FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 9th, 2016

NOTABLE QUOTES: GOLF CENTRAL LIVE FROM THE OLYMPICS (TUESDAY)

Golf Channel Notable Quotes
Golf Central Live From the Olympics
Tuesday, August 9
Olympic Golf Course, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

**Golf Central Live From the Olympics airs tonight at 6 p.m. ET and continues on Wednesday beginning at 9 a.m. ET.**

VIDEO: Golf’s return to the Olympics brings excitement, opportunity in Rio

Patrick Reed (United States) speaking with Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis on Tuesday
Patrick Reed – “Any time I wear that red, white and blue it just gets me pumped up… Growing up I’ve always watched the Olympics and wanted to be a part of the Olympics. Now that golf is a part of the Olympics, it would mean so much.”

Reed – “It’s a links-style course. I could see how if the wind blows pretty hard how that could be the main defense. The keys will be distance control and really controlling your ball flight all week.”

On Reed
Curt Byrum – “He’s been really good all year and I think he leads the PGA TOUR in top-10s. The only thing he hasn’t done this year is win tournaments, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in contention on Sunday. This guy believes in himself as strong as anybody on Tour. I don’t know any great players that weren’t a little on the cocky side. So I think the strength of mind and how much he believes in himself is his best asset.”
Brandel Chamblee – “He comes in here besides Henrik Stenson with the best form of anyone. I would make him the favorite for gold on Sunday night. I can’t find a single reason not to put him in the gold position.”
David Duval – “He’s kind of in some ways the United States’ version of Sergio Garcia. The team atmosphere and events gives him an opportunity to take some of the heat off himself… His driving accuracy is really the only thing that you’d say is weak in his game, but you have some room to [miss] on this golf course. I think more than anything it’s the passion that he shows with the opportunity to represent his country. And that’s why you’d put him as a possible player to be on the podium.”

Bubba Watson (United States) speaking with Lewis on Tuesday
Bubba Watson –  “We’re a team and somewhat pulling for the other [United States] guys. But leading up to it, it’s an individual event so we’re looking at everything just like we’re playing the Masters, trying to perform our best. So it’s a different atmosphere than [a Ryder Cup or President Cup]. This is all about Bubba Watson and trying to win a medal for America.”

Watson – “The condition of the course is spectacular. I never expected it [to be] as good as this is. There’s nothing I saw that was out of place or didn’t fit. It’s a special place and what [Gil Hanse] created in the short time they had, to make it this perfect is unbelievable.”

On Watson
Byrum – “I don’t think he’s been on top of his game for quite some time, as he hasn’t had a top-10 since March. But I think when he’s happiest is when he can pull driver out of the bag and rip it on most of the par-4s and par-5s. Looking at this golf course, I think he’s going to be able to do that… I think that the Olympics has almost been a distraction for him [leading up to this week]. That’s how much he wants to be here.”

Matt Kuchar (United States) speaking with Lewis on Tuesday
Matt Kuchar – “When I put the uniform on, whether it’s Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, now to be here as an Olympic athlete… to have USA on the sleeve and see the Olympic rings in the background is very cool. To fulfill a boyhood dream of being an Olympic athlete is just really cool.”

On Kuchar
Frank Nobilo – “He would have been better [if the Olympics were a] head-to-head match play – where he’s incredibly strong – if he had that luxury of playing just one person at a time.”

Henrik Stenson (Sweden) speaking with Lewis on Tuesday
Henrik Stenson – “It’s a new week. The ball doesn’t know what we did at The Open, that’s for sure. It needs to be told again. Of course I’m here to try and bring home a medal for sure, hopefully the best one. But I think when you leave the Olympic Games if you bring a medal home you’re going to be fairly satisfied… Anyone around the world knows what a gold medal in the Olympics means, but not everyone knows what an Open Championship is.”

On Stenson
Arron Oberholser – “He’s probably the most consistent ball striker in the field. If the putter shows up like it did at The Open, I think he’s well worth being the favorite.”

On Sergio Garcia (Spain)
Paul McGinley – “Sergio is stronger with teammates around him. That burden of expectations and responsibility, he goes to another level when he has teammates around him to share that burden.”

On the golf course setup
Byrum – “Players at this level are usually hyper-critical of golf courses and setups. And all I heard today were great comments. The only thing I heard is because it’s a links-style golf course, it should play hard and fast. And it’s not there yet, it’s pretty soft right now. It’s not playing quite like a links golf course, but if they can take the water out and firm it up, it should play pretty similar to that.”

–Rio 2016–