FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 7th, 2016

GOLF CHANNEL QUOTES – SCOTTISH OPEN, ROUND ONE

Golf Channel Quotes
Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open
Castle Stuart Golf Links
Inverness, Scotland
First Round – Thursday, July 7, 2016

On the windy conditions (gusts up to 35 mph) at Castle Stuart:
David Feherty – “This is the reason we love to watch golf in Scotland … it is fun to watch these guys struggle.”

Feherty – “The yardage book only came into fashion in the ‘70s.  Players used to eye-ball it, and that’s the kind of conditions that they’re playing in here today.  It might only be 145 yards and you might hit a 7-iron there, but now the shot is a 5-iron.  So, it’s more of a judgment.”

Terry Gannon – “The (today’s) scoring average approaching 75.  First round scoring average if you go back to previous Scottish Opens here at Castle Stuart:  71.28, 70.5, 70.21 … I mean, this is almost five shots harder.  That’s what they’re dealing with.

Gannon – “If it continues like this, Royal Troon will look like a vacation next week.”

Robert Rock’s (E) post-round interview with Golf Channel Reporter Damon Hack:
Rock – “They’ve done a smart thing.  The greens are just a little bit slower, and we needed that because the balls were close to moving and I guess if we had normal-speed greens today they would be rolling off the greens.”

On Phil Mickelson (after hitting tee shot at Hole 5 into fairway bunker):
Phil Blackmar – “Phil’s made some interesting course-management decisions thus far today.”

On Mickelson missing short putt for par on Hole 5, dropping him to +2:
Tom Abbott – “He can hit the thrilling shots from the fairway bunkers, but he needs to get the ball in the hole.”

On Branden Grace:
Feherty – “This is a man who, I think, has got a fantastic future.  He’s going to win major championships.  He keeps popping up in big tournaments.  He’s knocking on the door and sooner or later he’s going to get in.”

Round two of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open airs live on Golf Channel, Friday, July 8, 5:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET.

-NBC Sports Group-