [Ko], but there are too many good players up there.”
On Lexi Thompson, leader at 10-under par (3-under 69 on Saturday, including an eagle on 18)
Rankin – “She is about as accurate of a driver as we have seen in a long time for someone who is really long.”
On Thompson’s struggles mid-round
Jerry Foltz – “It is not a good feeling. Every golfer has lived it. It is not a good feeling when you can’t get anything to drop.”
On Lydia Ko, T2 at 9-under par (3-under par 69 on Saturday)
Rankin – “If you look at the game overall, the number one player in the world has got to be a favorite.”
On Ariya Jutanugarn and her missed birdie on 18, finishing, T2 at 9-under par (5-under par 67 on Sunday)
Rankin – “It might be costly but it might be the best thing for her…she is not a player w a lot of experience and a lot of good pressure experience.”
On Ai Miyazato, T5 at 8-under par (1-under par 71 on Saturday)
Rankin – “She is so good at playing within herself and not trying to do what other people do that she doesn’t do well. I really admire that kind of discipline and that kind of patience.”
On Michelle Wie, T7 at 7-under par (2-under par 70 on Saturday)
Terry Gannon – “She has worked very hard for this round today.”
Tom Abbott – “Michelle Wie in contention at a major championship always brings a little extra energy on Sunday.”
On Wie’s putting stroke
Rankin – “Right now she has sold me on this putter.”
Karen Stupples – “I think her stroke is better the new way. She seems to be freer with it, gets through the ball better.”
On Charley Hull, T5 at 8-under par (3-under par on Saturday)
Rankin – “That really is an impressive finish and puts her in a great position in the final round.”
On Stacy Lewis, T16 at 5-under par (1-under 71 on Saturday)
Rankin – “I have been urging and wanting to see Stacy Lewis have a little stronger looking body language, but after our talk the other day, I’m kind of rethinking it. I think she should quit trying to be what everyone wants her to be and be who she is.”
Terry Gannon – “Some positive, some negative. In the end a 1-under-par 71.”
On Mission Hills Country Club
Rankin – “It is very score able if you put the ball in the right place off the tee.”
Rankin – “It has such history. There have been so many great shots played at this 18th hole and so much good golf played on this golf course, period.”
Rankin – “It is what has brought so many little girls to the game. It has what kept so many of us who are no longer little girls really loving this place.”
-NBC Sports Group-