FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 15th, 2016

NOTABLE QUOTES: THE 145TH OPEN – ROUND 2 (1:30-9:45 A.M. ET)

Golf Channel Notable Quotes
The 145TH Open – Round 2
Friday, July 15 (1:30-9:45 a.m. ET)
Royal Troon Golf Club, Troon, Scotland

**Live Round 2 coverage of The 145TH Open continues on Golf Channel until the final group (4:16 p.m. BST tee time) concludes its round. Golf Central Live From The Open will immediately follow.**

On Phil Mickelson (10-under, 1st) speaking with Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis following his round
Phil Mickelson – “I think it’s a lot easier for me having already held [the Claret Jug]. I know that when I go to Augusta knowing that I’ve already won there and I’m in that Champions group for the dinner and coming back every year – it takes a little bit of the pressure off. And the fact that this challenge of winning The Open is probably the greatest challenge of my career and I’ve already done it – takes a lot of the pressure off. Now it would be great to add to it. I would love nothing more than to add another one. But knowing that I’ve already done it actually takes some pressure off.”

On Mickelson
Nick Faldo – “Not taking anything away from how he’s playing, because he’s swinging beautifully. But boy has he gotten a break with the weather.”
Curt Byrum – “He’s playing nearly flawless right now. Other than Tiger at least in recent memory, no one sends a charge through the gallery like Phil does. He’s a gamer, he loves to compete.”
Frank Nobilo – “He’s well aware of how long it’s been since his last win. He wants to [fix] that as quick as possible.
Faldo – “I really compliment him on the freedom in his swing. The hardest thing in these conditions is you get a little short or a little tired.”
Steve Sands – “He has an amazing way of teasing you yet also bringing you all the way to the finish line and crossing it.”

Henrik Stenson (9-under, 2 nd) speaking with Lewis following his round
Henrik Stenson – “I took my chances early… It was tough conditions around the turn, and those are the toughest holes on the golf course as well. So very happy to make a birdie on 10 and get away with a couple of pars. And then picked up another couple of birdies coming in…It’s less calculation, more feel I think in conditions like these. And by the looks of it, it might be even tougher in the afternoon. So we might have had the good side of the draw here, it’s starting to pick up.”

On Stenson
Faldo – “I believe the slower greens are helping Henrik this week.”

Keegan Bradley (7-under, T-3rd) speaking with Golf Channel’s Steve Sands following his round
Keegan Bradley – “Things are clicking finally. They have been for about a month and I feel good. It’s so much more fun to go out there and play well and see your name on the leaderboard rather to struggle and to make the cut.”

On Friday’s playing conditions
Faldo – “There’s a real mental trepidation of what [weather] could come or what you could be hit by. To be honest they’re lucking out [so far]. I thought they were going to have a rough ride on the front nine, but it’s laid down because of the rain. It’s awkward, but it’s not really causing poor shots right now.”
Jacobsen – “That’s the one thing about links golf, and The Open in particular. You’re not playing 18 holes four times. You’re actually going to play 72 different holes for the week.”

-NBC Sports Group-