FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 10th, 2017

NOTABLE QUOTES: GOLF CENTRAL LIVE FROM THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP (THURSDAY, PRIMETIME)

Notable Quotes – 99th PGA Championship
Golf Central Live From the PGA Championship (Thursday, Primetime)
August 10, 2017
Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, N.C.

**Golf Central Live From the PGA Championship continues Friday at 8 a.m. ET on Golf Channel.**

On Day 1 at the PGA Championship
David Duval – “I feel like the guys were out there with a little bit of trepidation, kind of treading lightly, not exactly knowing what a major championship setup at Quail Hollow would give them. It kind of felt like there was a little bit of cautiousness with everything. I think the players got a feel for it, and I think you’re going to see a little more aggressiveness over the next few days if the golf course allows it.”
Brandel Chamblee – “There really were not that many surprises. We knew this golf course favored the powerful player in terms of horse power. You look at the top of this leaderboard, and [it’s] pretty much all Bugatti’s.”

On Kevin Kisner (4-under, T-1st)
Chamblee – “Even though he’s really never had a run in a major championship, it would surprise no one in this field if [he were to win] because he’s a major championship-type player… He’s well aware of what he needs to do.”
Duval – “This golf course is going to demand a fighter mentality. It is going to punch you and you’ve got to punch back a little bit. When you have the approach that he has, I think it’s going to serve him well. He’s that tough.”

On Brooks Koepka (3-under, T-3rd)
Chamblee – “The great thing about him is there are no weaknesses in his game. And more than that, between the ears you can’t find any weaknesses.”
Nobilo – “If he were to hit the ball that well for four days, then all of a sudden he without a doubt is the guy to beat.”
Duval – “I like as much as anything how he’s thinking. Recognizing that the big mistakes are what you have to avoid… It’s a good recipe. It’s impressive to watch right now.”

On Rickie Fowler (2-under, T-8th)
Duval – “To make such a big number [triple bogey], it obviously just illustrates how well he’s thinking and really how present he is to get around this golf course. It’s an attribute that he hasn’t displayed a ton in the past, but he’s starting to learn those are the things necessary in major championship golf.”
Nobilo – “When you can birdie a third of the holes out there and at least believe you can make the 15-20 footers, then it really does make things a little easier to bounce back. Rickie Fowler is not a machine, and I’m glad he’s not. Today was sort of a Rickie Fowler-like round. It’s never going to be 16 pars and two birdies.”

On Jordan Spieth (+1, T-34th)
Frank Nobilo – “He’s never won one of his 11 tournaments with an over par round, but this a different proposition because the golf course is so difficult… The other 155 players probably aren’t too disappointed with him being over par.”
Chamblee – “He hit the ball beautifully today. And really he was just out of position on the greens. And that was the difference.” 

On Rory McIlroy (+1, T-34th)
Duval – “It’s hard not to have that pressure. First of all, there is external pressure on him. Secondly, imagine the amount of internal pressure. He knows what he is as a player. He knows what he’s done and he knows it’s been a few years since he’s won a big one. And he knows he’s playing well. He almost puts himself behind the eight ball at times, like he’s got to come out firing. And that’s what he does.”

-NBC Sports Group-