FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 28th, 2016

Notable Quotes: RICOH Women’s British Open, Thursday’s Round 1

Golf Channel Notable Quotes
RICOH Women’s British Open
First Round
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Woburn Golf Club, Woburn, England

**Golf Channel’s live coverage of the second round of the RICOH Women’s British Open airs Friday from 4:30-7:30 a.m., and continues from 9 a.m.-Noon ET.**

On Mirim Lee, leader with a 10-under par 62 on Thursday

Judy Rankin – “Some kind of round of golf today.”

Rich Lerner – “What a round by Mirim Lee.”

On Ariya Jutanugarn, 7-under par 65 in her opening round

Dominik Holyer – “Excellent start to the week. A controlled exhibition of golf for Ariya Jutanugarn.”

On Stacy Lewis, 5-under par 67 in her opening round

Rankin – “A lot of times this year she has been trying to fight her way back from not a great first round. So I think having this really good first round, where she can see the light at the end of the tunnel for being a contender on the weekend, is great. Has to be the kind of golf that she will go home and think, ‘I like today. I played pretty well.’”

On Charley Hull,  3-under par 69 in her opening round (a member at Woburn GC)

Rankin – “She is easily the local favorite. She has a great golf personality in that she doesn’t take it too seriously. She works hard at it, but doesn’t take it too seriously.”

Rankin – “She has to be a little extra charged up and a little extra nervous, because she wants to do what the home crowd is expecting of her.”

Lerner – “A great show of support for Charley Hull with these crowds today. These grandstands are packed.”

Rankin – “Her game was there today. Very solid.”

On World No. 1 Lydia Ko, 2-over par 74 in her opening round

Rankin – “Ok day today, but she is just not as sharp as we most of the time see her. Not only with the putter but tee-to-green.”

On Michelle Wie, 4-over par 76 in her opening round

Lerner – “She is really struggling. Her game is just not very good right now.”

Tom Abbott – “She has really been losing her way since winning the U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst. Her game has deserted her.”

Lerner – “She almost is unrecognizable from the free swinging Michelle Wie from 10 years ago.”

Rankin – “I call her the mystery player.”

Jerry Foltz – “There is more confidence in the body language on the greens than I’ve seen out of her in a long time. The results may not always be there but she doesn’t seem to be doubting herself on and around the greens, whereas in the full swing it doesn’t appear as if she has any idea where the ball is going.”

Foltz –“The lack of motion and turn in Michelle’s swing right is only going to cause more injuries.”

Rankin – “The swing itself and the setup looks so full of tension.”

On Woburn Golf Club

Abbott – “One of the great things about this championship is that it moves around the country. We get to see some courses and gems – like this one – that aren’t links-style golf courses.”

Karen Stupples – “It brings back a lot of memories. Certainly seeing the crowd supporting Charley, because that is what I remember when I won, how the crowds were supporting me.”

On Women’s Golf in the upcoming Rio Olympics

Rankin – “They are very enthusiastic about it. They are trusting in everyone that are saying all of the different issues and problems are well looked after.”

Stupples – “I think they have really embraced that it is such an opportunity for them to make history. They really see the big picture and what it means to have the fact that you’ve won a gold medal next to your name along with maybe the U.S. Women’s Open or the RICOH Women’s British Open.”

-NBC Sports Group-